Southern Arizona Chapter Holiday Party

[6hk71400]

Here are pictures of the some of the members cars of our Southern Arizona Chapters Holiday party. Ann Pierson was our hostess and Gloria Smetzer help coordinate all the dishes/drinks/desserts for our party. The 1957 Silver Hawk was purchased new by Gene Nallin, father and grandfather of our newest members. It has never been repainted and has been well preserved by the original owner and his son and grandson.

Ann's home was built in 1924 with the guest house added in 1961. The home was owned by the Ronstadt family. They were/are a pioneer family in Tucson with a hardware store in downtown Tucson. In 1912 they also were a dealer for Studebaker/EMF/Flanders and sold more cars than any other make in Tucson. The family passed the business to Gilbert Ronstadt who had a daughter that was able to sing rather well.

We had 46 members at the party and 12 drove Studebaker cars and trucks to the outing. Check out our website and if you are ever in the area you are welcome to join us.

https://soazsdc.org/

[6hk71400]

Just received another picture of another Studebaker at the party



Less than 900 made in 1957. This one has a 3 speed column shift with overdrive

Bob Miles
Mine is a 57 two door hardtop

[StudeRich]

It WOULD be rare Bob, if it WAS a '57 Sedan Type Hardtop !

[paintim613]

Looks like a typical beautiful December Arizona day with atypical beautiful Studes.

[Buzzard]

Yes, Tim.
Wish we were in Arizona however we are dealing with 3 feet of snow here in British Columbia.
UGH!
Bill

[BobPalma]

Bob Miles: Do I see your fingerprints on the campaign from SAC that has resulted in my receiving, as of today, 24 Christmas and Get Well cards all mailed with a SAC return address? If so, thanks a bunch; our mailman about fainted... but he's used to unusual Studebaker things happening...

You guys and your chapter are great; thanks again.

(Could the 1957 President 2-door be for sale to the right party...like me...?) BP

[8E45E]

Could the 1957 President 2-door be for sale to the right party...like me...?

You and your cousin George slept in one, next to the Studebaker Proving Ground, right?

Craig

[BobPalma]

You and your cousin George slept in one, next to the Studebaker Proving Ground, right?

Craig

That is correct, Craig; that particular adventure was late summer 1961.

The cemetery was on the east side of a county road that ran along the west side of the Studebaker Proving Ground. We parked in the cemetery and faked sleeping (how could we under the circumstances?) until the early morning hours.

Then, under the cover of darkness, we snuck along a fence row of corn between the Proving Ground's western fence and the cemetery. We found our way over the fence and made our way through the "woods" on the west side of the Proving Ground until we came upon a stretch of the Proving Ground's test road that ran along the west side of the Proving Ground, a section of the many loops within the property.

We hid in the brush and heard a car coming at speed with its headlights on, but not too fast. We weren't detected but what I remember of that was that it was the first time we had seen the tail of the redesigned 1962 Larks because that's what sped by and the tail lights were quite different from 1959-1961 Larks. BP

[6hk71400]

Bob Miles: Do I see your fingerprints on the campaign from SAC that has resulted in my receiving, as of today, 24 Christmas and Get Well cards all mailed with a SAC return address? If so, thanks a bunch; our mailman about fainted... but he's used to unusual Studebaker things happening...

You guys and your chapter are great; thanks again.

(Could the 1957 President 2-door be for sale to the right party...like me...?) BP

Yes guilty on all accounts We also sent 24 cards to Walt Thompson in Washington state at the request of another poster. For the record, it takes 2 hours to address 48 cards so all the members at the party had to do was sign then put it in the envelope.

As far as the 1957 President 2 door, well there is a long story about that car (isn't there always). It belongs to our outgoing chapter President Randy Goble. Randy has several cars including a 1957 Packard Country Sedan, several M series trucks, a 1956 Commander sedan that he has owned for over 30 years. It took a year of negotiations with Donna to get the President. She had said no more cars until she agreed on this one. It runs as good as it looks; on flick of the key and the sweet V8 burble is very quietly heard.

I can't answer for Randy, but he has been known to sell cars that he owns. He is in the roster so if you are serious, contact him. Maybe he could work out a lease buy back agreement If you want, at our Chapter Annual Meeting for election of officers on January 15, I could get more pictures of this rust free California/Arizona car.

Bob Miles
You would be the right party Bob

[BobPalma]

Yes guilty on all accounts We also sent 24 cards to Walt Thompson in Washington state at the request of another poster. For the record, it takes 2 hours to address 48 cards so all the members at the party had to do was sign then put it in the envelope.

As far as the 1957 President 2 door, well there is a long story about that car (isn't there always). It belongs to our outgoing chapter President Randy Goble. Randy has several cars including a 1957 Packard Country Sedan, several M series trucks, a 1956 Commander sedan that he has owned for over 30 years. It took a year of negotiations with Donna to get the President. She had said no more cars until she agreed on this one. It runs as good as it looks; on flick of the key and the sweet V8 burble is very quietly heard.

