Studebaker Trucks?

[Bama67]

Hi all,

I want to start out by saying that I need another project like I need a hole in the head. But I have the opportunity to buy a old Studebaker truck.

My grandaddy knows that I love old iron as I already have a 67 Chevelle and a 73 K5 that I am currently working on. So he called me out of the blue and asked me if I would want a 55 Studebaker pickup. He is a 84 years old and still buys and fixes cars, but he only deals with newer stuff. He said he didn't want it, he is to old to be riding in a old truck when he could be riding a new Buick. lol. But a guy he grew up with called him up and asked him to take his truck. It is "supposedly, Pawpaw hasn't seen it" almost fully restored, all it basically needs is a windsheild and paint, body work is already done. His friend got it about 8-9 years ago when another friend of his was frame off restoring it and died during the build. He had even sent the bed off to be restored in Memphis. And then the widow sold it to him. It has been sitting in his shed ever since and he hasn't done anything to it other than go turn it over ever month or so to keep the motor up. It is a original V8 with overdrive truck, one of the first ones you could get a V8 in. My grandaddy told his buddy that he didn't want to deal with it, but I might. His friend doesn't want it to go to just anybody. He was gonna give it to my grandad, but he would sell it to me for $2,000.

The thing is, I know they are pretty rare, heck, I have never even seen one. And it doesn't sound to need much at all. The only thing is, is that parts are VERY hard to come by. There are NO LMC or Year One catalogs for Studebaker trucks. ha-ha. The truck is about 500 miles away, so I can't just hop in and drive right over and check it out. I would like to get it, especially if it is what he says it is, but I don't know if it is gonna need small things like rubber moldings and trim and such that would cost a fortune. And I don't have money to burn. I also would hate to buy it, then turn around and sell it and make money off of it, it seems like the wrong thing to do since it means so much to the old guy that has it.

Sorry for the long post. What would you guys do? Don't have a 55 Studebaker pickup windshield lying around do ya? :laughing:

Do any of ya'll have one, or owned one? General comments welcomed as I don't know that much about them.

 

[brin]

If he was going to give it to your grand dad...too bad he didn't just take it and then give it to you...that would have saved you $2,000. The 500 mile drive is the problem and then getting it back unless you have a trailer and you are right about the parts on some of the old vehicles...they can be expensive if you can even find them.

 

[Bama67]

If he was going to give it to your grand dad...too bad he didn't just take it and then give it to you...that would have saved you $2,000. The 500 mile drive is the problem and then getting it back unless you have a trailer and you are right about the parts on some of the old vehicles...they can be expensive if you can even find them.

Trailering it won't be a problem, I got a rig that will handle it with no trouble. I am definately going to look at it though. The truck is in North Louisiana, and I am currently offshore LA on an oil rig, so I am going to swing up there and take a look at it since I am already this way. Oh, and I brought the trailer with me, just in case.

 

[Bird]

A 1955 Studebaker pickup? In 1954, my dad was driving a Studebaker one ton dually as his company vehicle in Healdton, OK. I'm not sure what year model it was, but it was the oldest truck the shop had at the time. They were good trucks, but as you said, parts could be a real problem.

 

[Runner]

I'd grab it. I have drooled over this one for years:

 

[California]

1955 V8? 255 ci? Then it's a SBC with a little less stroke(or bore) than a 265. Long ago that Studebaker V8 engine was a popular conversion for Willys Wagons because it bolted right in with no adapters needed. I had one.

And the pickups were built more solid than most. I wouldn't mind putting one in use as a work or farm truck.

I think all the running gear is standard generic stuff. Of course the down side is finding glass, trim, etc that is unique to that model. I would research that aspect first. I expect you will find a collector's club on the internet.

 

[flusher]

Hi all,

I want to start out by saying that I need another project like I need a hole in the head. But I have the opportunity to buy a old Studebaker truck.

My grandaddy knows that I love old iron as I already have a 67 Chevelle and a 73 K5 that I am currently working on. So he called me out of the blue and asked me if I would want a 55 Studebaker pickup. He is a 84 years old and still buys and fixes cars, but he only deals with newer stuff. He said he didn't want it, he is to old to be riding in a old truck when he could be riding a new Buick. lol. But a guy he grew up with called him up and asked him to take his truck. It is "supposedly, Pawpaw hasn't seen it" almost fully restored, all it basically needs is a windsheild and paint, body work is already done. His friend got it about 8-9 years ago when another friend of his was frame off restoring it and died during the build. He had even sent the bed off to be restored in Memphis. And then the widow sold it to him. It has been sitting in his shed ever since and he hasn't done anything to it other than go turn it over ever month or so to keep the motor up. It is a original V8 with overdrive truck, one of the first ones you could get a V8 in. My grandaddy told his buddy that he didn't want to deal with it, but I might. His friend doesn't want it to go to just anybody. He was gonna give it to my grandad, but he would sell it to me for $2,000.

The thing is, I know they are pretty rare, heck, I have never even seen one. And it doesn't sound to need much at all. The only thing is, is that parts are VERY hard to come by. There are NO LMC or Year One catalogs for Studebaker trucks. ha-ha. The truck is about 500 miles away, so I can't just hop in and drive right over and check it out. I would like to get it, especially if it is what he says it is, but I don't know if it is gonna need small things like rubber moldings and trim and such that would cost a fortune. And I don't have money to burn. I also would hate to buy it, then turn around and sell it and make money off of it, it seems like the wrong thing to do since it means so much to the old guy that has it.

Sorry for the long post. What would you guys do? Don't have a 55 Studebaker pickup windshield lying around do ya? :laughing:

Do any of ya'll have one, or owned one? General comments welcomed as I don't know that much about them.

Since you don't want to incur large expense after the purchase, I'd say pass on this one. Unless you have the scratch to do the maintenance/repair on these old pieces of iron, you're better off keeping your money in your pocket.

I restore old tractors. Last year I bought a 1951 Minneapolis Moline BF tractor, fairly rare old piece of iron, straight sheet metal, good rubber, not running, $1300. So far I've sunk $1600 in a complete engine rebuild and need a new water pump and generator (or 6V alternator). I'll probably have $4500 invested by the time I'm finished with the restoration.

Getting and keeping old iron running can be spendy.

 

[Bama67]

That is a good looking truck. Is that an original 4x4? Or did they put it on a later model chassis.

I actually not that worried, if it is what the old man says it is, I think I would be a fool to turn it down at $2,000. I guess I will just have to look at it and see.

I understand fully about costs to restore. I am currently restoring a full convertible 73 Blazer. And after that is my 67 Chevelle. So I know what to look out for.

But I also heard those Studebaker engines were some big chunks of steel and can take alot of boring and can make pretty good power and are known to be bulletproof. I like the idea of using the original engine and try to make some solid power out of it, instead of doing like everybody else and dropping in a 350 chevy. Just to be different I guess.

 

[George2615]

Hi all,


Sorry for the long post. What would you guys do? Don't have a 55 Studebaker pickup windshield lying around do ya? :laughing:

Studebakerparts.com has a windshield for 54-64 R and C style cabs for under 3 bills.

 

[JESSE1]

Don't hesitate to get that truck. There's more parts support out there than you might think. Take a subscription to Hemmings Classic Car and you'll see plenty of Studes. If you get it please consider keeping it original.

 

[Runner]

Bama,

That's an "original" NAPCO 4WD conversion. It was before my time, but it is my understanding that, prior to about 1960, most manufacturers didn't make factory 4x4 trucks. Therefore, several aftermarket companies, like NAPCO and Marmon Harrington, did conversions on brand new vehicles that were then sold through the dealers.

 

[California]

That makes sense. In about 1960 I saw a 4x4 '47 Ford coupe at Tahoe. I was told it was a Marmon Harrington conversion.

 

[carpenter383]

1955 V8? 255 ci? Then it's a SBC with a little less stroke(or bore) than a 265. Long ago that Studebaker V8 engine was a popular conversion for Willys Wagons because it bolted right in with no adapters needed. I had one.

And the pickups were built more solid than most. I wouldn't mind putting one in use as a work or farm truck.

I think all the running gear is standard generic stuff. Of course the down side is finding glass, trim, etc that is unique to that model. I would research that aspect first. I expect you will find a collector's club on the internet.

Never heard that before, as far as I know the sbc was the first ohv v8 ever mass produced, which was a 265 cu in. in the 1955 bel air (no oil filter:confused2. I've never heard of them being related to studebaker, or ever making a 255 cu in sbc.
There are 10 different cu in. sbc's that I know of (yes I know them by heart)
I'm not saying you're wrong or that it can't be, I've just never heard of it and I've studied this stuff

 

[carpenter383]

To the OP,
that sounds like a neat project, it would be like money in the bank. You won't loose money on a truck like that, it will only go up in value as the yrs. go by.

 

[California]

I could be wrong but what I was told, by a shop who had rebuilt a few, was that the Studebaker V8 was made under contract by GM for them and was nearly the same as a 265 with thicker cylinder walls (or maybe shorter stroke). I think they had the ball-based rockers for example which was one clue since I think that was the first year GM used that design rockers. The bell housings must have been different since Studebaker bolted up to Jeep transmissions. They sure looked similar. I have owned both, but that was a long time ago. Yep, neither had an integral oil filter. Studebaker's 289 V8 was based on that same 255 block.

The 255 in my Willys Wagon badly needed an overdrive with its real short final gear ratios, 4.27 as I remember. With such a short stroke it wasn't hurting anything but the screaming got tiring on highway trips.

 

[firefighter jim]

$2k is peanuts if its in decent shape.

 

[Bama67]

I am pretty sure the Studebaker V8 came along way before the Small block chevy, and it was a kind of a copy of the Cadillac V8, which was the first V8 ohv engine. Don't quote me on that though.

 

[Bird]

Chevrolet came out with the V8 in 1955. I'm not sure about Studebaker, but according to one website, the trucks had a 232 cu. in. V8 available in 1954.

 

[Stampeder]

Showing my age here, but back in the 50's and 60's my uncle owned a Studebacker dealership in Canada, just North of Toronto as well as a GM and Chrysler dealership as well.... my rich uncle. When I was visiting with him back then he told me that the Studebacker trucks were really well built. He also told me that the running gear was actually built for them by GM and that the parts for the Studebacker were interchangeable with the GM.

So, for what it's worth, if the engine is basically in good shape then most parts for the running gear should be available.......

I'd grab the truck in heart beat.:thumbsup:

 

[Gem99ultra]

That's a find of the century! Call me if you decide not to take it!!!