Vehicle Description
1954 Studebaker Commander Deluxe Starlight
The Studebaker Commander is the model name of several automobiles
produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana and
Studebaker of Canada Ltd of Walkerville and, later, Hamilton,
Ontario. Studebaker began using the Commander name in 1927 and
continued to use it until 1964, with the exception of 1936 and
1959-63. The name was applied to various products in the company's
line-up from year to year.
For consignment, a 1954 Studebaker Commander Starlight coupe,
designed by Raymond Loewy in 1954. This was the first all-new
Studebaker since 1947. Although it had a relatively old-fashioned
V8 engine beneath its hood, the low-slung European design was far
ahead of its time. This example has been well maintained and is
from the great state of California, (here we come!). It has plenty
of extreme options added on and is a mostly original car.
Exterior
Its sleek front end with a low slung rounded over hood nose and
dual opening and even lower slung grille with shiny bumper below
and a single flanking visored headlight on either side is just
European inspired sexy. A long front end, single doors, wrap-
around rear glass and V-shaped B pillars show early signs of the
pony car before it became the pony car. The trunk unabashedly dives
slowly between low rounded fins topped with vertical rounded over
tail lights. A big chrome trim spear tops the rear quarters and the
tail lights melt into the rear bumper. This beauty is bathed in all
Chandron Red with a Sandusky Beige contrasting roof. It shows well
where the rear glass opening meets the B pillar for the roofline
and the curved around rear glass. Plenty of chrome trimmings are
surrounding the glass, which is tinted. The doors have a small
hockey stick coves stamped in them and on the beginnings of the
rear quarters is a nifty V8 badge in chrome. Chromed side view
mirrors have a Buck Rogers look and are quintessential Loewy design
cues. 15-inch red edged wheels with spun chromed wheel coverings
and a god center are wrapped in wide white 7.00-15 Firestone rubber
all around. The car looks and gives the feeling of sex on 4
wheels.
Interior
I'm getting ready to jump inside but before I do I need to describe
the doors so here I go! Gray leather tuck and roll angled vertical
ribbed panels are on top with smooth white bottoms. Shiny knobs and
actuators are on, a small white vinyl armrest is in the very center
and metal gray sills are on top. Inside we see a wonderfully
preserved front split back bench. This uses white tuck and roll
wide inserts and smooth gray uppers and lowers as well as bolsters
and backs edged in gray piping. A white plastic edge tub liner is
noted on the hinges as well as seat belts. In back, a full leather
wrapped matching bench is inserted between the rear small glass
windows. All is floating on nice gray carpeting. The dash is very
interesting and different...kind of turning the conventional dash
upside down with the lineup of switches knobs and pulls on an upper
stripe polished aluminum. There is a Studebaker badge in
grandmother's handwriting embossed in the center in front of the
steering wheel. The gauges are in a white elongated oval trimmed in
gray panel and lined up on the bottom. They are round and have
black faces with white lettering and are just above the steering
column. The steering wheel is gray and has a half round horn ring
and curvaceous S badged gold steering wheel center. An AM radio is
on board, and some more gray panel loaded with a lighter, ash
receptacle, and glovebox are in front of the passenger. The dash is
topped in curved over gray metal. A nice tightey whitey headliner
is above. A shout to the trunk which has the factory liner and a
full decked out spare with hubcap and all.
Drivetrain
Within a Chandron Red painted glossy engine bay with no corrosion
or even dust, we see a 232ci V8. It has a single 2-barrel
carburetor on top and a 3 speed manual transmission with overdrive
is on back. The rear axle weighs in at 4.09 ratio. It has a hill
holder option installed. Give this engine and bay a standing
ovation for appearance and fit and finish.
Undercarriage
Nice black surface treatments with no rust are noted on the frame
and stamped floor pans. Independent coil springs are on front along
with leaf springs on back. Drum brakes are on all 4 corners. There
is a shiny dual exhaust with glasspack style mufflers that give
this car a low rumble and gurgle.
Drive-Ability
This wonderfully shapely gal fired right up and idled smoothly. On
the test track it took off like a rocket, and steering and braking
was smooth and solid. The clock, radio, fuel gauge and temperature
gauge are all not operational.
Want to drive a real piece of forward thinking to the club? Well
then this is just the ticket to do so and look great doing it, with
efficiency and safety, aligned with some artistic license looks.
It's a Studebaker and a head turner. It made me take a second look
and it was only in our photo studio, so I hopped in and drove
off!
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
