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Vehicle Description
This car, as near as I can tell, is all original except for the tires, which are late model wide whitewall retrofit tires. From the history I got on the car, it was sold new in Pennsylvania and still has the dealer's ID on the trunk lid. It was owned by an older collector in Pennsylvania for many years and was stored indoors and driven to club meets and shows. I bought the car last year from a broker acting on behalf of the owner who was liquidating his collection due to health problems.
This is the sedan version of the famous Raymond Loewey designed coupe, which won many design awards. The same styling themes were applied to the sedans and station wagons, but they were built on a shorter wheelbase.The build quality, especially the tightness of the sedans was much better than on the coupes and hardtops.
This Studebaker has been unmolested all these years, and would be an easy car to restore to factory condition as everything in it is authentic. However, the car is in fine shape to drive on tours, parades and to various club and meet activities. Many potential owners might want to keep it just as it is, for all its authenticity. The interior is altogether, no rips or tears, headliner is all in tact,but the carpet may have been replaced, ( I'm not sure ) but it is the exact original style and material used in 54 Studebakers.The fabric is the original factory material, which is very rare to see in a car this age. The paint is original and has held up well these many years, but it is in no way, show quality, having collected all the little rock chips and other bruises over the years. Still, it shines when waxed and looks great from about 20 feet. To repaint or not repaint is a big question for the new owner. A simple repaint would make it look like new again, but it would no longer be all original, something every collector of a car like this must decide for himself.
The engine is original and I have no history on what might have been done to it. It starts instantly, even after sitting for days it only takes one or two pumps on the accelerator to get it going. It warms up rapidly with the automatic choke but has never come close to overheating on me. The engine has no peculiar noises and it holds proper oil pressure. The car shifts through its manual gears smoothly, but I can't determine if the overdrive actually works all the time or not. It feels like it goes into OD if you let up on the gas pedal at lower speeds, but if you don't drop it into OD until 40 or 50 mph, it doesn't feel like it actually engages. The windshield wiper motor was replaced so they work fine. The heater and defroster were working this winter, the radio doesn't work, but all the gauges and speedo work properly.
I bought this car for its originality and because I like the styling. My circumstances have changed since then. I am now taking care of a stroke patient at home which keeps me very busy and I need the space in the garage that this car takes up. My reserve is realistic, but it is not a distress sale. I hope to sell it to someone who will enjoy it and keep it in good condition.
The buyer will need to send me a $500 deposit by mail, or by Paypal and the balance will be due within 10 days, either by Paypal or by certified check and I won't ship the car until the check has cleared at my bank. If you live in Northern California and would like to see the car, please email me and I can arrange that. If you would like special pictures of the car, please eamil me and I'll try to provide them. I have no pix of the under carriage, but I have seen the car up on the rack and it is clean and rust free underneath. This car was obviously garaged through most of its lifetime. The usual Studebaker front fender rust is almost totally missing, but there are a few very tiny dots of it in those predictable places, mainly near the vent doors in the fenders. By Studebaker standards, this car is virtually rust free. I don't think they'd show up in a close up photograph even.
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