what to do with old Studebaker? or even try?

[04ctd]

when i was in high school, i worked at a local shop, and the owner drove this around town.
it had the stick shift with the "hill holder" that was pretty cool.

i got to take it apart, and sand it down, and prime it.
he never painted it, and it has been in the weather and unloved for a long time.

is it worth messing with? (in other words, can i do it without major fab work)

here are three options:
-rebuild motor, recover seats, drive it as a "rat rod" more or less.
-drop a carb'ed LSX/T56 combo in it, and have a funner rat rod.
-put on a camaro/something subframe clip on it?


i really don't have the money or time to mess with it.

just hate to see something that i worked on ~20years ago keep rusting away.

[oestek]

Looks pretty complete, though rough... maybe find a Stude board to see if some Stude lover wants it.

[NJSPEEDER]

Is the metal soft or just thoroughly surface rusted?

If the body is still strong i say go for it. Even if everything underneath is bad that would just be an excuse for a custom frame

-Tim

[SLO_Z28]

I say absolutely restore it! My grandpa used to own a Studabaker dealership, and a life goal is to own a pro touring Lark!

Something like this:

[Derek69SS]

A 2-door "3-boob" stude is definitely worth saving if it's solid enough... cool car.

[73z-6sp]

gbhnjm

[69fbodyproject]

Right now my grandfather is building a 63 golden hawk with a c6 corvette chassis under it. trying to have it drivelike new, but look old school

[LeighP]

That particular model Stude is very popular with hot rodders and custom guys....if you don't want to sink dollars in it, you should be able to find someone willing to pay you to take it off your hands.

[novaderrik]

that thing would be an instant legend if it was bolted to a jacked up Blazer 4X4 chassis..

[SRD art]

"i really don't have the money or time to mess with it."

Sounds like ebay is your buddy.

As a "hot rod designer" dude, I have never ever liked the lines of of that c pillar and rear window opening. The rest of the car kicks tail. Here's what I'd do-

Make a convert out of it. That big open tub and those smooth rear deck and 1/4 panels with a clean interior would be too cool. Chop the Windshield and A pillars 2". Shiny black it out, bullet nose and body. Remove the front bumper, trim, door handles and fill holes- smooth is a good thing. Put it on a late model or aftermarket chassis. Boosted LS motor/ 5/6 speed. 18" fatties all around with black centers and brushed lips, heavy on the negative offset. Drop the frame to 4.5" rear/ 4" front off the ground. Go beat the tar out of it at the autocross. Nuff said.

[rockytopper]

It's junk, I'll take it of your hands

[LeighP]

Yeah, I agree....I'ver seen a few converted to a soft top or even a lift off Carson top and they look better.

"i really don't have the money or time to mess with it."

Sounds like ebay is your buddy.

As a "hot rod designer" dude, I have never ever liked the lines of of that c pillar and rear window opening. The rest of the car kicks tail. Here's what I'd do-

Make a convert out of it. That big open tub and those smooth rear deck and 1/4 panels with a clean interior would be too cool. Chop the Windshield and A pillars 2". Shiny black it out, bullet nose and body. Remove the front bumper, trim, door handles and fill holes- smooth is a good thing. Put it on a late model or aftermarket chassis. Boosted LS motor/ 5/6 speed. 18" fatties all around with black centers and brushed lips, heavy on the negative offset. Drop the frame to 4.5" rear/ 4" front off the ground. Go beat the tar out of it at the autocross. Nuff said.

[rockytopper]

I'd have to disagree with you guys, I see plenty of potential

[The Stickman]

Wow!!!!

[cheapta]

That's about a '50 Champion,right? I had one of those,I literally found it in the woods on an old farm behind my house-before the owner sold the property and developers built a zillion houses out there-anyway,I gave the owner a few bucks and dragged it home only to realise that the body was little more than dust. It sat in the back yard for a while before I scrapped it. A classic case of emotion beating the crap out of logic.
I would build it if I had it,the body style is just so wierd/cool. Sounds like a perfect candidate for a chassis swap-measure the wheelbase and hit the boneyard with your tapemeasure.
Rockytopper-that Stude is gorgeous!!

Peter

[CraigMorrison]

We are actually going to start on my wife's '53 Stude this fall. All I've got to say is this board needs more Stude guys! It would definitely raise some eyebrows to have a bulletnose that could go around corners.

[BADNBLK]

I think that they are cool looking. Even if it wasn't chopped up spuer hard on the outside. I honestly think it would be cool to leave the body as is, cause that rust is really even across the body, then go bonkers with drivetrain and suspension.

A 50 Studebaker Champion is what we put in the logo for our shop...

[Procharmo]

Put a 122mm Turbonetics compressor behind the grill!!!!