General Motors' Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

cpicton1 · Mar 30, 2003

General Motors\' Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

General Motors doesn't like the fact that the Avanti Motor Corp. is going to build a Studebaker XUV that looks like their Hummer H2. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Setback in Lawsuit

Avanti Brings Back the Studebaker Name

burnercan · Mar 31, 2003

Re: General Motors\' Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

"Studebaker", WOW, what memory's that name stirs up. I had a 1947 Champion 4 Dr and what a fun car it was. As I remember the only gripe I had was that the underseat heater did not do a very good job in a New England winter.
I had not thought about that car until I saw this post. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Cpicton 1. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bird · Mar 31, 2003

Re: General Motors\' Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the underseat heater did not do a very good job )</font>

Talk about bringing back memories. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I had a '57 Silver Hawk, but it only had the 6 cylinder engine, manual transmission with overdrive; great little car, and I still think just about the best looking car ever built. But being young and not too bright, I traded it in to a used car lot after about 3 years (it was a year old when I bought it). At that time, one of my Dad's service station customers, a quite elderly gentleman was driving an old, and getting pretty ragged, Studebaker and when he found out I had traded off my Silver Hawk, he asked me about it, then went and bought it. Naturally, it did not have air-conditioning (which was the reason I had traded it for a '55 Cadillac Coupe de Ville) and it gets quite hot in Texas in the summer. Well, a little over a year later, I happened to be visiting Dad at his service station when the old gentleman came in driving my old Silver Hawk and I asked him how liked it, and he told me it was just great except for being so doggoned HOT to ride in; much hotter than his old Studebaker. So, I went to have a look, and as you may have guessed by now, that underseat heater had never been turned off. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif He was a very happy Studebaker owner for several years after I showed him how to turn the heater off. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

PitbullMidwest · Apr 1, 2003

Re: General Motors\' Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

My uncle and cousin rstored Studebakers for many years. My cousin's Silver Hawk won first place at the nationals in the late '70.

When my uncle passed away they got a permit from the city to transport his casket from the funeral home to the grave site in the back of his Studebaker pickup, very touching.

MossRoad · Apr 1, 2003

Re: General Motors\' Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

OK, you nostalgia nuts...

My treat to you /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

http://www.studebakermuseum.org/

In my hometown /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Bird · Apr 2, 2003

Re: General Motors\' Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

Nostalgia? You bet. If I ever get up that way, I'd have to visit that museum. The first pickup truck (or truck of any kind) I ever drove, in the lowest gear only and off road /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, was my Dad's company truck, Studebaker dually in the early '50s. I see their tour has a '57 Golden Hawk which I'd have loved to have, but couldn't afford; had to settle for the Silver Hawk. When the Avanti came out in '63, the first one to come to a Dallas dealer (temporarily just for show), they were taking people for rides in it, but said they weren't allowing visitors to drive it yet. So a buddy and I went to see it, the guy took us for a ride, and when we got out of sight of the dealership and he found out that I had an Austin Healy Sprite and my buddy had a Corvette, he let both of us drive it. Personally, I think it's the ugliest thing Studebaker ever built, but was loaded with great features and fabulous handling and performance. I've forgotten now whether it was a turbocharger or supercharger, but you couldn't get that and air-conditioning (wasn't enough room under the hood). /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MJB · Apr 2, 2003

Re: General Motors\' Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

I got to see a Golden Hawk up close recently when my dad did some repair work on one. It had a belt driven supercharger that fed the carburetor inside a pressurized enclosure. I agree on the ugly car comment, but it sure was a performer for the time. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

burnercan · Apr 2, 2003

Re: General Motors\' Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

Thanks David, Will have to plan to visit when I get back and REALLY crank up the memories. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Mosey · Apr 2, 2003

Re: General Motors\' Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

The Toyota FJ-40 and the Suzuki Samurai did the same thing by copying the Jeep CJ5/7. A lot of SUV's these days are starting to look about the same. GM doesn't have a chance in winning this one.

MossRoad · Apr 2, 2003

Re: General Motors\' Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

Yep, it was a supercharger from what I hear. There are still a few Stude's driving around and usually one or two for sale in the paper every week, although none this week. There are always parts in farm fields and ditches.

Some more links:
http://www.theavanti.com/

http://www.studebakerclubs.com

And finally, This is the company that bought out newman/altman. Newman/Altman bought up all of Studebaker's parts when Studebaker closed. Several years ago, Newman/Altman went out of business due to old age. They are still housed in one of the old Studebaker factory buildings in South Bend. There is a Studebaker rally here every few years and usually several hundred Stude's show up. Very Cool! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif