I recall that he was a fan of the Studebaker Scotsman, a bare-bones model from 1957-58.
That 4 door was about $21,000 in today’s dollars. A super strippo that few would buy today.
Not very many people bought them in '57 & '58. It wasn’t a terrible idea for Studebaker to try to market them, but the public didn’t exactly embrace the concept. Luckily for the company, the Lark–introduced for the '59 model year–was a success, and it gave them a few of their most profitable years in… a long time.
But, the introduction of compacts from The Big 3, in 1960, meant that the Lark’s star faded fast.
Studebakers were a little pricy in their class. I think it cost them more to build than the big three because they did not benefit from the economies of scale. They were a bargain as a used car because most people did not realize how good a car they were. The lightweight Champion 6 got better mpg than anything it’s size. I had a 56 Commander V* that was fast and still gave me 21 mpg. Very unusual in 56. The Studebaker V8 was the only one that used a gear drive instead of a timing chain When you timed it there was no flutter in the timing light.
My girlfriend drove her family’s Scotsman to college back in the day.
I as surprised to see the one in the brochure looked black, every one I saw was light gray. I also did not know they made a wagon.
Maybe a cheap delivery option for small businesses? They made a stretched 4-door for taxi service.
According to one of my many books on Studebaker’s history, it cost them as much to build a Studebaker as it cost GM to build a Buick, but Stude had to try to compete price-wise with Chevy, Ford, and Plymouth. Their high overhead was due to being saddled with a HUGE outdated factory complex that dated from the late 19th Century, and to the fact that their fear of a strike caused them to pay a higher hourly wage than the Big 3 did.
I just don’t remember seeing them. Dad had a lark for commuting. Solid car but bare bones.
@VDCdriver The Studebaker Scotsman came along about the time I got my driver’s license. Even then I was of the mindset that “less is better”. There were few options available fot the Studebaker Scotsman. Automatic transmission was not available, but the Borg Warner overdrive was available. A radio wasn’t available as a fsctory option. One had to go to Sears, Montgomery Ward. Western Auto or some such place and buy a radio.
When I completed my Master’s degree in 1965, I bought a 1965 Rambler Classic 550, the bare bones bottom of the model. It was a repossession with 7000 miles on the odometer. I got the remainder of the 24,000 mile warranty. I paid $1750 for the Rambler. The only “accessories” that I finally had installed by the dealer were a windshield washer and backup lights. I taught for 4 years and then when back to school for a doctorate. I drove that Rambler a couple more years after completing my degree and earning tenure. The money I saved not buying a newer car went for a down payment for a house.
I wouldn’t buy a “strippo” today. I like having air conditioning. The power sliding doors on the Toyota Sienna minivan I now own are invaluable as I have fellow musicians with disabilities I transport with me to band and orchestra rehearsals. Interestingly. the 2017 Toyota Sienna with the automatic transmission and air conditioning gets better mileage than the 1965 Rambler from my earlier days.
I happened to order take out from a burger chain because of their offer of free French fries. While waiting was looking at the pictures. One had a 1960 Lark pulling out of the restaurant.
As far as the Scotsman, I imagine the majority of 57-58s sold were Champions followed by Commanders or Presidents.
Heh heh. I dont remember what the Indiana trooper was driving when he stopped me. Normally I’m pretty cooperative but had i known I could have asked him when they took his studebaker away.
I did know an Indiana State police officer who lived about half a mile from where my family lived. The first vehicle he was assigned when he graduated from the police academy was a brand new 1962 Studebaker Lark patrol car.
The state police officer at the end of my road drives a marked Explorer and there is also an unmarked Tesla MY in the driveway with MD government plates. They have enough young children that his wife must be a stay at home mom. He must be a big cheese to have two state vehicles. He must also be a big cheese to own a home in my neighborhood on one income.
If you can get close enough to that “Explorer” without trespassing on his property, you will see that it has an “Interceptor” logo rather than an “Explorer” logo. If you enlarge this pic, you can see the Interceptor name spelled out across the hood.
For quite a few decades, Ford models that are modified for police duty are Interceptor models. Another example would be the old Crown Vics, which bore an Interceptor logo. Also police-modified Fusion sedans were “Interceptors”.
Incidentally, if you want to know if an “Explorer” that is following you is actually an unmarked police vehicle, look at its roof. If it has roof rails, it is not a police vehicle, as that feature is deleted on the Interceptor models.
That goes for basically all factory built LEO chase vehicles, the main exceptions would be drug seized vehicles converted to LEO vehicles… Prioritizing aerodynamics, and room for the lightbars and possible radios is why they don’t… Non chase vehicles can be whatever…
Also all LEO chase vehicles have calibrated speedometers… Civilian Speedo’s are typically off by 1 or 2 MPH to slow you down a tad…
Use Live Data for ABS/wheel speed and or VVS reading against your dash MPH gauge… YMMV
I will have to look, never notice that about the lack of rails. Years ago I went through our Sheriff’s Citizen Academy, we got the opportunity to drive Crown Vics. I think the interceptors had ten more horsepower, but still too little for the Crown Vics.
Of course the best interceptor was the Australian version with the supercharger, raise your hand if you get the reference.
And once again I can’t raise my hand. Why not tell what you are talking about ?
Clearly!
I was merely pointing-our a convenient way of determining if the “Explorer” in your rear view mirror is a LE vehicle… or not.
However, it is possible to order “civilian” vehicles with a calibrated speedometer. All of the strippo state-owned vehicles that I drove (including a Stude Lark), back in the '60s, had calibrated speedometers. For some reason, the State of NJ specified that option, even though the cars had only the standard 6-cylinder engine and no radio. The only other options on those cars were automatic trans and a heater.