Vehicle Description
Early in the post-war era, Studebaker held the position of "best of
the rest" in the American auto industry. Having recovered from
bankruptcy in the 1930s, the South Bend, Indiana firm knew it
couldn't compete directly with The Big Three, so they took a lean
and agile approach to producing cars. If they couldn't sell the
most cars, Studebaker made a point at being the first with new
technology and style. After World War II, Studebaker beat the big
three by up to three years with the first all-new post-war car. The
1947 models were so unique in the market that it sent other
companies scrambling back to the drawing board, and even the mighty
Ford Motor Company saw it as the new standard of the era. Feeling
confident, Studebaker rode their momentum into the 1950s. However,
a series of missteps and the last-minute cancellation of the new
Model N project meant that by 1952, they were yet again on the back
foot. In an attempt to save face and boost morale, the styling
team, led by the great Raymond Loewy and assisted by Robert Bourke,
created a stunning, European influenced GT-car based on the
120-inch Land Cruiser chassis. In the matter of just ten days,
designers worked feverishly to create the rakish, low-slung coupe.
All the while, Studebaker bosses were paying close attention, and
they quickly saw the production potential of the stunning new
design. Introduced as a 1953 model, the new Studebakers again
stunned onlookers and competitors with its radical styling. The
long and lean two-door coupe was undeniably the star of the show,
while the hastily designed four-door sedan was somewhat ungainly in
comparison. What should have been a massive hit for Studebaker was
again hampered by mismanagement and fickle buyers. The marketing
department predicted sedans would account for 75% of sales, while
the coupe would account for just 25%. In practice, the split was
more like 50/50, and there was no way for the factory to meet such
demand for the coupes. Also, rumors of a merger with Packard caused
many buyers to adopt a "wait and see" approach, for fear of buying
a potential orphan. Engineering and quality issues struck the
earliest batch of cars, souring the otherwise beautiful machine's
reputation from the word go. The final straw came in the form of a
price war initiated by the Big Three, which saw the Independents
left in the dust and unable to compete in a fierce market. Despite
the initial setbacks, the Loewy-Bourke Coupe would serve as the
foundation for Studebaker's flagship models for years to come,
going through several refreshes and redesigns, evolving into the
Hawk line before Studebaker's eventual demise in the mid-1960s.
Today, early examples stand as some of the prettiest post-war
American cars ever built, with distinct European-influenced styling
from the Father of Industrial Design, the great Raymond Loewy.
Representing the top of the line for 1953 Studebakers is this
gorgeous Commander Starliner Hardtop. This car is an outstanding
example of the breed, subject to a bare-metal restoration finished
in attractive factory-offered colors of Bombay Red with a Salem
White roof. This car comes to us via long-term ownership in a
private collection of similarly high-quality vehicles. Following
its restoration in the early 2000s, it appeared in Collectible
Automobile Magazine, in a special feature about the Loewy
Studebakers. Today, the excellent older restoration remains in
beautiful condition, with straight panels, high-quality paintwork,
and exquisite detailing. Devoid of the fussy chrome jewelry that
was typical of the early 1950s, the Commander Starliner has
delicate bumpers and carefully judged brightwork that highlight the
clean and uncluttered lines. Excellent, high-quality plating
features on the bumpers, grille, and window trim, and the car is
very well-detailed. It rides on period correct Firestone whitewall
tires, with the steel wheels fitted with factory-optional wire
wheel covers. The theme of restrained elegance continues inside,
with a clean and orderly layout to the dash and understated
upholstery treatments. The two-tone red and white upholstery mimics
the paint scheme, trimmed using correct materials and finished to a
very high standard. Plush brown carpeting and touches of gold
accent plating on the dash denote this as a range-topping
Starliner. Despite the rakish profile, rear passengers enjoy
comfortable seating, thanks to a recessed floor and low-mounted
individual seats. Restored instruments are excellent, and this car
features the Studebaker Climatizer - a primitive automatic climate
control system of sorts. In addition, there is a period radio, a
highly-detailed trunk, and the sale includes a host of period
advertisements, owner's manuals, and factory service manuals. Power
comes from the original 232 cubic-inch OHV V8 engine, making 120
horsepower in standard spec. In this car, it pairs with an
automatic transmission to create the ideal relaxed grand tourer.
Much like the rest of the vehicle, the detailing is exceptional,
with correct paint finishes on the engine and accessories. Correct
fabric wiring is used, and factory correct decals appear on the oil
filter and air filter housings. The attention to detail is
outstanding, down to the correct Willard battery. Rarely do we
encounter Studebakers of this era restored to such a high level,
and it is marvelous to see such an excellent example of the
stunning Loewy-Bourke coupe. In addition to the owner's manuals and
factory literature, the sale includes an extensive history file
containing restoration photos, marque and model history, technical
information and a copy of the factory production records. Highly
detailed and ready for enjoyment, this 1953 Commander Starliner
Coupe brilliantly captures the optimism and creativity that defined
Studebaker in the early 50s.