The history of automobiles in the United States finds many names of automobile manufacturers that, for one reason or another, are no longer a part of that industry. In the early 1900’s, when most automobiles were little more than motorized buggies, hundreds of small town machine shops were putting their skills to the test make horseless carriages. Many of those were short-lived efforts and abandoned after making just a few of these new-fangled objects.
The name “Studebaker” was already well known in the transportation industry, as they made wagons that were part of the country’s effort to settle the western frontier. In the late 1800’s the family-owned company began researching the horseless carriages that were coming onto the scene and soon the family resources were being allocated to this emerging market.
The company managed to survive The Great Depression and into the sixth decade of the 20th century before exiting the automotive industry at the end of the 1966 model year. Now, the name is just another of the many who no longer make new cars and trucks.
Following WWII, there were a few coachbuilders who built station wagon styled vehicles on Studebaker M5 truck chassis. These could accurately be considered as the forerunner of the SUV’s we know today. These were very rare vehicles at the time and are virtually extinct today.
While it is impossible to track these vehicles through factory records, it is believed that one of those M5-chassied vehicles was shipped to the Netherlands, where it was finished and used to ferry passengers from the train station to a mountain ski resort. This 1948 Studebaker woodie wagon is believed to be that vehicle.
Purchased by the present owner in 2004, the vehicle was restored just prior to his acquisition and despite the passage of 20-plus years it still presents very nicely today. The wood trim both inside the vehicle and on the outside are in excellent condition. The vibrant red paint shines nicely and the brown vinyl interior features three-row seating just like today’s large SUVs.
Power comes from the standard Studebaker M5 drivetrain, with an inline 6-cylinder engine utilizing a floor-shifted manual transmission to transmit power to the rear differential. Wood accents abound on the interior including the vehicle’s headliner, a testament to the quality of craftsmen involved with the build.
Evergreen Digital Showroom offers this exceptionally rare, one-of-a-kind 1958 Studebaker woodie wagon for sale at a price of $94,900 USD. Pre-purchase inspection is both welcomed and advised. We will gladly arrange transportation for this vehicle at buyer’s expense or will work with the shipping company of buyer’s choice to facilitate the transaction. For additional information on this vehicle or to make an offer call sales manager Steve Russell at 417-532-8000.
NOTICE
Because of the number of vehicles we represent we cannot drive every vehicle for long distances. These vehicles have been part of static displays for long periods of time, in some cases for decades, and are subject to the flaws and imperfections consistent with that. While we do our best to disclose all issues we known about a vehicle in our advertising, these are old cars and something that has always worked in the past might not function properly today. Please check the requirements of your state regarding the licensing and registration of classic vehicles and make sure the vehicle you are looking at meets those if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, all vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom possess a clean (non-branded) title which will be provided the new buyer when purchase funds clear our financial institution. Virtually all our vehicles are sold as mileage exempt due to their age. We do not warranty any vehicle, nor any part of the vehicle including air conditioning systems, brake systems, electrical systems and gauges, fuel systems, accessories or powertrain components.
These are old vehicles and it is very common for them to require certain maintenance and upkeep for them to be operational. In many cases issues with leaks may develop when being driven after a long period of not being used. This is common, as classic cars at some point will leak fluids. For this reason, we do not encourage buyers to attempt driving their purchase home as we cannot guarantee functional reliability of these vehicles. We strongly encourage prospective buyers to be sure they are comfortable with these issues before purchasing a classic car.
Descriptions of vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom are intended to be informational in nature and do not in any way constitute any sort of warranty, expressed or implied. Again, these vehicles are presented “as-is, where-is” without guarantee or warranty. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 will likely not be included in the databases of companies such as CarFax and AutoCheck that provide vehicle history information to consumers. If you have specific questions regarding a vehicle we urge you to contact us at 417-532-8000.
