What Will Happen When We Are Gone?

[TomB]

Reading Turning Wheels it seems more and more SDC leaders are passing away. Regular obituaries. At age 55 I am one of the youngest members of our local chapter.

What will happen as my Baby Boomer generation and the one ahead of me dies off? Who will save and preserve the remaining Studebakers? I was six when Studebaker stopped production of cars.

I am passionate about Studebakers and wrote a letter that was published in Notre Dame Alumnus magazine last year correcting an article that promoted the myth that Studebaker went out of business in December of 1963. I had another letter defending Studebaker printed in the Wall Street Journal a few years ago.

[BobPalma]

Interesting that you ask that question, Tom, and thanks for your letter-writing campaign on Studebaker's behalf.

Interesting because on the front page of today's (February 11, 2016) Wall Street Journal is an article about the aging model train hobby. I did not know they share the same demographic we do, but the article documents the same issues we have, trying to engage younger people in model trains. It's a good read while all too familiar, if you know what I mean.

To answer your question, a reduced number of people will still save and preserve Studebakers, but the face of the hobby will certainly be different. Right now, I'm pretty sure it isn't your typical SDCer who is paying high five figures for Golden Hawks and Packard Hawks at auctions...but someone is; they aren't getting junked! BP

[drpreposterous]

Each one, reach one. When I get my next Stude, it will be with the intention of passing on not only the car but the love and regard of the make to my nephew, 11.

[Lou Van Anne]

My now 40+ nephew has admired my '79 Avanti II since he first saw it, so....I made an agreement with him: Be my will's executor, handle everything after I kick the bucket and the Avanti is yours! He jumped at the deal and has been dropping banana peels in front of me ever since.

[TWChamp]

My now 40+ nephew has admired my '79 Avanti II since he first saw it, so....I made an agreement with him: Be my will's executor, handle everything after I kick the bucket and the Avanti is yours! He jumped at the deal and has been dropping banana peels in front of me ever since.

Be sure to spell out in the will exactly what's to be done with everything you own. I was executor for my mom's will, and my oldest brother kept taking me to court to make mom's will his will. He wasted $36,000 in attorney fees, and when it was divided up there wasn't enough to be fighting over. He and I were close until my mom passed, then he did an about face, so be warned, people can change for the worse, and do it very quickly. I've been considering donating at least some of my cars to the Studebaker museum.

[Bradford]

Well, I've been stuck on Studebakers since I was 15. I'm 37 now. Hopefully I have a ways to go. I dont know a quarter of the stuff you guys know though. I wish I had all the knowledge and experience.

[Hallabutt]

Sharing learned experiences with many of the SDC people, who represent a younger attitude in both car choices and future aspirations, is much different then talking to an old timer. It might surprise some of the younger car people that this weeding out process has been going on for generations, as people who loved the early cars have dropped by the wayside. The better cars will always find a home with the next generation of car lovers, but experience has taught us that some cars will not survive. There simply is no Boomer generation waiting in the wings anxious to share the stewardship of the available supply of cars. The number of people collecting and saving cars will get smaller and collections will get bigger. Of necessity the new generation of collectors will need to be more selective in what they save. Sadly some very good cars will not make the cut, but this is nothing new.

[55champion]

I will be 68 in June and my only son will be 34 in April. When he was a small boy he loved riding in Dads old cars and now my three grandchildren enjoy riding in Granddaddy's Studebaker. I am please that my son loves the old car hobby and will pass the Studebaker on to him when I am gone with the hope that way down the road one of the grandchildren will pick up the love for the hobby and continue to be a caretaker for the Studebaker for many years to come. My father passed the love of the hobby to me and I think we can be sure that it will still be around for years to come...

