58L-Y8

This auction includes the rarest of the rare: a 1942 Studebaker President Eight Skyway sedan-coupe. Its the top-of-the-line '42 Sedan-Coupe, one of 605 of all President sedan-coupes built that year. Only half a dozen survive. https://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com/auction/day-2-approx-100-collector-cars-trucks-the-james-graham-collection/

This auction includes the rarest of the rare: a 1942 Studebaker President Eight Skyway sedan-coupe. Its the top-of-the-line '42 Sedan-Coupe, one of 605 of all President sedan-coupes built that year. Only half a dozen survive.

Cartoon Cadillac, as long as they've gone this far, might as well make it a roadster to finish it. Yes, the proportions are way off.

Only the convertible coupes had front-opening doors.

Its a '28 Hudson Super Six Model O Standard Sedan. The Model O was the longer wheelbase at 127 3/8 inches employed by the Custom series with the Biddle & Smart bodies. The Standard sedan was essentially the same as that on the shorter 118 1/2 inch wheelbase Model S being a four-window club sedan style but with less wheelhouse intrusion. The identifying detail that is hard to see in the movie is the light-colored patch on the lower part of the roof quarters by the door, its a small area of painted canework was would be seen on town cars for a touch of class. It was a $1,450 factory price so your family must have been doing relatively well in that period before the Depression. The Super Six was an F-Head of 288.5 ci, the size of other upscale medium-priced and entry-level luxury makes, very torquey and powerful for the times. Hudson had a graceful winged lady mascot which is what that large radiator ornament visible probably was. Interesting car, wish it survived. BTW, the New York, Ontario and Western Railroad was a 500 mile plus line that managed to avoid every major city on its way from the NYC area to Oswego plus climb ridge after ridge. It abandoned in its entirety March 31, 1957, check out its checked history when you have a chance. Steve

I'd love to have my period-styled sport sedan design re-body of either the '33 836 or the '34 840A. Just lack of dollars standing in the way....

BTW, if you buy it, please repaint the wheels a darker red if you like the contrast or to match the green on the molding and wind reveals, maybe a tone or two darker. Would look much more period correct and quite elegant.

Looks like a very decent Reo you could enjoy. Its worth noting it the smaller Flying Cloud Mate which has a Continental 15E 214.7 ci engine, not a Reo manufactured engine. That takes nothing away from it, just good to know if you are apprehensive about an eventual engine rebuild. Continental engines were engineered for low stress, steady power and built for longevity, and rock-solid durability. Bets if you buy it and maintain it properly, it will never give you major trouble.

Though not a book but a group of articles, I'd recommend the website Curbside Classic as it deals with post WWII cars of all makes. There are a number of good analyzes of industry trends and influences as they relate to specific makes and models. You might narrow the subject to one or two aspects, if for no other reason than to finish with something worth reading rather than a general unsatisfactory overview. Steve

Looks to be a '33 836, is the chassis complete enough to make it worthwhile to restore for a speedster project?

Sounds like an interesting car we've never seen here, how about some photographs? Bender in Cleveland built hearses and ambulances on Studebaker commercial chassis in the 1930's and 1940's.

Yes, 1932 Essex with its overly large radiator shell and small headlights.

Packard received the rights to a spear or barb from Hibbard & Darrin, an inverted version, so the story goes. They jealously protected that detail as a styling hallmark thereafter. Any maker such as Nash would be ask to erase the detail from their cars if they had included it 'by mistake'. Mercedes-Benz has done the same with their three-point star logo to keep it as an exclusive. One example was requesting Studebaker down their variation from the 1953 models. Does not have to be an exact copy, just close enough in form. Dance nymphs were a big deal in that late '20's - early '30's period, Studebaker had similar photos done of their cars. The big Nash Ambassadors are wonderfully elegant cars, what a shame they're so rare. Steve

The accepted replacement cycle for cars fifty years ago was 6-8 years, around 90K-100K miles. Manufacturers planned their production on sales for that rate. A whole set of changes have occurred since then to lengthen the replacement cycle. Electronic engine management and fuel injection, improved metallurgy and manufacturing techniques, better lubricants, overdrive automatic transmissions. For the bodies, more affective sealers and mastics, metal protection coatings and paints, reduced weld seams for rust to start, lighter weight materials. Vehicles run more in their optimum operating range, resist the negative affects of the environment better than ever. 200K-300K is now realistic, the average age of all vehicles on the road is twelve years. It wouldn't be if all these things hadn't occurred.

Great photo, thanks for sharing it. Love those simple canopy gas stations and false front brick garage buildings from that era. I'll opine the large coupe is a '26-'28 Lincoln L with two passenger coupe body by Judkins. What say others?

I can't help with the brake problem, but what is the color name of that old gold on your handsome Combination Coupe? Can't help it, have to ask: 'Do people go on a rampage in their Graham-Paige? Hehehhehehh…..

Chrome disk wheels were a factory option but rarely seen. This is the first Standard Eight I've seen pictured with them. There are factory photos of a '30 734 Speedster Runabout (the boat-tail) so equipped. It was definitely most likely to be specified for sporty, open models.

The Buick Series 90 was the favorite of small town bankers and businessmen. It was the luxury car with the less pretentious image than would have been a Cadillac or Packard at the time. Signified one was successful but not showy or foolish flaunting one's money.

Jeff_a: You mean Father Divine's Duesenberj Bus! Hideous is the best description!

Yes, 1930 Packard Standard Eight, Series 733, Sport Phaeton, Body Style No. 431. No wonder he was quite proud of it, all of us would be delighted with such a wonderful Packard!

Thanks Carl for narrowing to the correct year, I knew you'd know which it was. Thanks Ed for enlarging on the commercial bus aspect of these. Any long 'sedan' now is considered a 'limousine' though they're no different conceptually except for the interiors and luxury features from these long-wheelbase stage-line or train station multiple passenger buses of decades ago. Most every builder of large heavy cars included commercial-purpose long-wheelbase chassis in their catalogue of annual models. The Studebaker is a 1926-27 Big Six or ES Commander or President. They offered a variety of wheelbase lengths such as 152", 158", 184" etc, did an active business with funeral, ambulance, bus and even panel truck bodymakers. Survival rate on these is terribly low given they were worked to death for all they were worth then junked.

First, '26-'27 Cadillac; second mid-'20's Studebaker Big Six; third ??? English make, commercial chassis all.

A.H.A. that took over Andy Hotton Associated limousine business could be the builder of the 1977 though It could be Moloney or one of a dozen other aftermarket conversion outfits active then. Not readily apparent in the photo is the rear section of the body was widened along with the top. The heavy frame on the rear door window as well as the sagging rear suggest this is an armor-plated, bullet-proof example. As far as good taste, this is way off, though it could be worse, pearl white with gold trim.

More than the prices, I'd enjoy seeing more details on those two '31 Packards. I'll go out on a limb, opine the custom body is an All-Weather Quarter Window Cabriolet by Rollston. There should be job/style numbers stamped on each piece of the wood frame. The body may not have originally come on that chassis. Walt G. could make positive identification. Certainly hope the buyer is able to gather up all the parts of that car. Good luck to him, that will be an ambitious restoration but very worthwhile.

Almost certain to next appear on the radiator of some '20's exotic custom coachbuilt French marque at the next Pebble Beach....