Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America's Fort Lauderdale
event, March 31-2, 2017.
Chassis No.
7170407
Estimate:
$ 55,000 - $ 65,000 US
The 1955 Studebaker Speedster was part of the President line, State
series, new for 1955 and ended up being a one-year-only offering
with only 2,215 being produced, according to reliable sources. A
single page advertisement proclaimed the Speedster as "Something
new and very special."
Further promotion followed with it being "Styled and built by
Studebaker-Packard Corporation....world's largest producer of
sports cars." And sporty it remains; low-slung, road-hugging,
exciting in styling and performance. The performance is delivered
from the President line V-8 engine that was given the "Passmaster"
name. It is a 259.2-cid with 185-hp that carries a four-barrel
carburetor and runs with dual exhaust. The transmission is a
column-shift automatic.
"The Speedster is a full-bodied fully weather-protected,
five-passenger masterpiece of brilliance and brawn - lightning fast
on take-off - surging and sustained 'go' - the smoothest cornering
sports model anyone ever drove." The interior keeps the sporty, yet
elegant theme alive with aircraft cockpit-style instrument grouping
that includes a tachometer and "high speed" speedometer set in an
engine-turned dashboard fascia. Studebaker offered the Speedster in
"limited quantities for those who want something very special."
Fully restored and presented in excellent condition, this Speedster
features a black and white two-tone exterior. The interior features
similar shades with the seats and headliner in white, while the
dash surround, door panels and carpet is black. The seats have been
redone in the same diamond-type pattern that the factory offered
when new. According to the Standards catalog almost every
conceivable option available at the time was standard on the
Speedster. Exterior trims, details and brightwork show the
beautiful degree of specialness that this car espoused, including
the noteworthy and distinctive "butter knife" side trim.
Among these features on the car being offered are factory wirewheel
hubcaps, whitewall tires, bumper-integrated foglights, power
steering, rear center armrest, clock, Studebaker AM radio with
power antenna, spare and trunk liner. The Studebaker has been
converted from 6-volt to a 12-volt system.
Studebaker concluded that "It's strictly a special for the special
few in every community who always want the newest and smartest in
automobiles."