[cruiser]

Hey Bradford , (Post # 6 ) , you may not yet have all the knowledge

and experience that others have , but you have one of the most important

qualities , TIME , and in the coming years , there will be many nice cars

available . For some of the guys here , time is not on their side . ENJOY

CRUISER

[StudebakerGene]

For myself, Studebakers have always offered that incredible look that no other brand can emulate. I met my wife of almost 40 years in my first Champ P/U. I could tell right away that she was taken, (not by me, but the Studebaker.) We brought our first child home in a 1960 Lark. I guess I just kind of like when people see my truck, they smile first! (they somehow know we are dancing to definitely a different beat.)

[stupak]

As much as we don't want to embrace reality, Studebaker and the SDC will pass into eternity in 15 - 20 years. Reality is that all things change, nothing stays the same. It can be seen very vividly today already in the memorabilia portion of Studebaker collecting. You may have some very (you think) valuable Studebaker items that you have to give away to get rid of them. Sure, there will always be museums that will take your vehicles and memorabilia. Notice I said TAKE. In 25 years, people will say, "What's a Studebaker". Those of us older folk that began collecting Studebaker material years ago with the hope of paying for retirement, reality is really starting to set in. IF you did not begin selling your precious items 5-8 years ago are getting a history lesson. And as one post said, just look at the membership of your local chapter. All bald and gray haired. I assume the SDC is in the same position. stupak

[KSKOMO]

"Whats' a Studebaker"

As much as we don't want to embrace reality, Studebaker and the SDC will pass into eternity in 15 - 20 years. Reality is that all things change, nothing stays the same. It can be seen very vividly today already in the memorabilia portion of Studebaker collecting. You may have some very (you think) valuable Studebaker items that you have to give away to get rid of them. Sure, there will always be museums that will take your vehicles and memorabilia. Notice I said TAKE. In 25 years, people will say, "What's a Studebaker". Those of us older folk that began collecting Studebaker material years ago with the hope of paying for retirement, reality is really starting to set in. IF you did not begin selling your precious items 5-8 years ago are getting a history lesson. And as one post said, just look at the membership of your local chapter. All bald and gray haired. I assume the SDC is in the same position. stupak

I'm 70 and attend cruises quite often, people love my Lark, but sometimes they ask WHATS A STUDEBAKER? It doesn't surprise me though, they also don't know who the VICE PRESIDENT IS.

[Commander Eddie]

Interesting that you ask that question, Tom, and thanks for your letter-writing campaign on Studebaker's behalf.

Interesting because on the front page of today's (February 11, 2016) Wall Street Journal is an article about the aging model train hobby. I did not know they share the same demographic we do, but the article documents the same issues we have, trying to engage younger people in model trains. It's a good read while all too familiar, if you know what I mean.

BP

Bob, as a model railroader I can attest to the truth of this. Our club and layout is set up at a Portland private school and we are working hard to encourage youngsters to put down their ipads and phones and join in the fun of model railroading. Just to add some Studebaker content, we actually have a Studebaker car dealership in the model town and have various Studebakers sprinkled on the roads around the layout. I am often asked by visiting students if Studebakers were a real car or we just made up the name. I now get to have a conversation with them on two subjects. Only time will tell if we develop any converts to either interest.

[swvalcon]

KSKOMO your post makes me think of a tonight show that J Leno had one of his J walking things on. There was a huge flag waving in the wind and he asked a young collage age girl how many stars on the US flag. Her answer was {I don't know it wont stop waving long enough for me to count them}

[BobPalma]

Bob, as a model railroader I can attest to the truth of this. Our club and layout is set up at a Portland private school and we are working hard to encourage youngsters to put down their ipads and phones and join in the fun of model railroading. Just to add some Studebaker content, we actually have a Studebaker car dealership in the model down and have various Studebakers sprinkled on the roads around the layout. I am often asked by visiting students if Studebakers were a real car or we just made up the name. I now get to have a conversation with them on two subjects. Only time will tell if we develop any converts to either interest.

Cool beans, Ed. If you are near a library, you'd probably enjoy that article in the WSJ. (You can't read it on line unless you are a subscriber, unfortunately. ) BP