Mark Huston

Depending on the model car, many cars in the 20s were capable of fast speeds and long distance driving. Some of the more light weight inexpensive cars may not have been able to do 280 miles in a one day. A big Buick could easily have accomplished those miles in a day, however; the problem in the 20s was not the inability of the cars to go the distance, is was the quality of the roads and having to drive through the center every little down along the way. This really slowed you down. So, 280 miles in a single day is about 45 mph over about 6 ½ hours – if you could maintain that speed for the entire 280 miles. Factoring the roads and towns along the way I am sure it was a long 12 hour day of driving. In the late teens and early 20s there was an outlaw gang of brothers called “The Newton Boys”. There is a book and movie by the same name that chronicles their achievements of robbing banks and trains throughout the Midwest and even into Canada. The Newton Boys drove Studebakers and loved the speed and endurance that they could achieve. Reading the book it is amazing the amount of ground they covered in those early cars on gravel and dirt roads.

You might want to shop around and try another chrome shop. I had the front and rear bumpers on my 1929 FE Brougham done last winter and they were very badly pitted. All of the bumpers turned out perfectly – despite how bad they started out. I have found that many of the chrome shops do not want to deal with any parts that require more than a little minor prep work before chroming. When I had the lock rings re chromed the first shop I went to asked me what river I found the rings in and refused to even consider re chroming them. I shopped around until I found the shop I am using now; they do take the time to prep the parts so they turned out beautifully.

Every car club, regardless of what they embrace, has a standard of admission, the CCCA is no different. Because it is impossible to get everyone to agree with what that criteria may be it is why we have literally hundreds of unique car clubs in this country. Some clubs are small, some large, each one serving a specific niche. Every car club that recognizes cars that pre-date power steering, high compression V8 engines, air-conditioning, stereos, and interstate capable, is suffering from an aging membership. If we are to believe these clubs will never be able to replace their aging membership we will have to wait and see which clubs are still around 20 to 30 years from now.

Like the AACA, the CCCA promotes original cars and has a display/judging class for those original cars at their Grand Classics. It is the car owner’s choice to either restore their car, or keep it original, just like in the AACA. <O:p</O:p In the many years I have been a member of the CCCA they have included pictures of original unrestored cars displayed at the Grand Classics many times in the club’s Classic Car magazine. Yes, the CCCA does embrace original cars, it is the owners who choose to restore them. <O:p</O:p My car, a 1929 Studebaker President Brougham, is not restored, it is a work in progress, and may never be completed, however, it is just as welcomed at CCCA events as any car that is restored.

For Sale: 1941 Dodge Military Recon vehicle, $30,000. Running condition, unrestored, driven in local parades. Solid body, no rust out. For more information, and additional pictures, contact Bill at 208-267-2154 (located in Northern Idaho)

My main concern driving any distance in my 1929 Studebaker President is not so much parts, as having the correct tool. I always carry as many tools as I can along with my AAA card, extra oil, water, gas, and a fire extinguisher. This past April, I drove my 1929 Studebaker a nearly 500 miles to attend a car meet. During a tour on the last day of the meet the car started running really rough and I limped back to the meet hotel. The Studebaker has a dual coil-dual point Delco ignition system. One of the coils had gone bad. I had the tools I needed to fix the problem and NAPA had a coil in stock (they thought the coil was only for a 6 volt 1960s Volkswagen Beetle). A number of years ago I was not in the habit of carrying a fire extinguisher in my antique cars. One day I was driving the Studebaker on a tour along a country road in the middle of summer when the driver of the car behind me started flashing his lights at me and beeping his horn. I finally pulled over onto the shoulder of the road – which was knee high with dried out grass. The other driver ran up to me yelling that my car was on fire. I did not see the smoke that was coming out from under my car – which was now catching the grass under the car on fire. I got my family out of the car and the other driver used his fire extinguisher to put out the fire. If the other driver had not had a fire extinguisher I would not have been able to do anything other than to watch the car burn up while setting the country side on fire. Lesson learned that day – carry a fire extinguisher – it is cheep insurance.

Trimacar, <O:p</O:p You have hit on a hot topic between Studebaker and Pierce Arrow collectors. Which is: who “borrowed” what from whom. However; the bottom line is they both benefitted from the short lived marriage of the two companies. In addition to some mechanical parts, the body on the President St. Regis Brougham was also used on the Pierce Arrow as a Club Brougham. Interestingly, far more Pierce Arrow’s with this body style survived until today than did Studebaker President’s. <O:p</O:p I would love to have this President St. Regis Brougham in my garage. It has always been my favorite Pre-War Studebaker. Here are a couple of pictures of a Pierce Arrow Club Brougham that I took a few years ago. You can clearly see the similarity in the bodies.

