photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Ken Leonard | all galleries >> Crystal Cove Sat. Morn. Cruise (20 Volumes) >> Crystal Cove State Beach Sat. Morn cruise Vol. #1 > 1951 Studebaker - Click on photo to read lot's more
previous | next
1951 Studebaker - Click on photo to read lots more

1951 Studebaker - Click on photo to read lot's more

Crystal Cove State Beach Sat. Morn. Cruise


other sizes: small medium original
Nadersnightmare 23-Jan-2010 17:47
The hill holder feature which was a simple steel ball that would roll back into a notch in a shaft in the transmision goes back to 1939 according to my uncle who drove one. They really did work slick. Made starting a manual transmission car on a hill very confident and easy, especially for a novice driver.
Rocket_Man 14-Oct-2007 15:29
Nice Ride....I recently purchased a '51 Champion Starlight coupe (model w/aeroplane cockpit window in the rear) minus engine and tranny for $1500. Color is the the light green. Body is rock solid with the exception of the lower front passenger door which is solid but has rust damage. It looks to me that they put a rust coating on the inside of the body.
My plans are to put a '64 Plymouth 225 6 cylinder, mated to a 3-speed w/ overdrive from a Dodge Van. It will be a Rat Rod and I plan to leave as much stock as possible. I want it to be a daily driver so all mechanicals will be upgraded. I am hoping to get high 30 mpg with the overdrive.
The car is nicknamed "Rocket Man"
mimmckey 08-Jul-2007 00:44
I took my first driving lessons in the Studebaker Commander Coupe. It had lots of power and I think was the first car to have a "hill holder". When stopped on an incline it would sit there and not move until the driver applied gas...no brake was needed to hold it from rolling back. It was a very fast car and many times I snuck out late at night and drove it as my parents slept. A great car and would love to have another one like it one day.The phots are great and bring back many happy memories.Thank you!
mindy 25-May-2007 15:07
hi my last name is Studabaker and I want to know were do you get the Studabaker cars? Because I like to get one but I don't have the money for so when I get the money for the Studabaker car and so on.
chuck curran 18-Apr-2007 20:41
I saw an Internet ad recently for a '51 for sale in Indianapolis. The seller displayed several pictures. The coupe was maroon or red. I am interested, but I can not relocate that ad. Any help available? Thanks.
Guest 31-Jul-2006 22:39
Body colors of 1951 Studebakers
Rick Johnson 19-Mar-2005 19:58
Raymond Loewey told his design team : "It must look like zee aeroplane", and when the "Next Look" from Studebaker appeared in 1950, it did. The 1950-51 Studebakers with their bullet nose were well-received by the public and Studebaker set a new sales record with the 1950 model. The main difference between the 1950 & the 1951 model shown in these photographs was that, in 1951, the outer ring around the bullet nose became the body color of the car instead of the outer chrome ring of 1950 & and the air intake on the 1951 had a chrome mesh grille treatment. The biggest difference was under the hood. Studebaker became the first independent to field an overhead valve V-8 in its Commander series in the 1951 model year. Please see additional comments about this car with the accompanying photograph of this car showing the car from the rear. Ken, you did a swell job photographing this car with the interesting history. The reaction when people see this car has always been love-hate: that is to say you either love it or hate it. Fortunately for Studebaker and Raymond Loewey, the public loved it to the tune of record sales in 1950. After that profitable year, Studebaker began its slide into oblivion, but not without giving us some very stylish cars, including the 1953 Starliner, and the Hawks of the late fifties and early sixties, and a very competent compact called the Lark.
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment