Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy: The "When Cars Were … CARS" Story

From my Reminisce Magazine.

It was an ordinary day. Reading my latest edition of Reminisce Magazine. My wife got me a subscription last year for Christmas, since I often talked about reading the magazine at the dermatologist's office and the hearing aid office. At times I would even tear a page out of the magazine and bring it home from to share with her. Neat stories geared toward people who probably have or should have their AARP membership by now. On page 46 of one of the most recent Reminisce, titled "Bring It All Back", was a story about a car that may seem hard to identify to some, but for those motor heads who knew what every single car looked like during every single year it was made, it's a piece of cake. Showed a photo of the lemon-lime green car with clues as to what make and model the car might be. As I looked at the photo it reminded me of a good friend named Bob.

Studebaker Company's first store in South Bend, IN.

After retiring from teaching I wanted to stay involved somehow with the school district where I taught, but was turned down by the high school principal when I asked if I could continue to do the yearbook. The next day, Bob, who was the Middle School principal, called and asked if I was interested in doing the MS yearbook. "You bet!" was my response. Even left me name my own price for the work. Well, that was 16 years ago and I am still working on both the Middle School and the new Landis Run Intermediate School yearbooks. Bob retired about a dozen years ago, but I still think of him often when I start another year of yearbooks.

Thomas Edison sitting in his electric Studebaker.

He and I would spend hours in his office at school talking about his Studebaker. He just loved the car. At one time he had more than one in his garage. Ever hear of the Studebaker? It was on February 16, 1852 that Henry and Clement Studebaker opened the H&C Studebaker blacksmith shop in South Bend, Indiana. Eventually the company became the world's largest manufacturer of wagons and buggies. In 1902 they introduced an electric car believe it or not. Thomas Edison purchased the second one they made.

Studebaker plant in Detroit.

Wasn't until two years later that gas powered models were made. Eventually the Studebaker gas powered cars were made in Detroit while the horse drawn vehicles were made in South Bend. In 1911 the company changed their name to Studebaker Corporation. In 1936 Raymond Loewy Associates joined forces with the company and became the designer.

Raymond Loewy, Studebaker designer.

His 1939 Studebaker Champion, 1947 Starlight Coupe, 1950 "Bullet Nose", 1953 Starliner Hardtop and the 1963 Avanti were some of the iconic designs he had. The "Bullet Nose" added a V8 engine in 1951. Stude- baker's designs were way ahead of the times and eventually led to their poor sales and having to merge with Packard Motor Car Company in 1954.

The Studebaker "Bullet Nose"

Eventually Packard stopped production in 1958. Well, I knew right away what type of car was pictured in the Reminisce story. Even knew the answers to all the other questions. Then I remembered that I had seen a few vintage Studebakers in a nearby auto store and made a visit to take a few photos. Spent some time talking with the restorers at Horsepower Unlimited while taking my photos. Memories from the days when I bought my first couple of cars came flooding back as we talked about restoring the cars from the past. Loved my motor head days and reliving them through magazine articles, visits to car shows and restorers never get old. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The following five photos are of a 1957 Studebaker Silver Hawk with Twin Traction. Click on photos to enlarge.