The stupidest question I have heard was directed at my wife, and not me, which was a good thing. At the time we were in the middle of Nevada stopping for gas in our 1928 Studebaker President sedan traveling from Sacramento, CA to Logan, UT. This woman walks up to my wife and starts to question her as to why we traveling cross country in an old car with small children. The car looked like we were from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma in the Grapes of Wrath, our camping gear and luggage was tied down all over the outside of the car. My wife graciously explained that we were on a family camping vacation and were making a big loop from California, through Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and then back to Sacramento. The women asked: “Why are you allowing your HUSBAND to put your family through this kind of TORTURE?” By way, we drove almost 3,000 miles, saw lots of country in two weeks while camping, meeting and talking to lots of folks along the way. And had lots of fun doing it. Yes, all of us, including the wife and kids. After 15 years the kids still talk about that camping trip.

I have the Vol 1 issue 3. Unfortunately, it is in a box that I have not opened in over 22 years. I will hunt it down and scan the article into a PDF for you. Give me a couple of days.

It looks like it could be a 1929 – 30 Studebaker Dictator.

A number of years ago I drove from Sacramento, CA to Salt Lake City, UT to buy a car what was totally misrepresented both over the phone and in the pictures that were sent to me. I asked all the right questions, but was given lies in reply. I arrived at 7 AM from a 12 hour all night drive only to find everything wrong with the car that I had specifically asked about. I was mad enough to tell the seller that in the future he better accurately describe the car or the next person just might pound him into his driveway. I got in my truck and pulled my empty car trailer home. I will never buy a car with out first inspecting it in person. Auburnseeker: You did all the right things, just be glad you took the time to look at the car first before turning over your money. Be patient, the right car will come along, just be ready to go in person anytime you have a lead.

Kingoftheroad and Dick: Thank you both for your suggestions, I will follow up on them.

My dad has a 1972 International pickup, short bed step-side, 4X4 with 392 V8 and he has asked me to find out the following: <O:p</O:p How many trucks like his were made in 1972? <O:p</O:p The truck is in good condition (recently repainted the original factory color) with the exception of aftermarket tail lights and speakers in the door panels. Does anyone have an idea of the approximate value? Dad is thinking of selling this truck and I have no idea what advice to give him. <O:p</O:p This was also posted in the International Harvester / IHC forum.

My dad has a 1972 International pickup, short bed step-side, 4X4 with 392 V8 and he has asked me to find out the following: <O:p</O:p How many trucks like his were made in 1972? <O:p</O:p The truck is in good condition (recently repainted the original factory color) with the exception of aftermarket tail lights and speakers in the door panels. Does anyone have an idea of the approximate value? Dad is thinking of selling this truck and I have no idea what advice to give him.

A California car collector, who has now passed on, had a similar problem and his solution was to buy another house to use as a rental when he needed additional garage space. He rented out the houses and kept the use of the garages for his car collection. He had dozens of rental homes and none of his renters could use the garages because he would lock off the garage from the renters.

Here is a link to a video of early race cars in action. What is amazing is the amount of drivers who must have died in the wrecks recorded in this short video. Those early race car drivers must have been fearless to risk their lives for a trophy. Killed Myself When I Was Young on Vimeo

Unless you drive your Studebaker in cold weather you do not need a thermostat. I have driven 1928 – 1929 Commanders and Presidents for nearly 40 years without thermostats. I restrict my driving to nice weather – which is when you do not need a thermostat.

At 1.1 million they should throw in a big screen TV and a real Pierce-Arrow tow vehicle. I hope there is not someone insane enough to pay the sellers asking price. Link to ad: Hemmings Motor News: Pierce-Arrow C for sale

Generally speaking, more Fords were made than Mercury’s and more 4 doors then 2 door models. So, without getting into specific production data a 2 door Mercury will be rarer than a 4 door LTD. Disclaimer: unless the LTD has some especially rare hardly ever seen options.

I stand corrected.

West, You have better eyesight then I do. I looked for double white walls and I did not see them. I guess the owner did not take the time to keep them as clean as the outside white walls while the inside white wall is blending in with the rest of the tire.

I like the look of white walls on my 1929 Studebaker President Brougham. I hate the work required to keep them looking good, however, I do put up with it because I think the car looks better with them. I have had the misfortune of being verbally assaulted by total strangers at a car meet for having white wall tries on my car. I was told “I hate people like you putting white wall tires on cars that would never have had them when new”. I have attached a black and white picture of a 1929 Studebaker President Brougham taken in Salt Lake City, Utah at about the time the car was new. Notice that it has single sided white wall tires. I now carry this picture in a photo album with my car to show to the total strangers who cannot keep their opinions to themselves. I have also attached a picture of my car needing a paint job with white wall tires.

The last Big Six engine was used in the 1928 Studebaker Commander. The 1930 in the picture above is a Model 53 which previously was called the Erskine. I am at the meet in Red Bluff, CA and asked the owner this morning to confirm that this is a Model 53.

I have a copy of the "Preliminary Service Manual for the President Eight" which covers the first version of the President Eight with the front mounted water pump.

1928 FA President robe bar is not the same as a 1929 Presidents.