I can't answer for Randy, but he has been known to sell cars that he owns. He is in the roster so if you are serious, contact him. Maybe he could work out a lease buy back agreement If you want, at our Chapter Annual Meeting for election of officers on January 15, I could get more pictures of this rust free California/Arizona car.

Bob Miles
You would be the right party Bob

Wow, Bob; thanks a bunch. I had sent a card to Walt Thompson as well.

That President looks like a real sweetheart, so I think I'll give Randy a call...

Best. BP

[Buzzard]

BP,
No doubt that you have been severely bitten by the bug! Go for it!
Bill

[6hk71400]

That is correct, Craig; that particular adventure was late summer 1961.

The cemetery was on the east side of a county road that ran along the west side of the Studebaker Proving Ground. We parked in the cemetery and faked sleeping (how could we under the circumstances?) until the early morning hours.

Then, under the cover of darkness, we snuck along a fence row of corn between the Proving Ground's western fence and the cemetery. We found our way over the fence and made our way through the "woods" on the west side of the Proving Ground until we came upon a stretch of the Proving Ground's test road that ran along the west side of the Proving Ground, a section of the many loops within the property.

We hid in the brush and heard a car coming at speed with its headlights on, but not too fast. We weren't detected but what I remember of that was that it was the first time we had seen the tail of the redesigned 1962 Larks because that's what sped by and the tail lights were quite different from 1959-1961 Larks. BP

Was that the same trip to the proving grounds that you and cousin George were escorted off the proving grounds by Studebaker Security? The statue of limitations have expired

Bob Miles
I have several things in my past that the statue of limitations have pasted

[BobPalma]

Was that the same trip to the proving grounds that you and cousin George were escorted off the proving grounds by Studebaker Security? The statute of limitations has expired.

Bob Miles
I have several things in my past that the statute of limitations have passed.

No, Bob; the escort off the Proving Grounds in either a pre-production or late-prototype Avanti was a different adventure in May or June 1962. That was in broad daylight, not under the cover of darkness. BP

[8E45E]

No, Bob; the escort off the Proving Grounds in either a pre-production or late-prototype Avanti was a different adventure in May or June 1962, That was in broad daylight, not under the cover of darkness.

I thought it was the factory in South Bend you got the 'escorts' to the exit doors, and not the Proving Ground.

I recall reading you got your first ride in the Avanti to the front gate at the Proving Ground. Do you remember what color it was?

Craig

[BobPalma]

I thought it was the factory in South Bend you got the 'escorts' to the exit doors, and not the Proving Ground.

I recall reading you got your first ride in the Avanti to the front gate at the Proving Ground. Do you remember what color it was?

Craig

Both, Craig; we were escorted to the nearest exit from a couple of unauthorized tours in the downtown factory area...and given a ride to the front gate at the Proving Ground in that early Avanti, which was white with an orange interior. Cousin George has studied detailed photographs of certain pre-production/prototype Avantis and is fairly certain he knows exactly which one was our ride to the main gate.

Keep in mind, we were there in the hot summertime, so many factory building side doors, rail siding sliding doors, etc., were open for ventilation. Security was present but lax and since we didn't look all that threatening (no cameras or anything), it was easy for us to be more-or-less ignored as we made our way around the main campus. Too, we weren't carrying lunch buckets or anything, so no chance of replicating Johnny Cash's "One Piece at a Time" scenario. BP

[8E45E]

Both, Craig; we were escorted to the nearest exit from a couple of unauthorized tours in the downtown factory area...and given a ride to the front gate at the Proving Ground in that early Avanti, which was white with an orange interior. Cousin George has studied detailed photographs of certain pre-production/prototype Avantis and is fairly certain he knows exactly which one was our ride to the main gate.

Thanks, Bob. EX2930 (as per Post 11)? https://forum.studebakerdriversclub....y-500-may-1962

Craig

[R3 challenger]

Hi, Craig; I have an original factory sheet dated March 23, 1962. It was went out by N.A. Lamberti. It lists in detail 10 prototype Avantis, but it does not assign serial numbers to the cars...they are simply numbered 1 through 10. The Avanti we were escorted out of the Proving Grounds in was number 2 on this list: It's description was "White Fawn & Orange, Speck. Orange & Black Carpet". Initially, it was used for display at "S-P Stockholders' Meeting, South Bend, April 26". Under the heading of "Final Usage", it says "Engineering Radio, Suppression, and Endurance Testing". It seemed to be undergoing the endurance testing phase in June when we rode in it.

Bob is right about us hiding in the bushes (or behind trees) in the dark in 1961, watching the '62 Lark speed by. As I recall, we stayed put for awhile and saw the car more than once as it seemed to be making laps around the back (west) road of the Proving Ground. Bob, I believe that was the time we each had walkie-talkies. I remember conversing about the car from opposite sides of the road as it drove between us in the dark. We were not detected on that excursion. Fun times!