Vehicle Description
If you're a fan of pre-war era sedans, and are looking for your next pride and joy to take to the local Saturday cruise-ins and Sunday drives, take a closer look at this 1936 Studebaker Dictator. Featuring a two year restoration that was completed in 2008, this light green sedan is powered by a smooth-running 218 cubic inch L-head inline six!
Although the Dictator was Studebaker's lowest priced model in 1936, only trumped by the 8 cylinder President model, it certainly doesn't mean anything was compromised in terms of style and luxury. The Dictator line was available in many body styles and featured an abundance of styling details. The signature vertical grille proudly displays clean and bright chrome and leads the eye to the freestanding headlights nestled on bullet style cradles. The horizontal separators on the side add a nice touch of elegance. A split windshield augments the chrome rear view mirror up front, and like most cars of the era, there is only one taillight that sits next to the big, notchy trunk out back. The green paint is smooth and lays nicely on all of the panels which feature even gaps all around. And when you step back and shift your focus to the large, flared fenders that sandwich the wide running board it's really hard not to appreciate the presence this car brings to the road!
Open the suicide doors and you're greeted by a plush, tweed interior. In front of the driver is a very handsome instrument panel that provides all of the necessary information such as fuel level, speed, oil pressure, water temperature and amperage. Within easy reach is the long gear selector that communicates changes to the transmission, and the vintage three spoke steering wheel provides a great diameter for smooth turning. The color matched dash is certainly an interesting piece and even gives the passenger a pleasant sight with a dignified glove box. The door panels are simple, but provide a nice touch with an Art Deco inspired stitched design that surrounds chrome handles and cranks. Rear passengers remain happy with a roomy and plush bench seat, providing them with hours of comfort for those long, sunny day cruises. Overall, the interior is very simple, yet stylish, and comes together very nicely for a package that is fun to look at and comfortable to sit in.
The Dictator was available with a 218 cubic inch, L-head inline six cylinder in 1936. But with 90 horsepower, the Dictator was surely no slouch for its time...and this one still aims to please. That smooth-running inline six sends power through a four speed transmission, back to a solid rear end to provide happy cruising. The X-frame chassis is stiff and provides great handling for a car of this era. Stopping comes courtesy of hydraulic brakes, and it all comes to the road via stylistic steel wheels and 6.00 x 16 bias ply whitewall tires.
Less than 30,000 Dictators were produced for the 1936 model year, and with the fit and finish this one presents, let alone the few that are left, we don't expect it to last long in our showroom. If you're looking for something to stand out on the showfield, this 1936 Studebaker Dictator is the car for you! Call today!
