Studebaker Whiskey Six

[Rusty_OToole]

Can anyone identify this model? Apparently in the prohibition era there was a model of Studebaker that was so popular with bootleggers and rumrunners it was nicknamed the Whiskey Six. I have seen this in 2 or 3 different books, not fiction but rememiscences of old time rumrunners and histories of the time.

I already tried this question on the prewar studebaker board with no results.

[Guest rbl2]

With a google search I found these.

http://www.vtauto.org/president_detail.php?ID=11

President: Richard Evans

President in 1964 - Dunedin, Florida & Essex Junction, Vermont

Dick Evans was driving "Old Bobtail", with his wife Helen while he was President. It's a 1922 Studebaker, four passenger Roadster. The Studebaker is a certified "Whiskey Six" having been confiscated by the US Customs in 1924, from persons unknown, at the Canadian border.

Dick and Helen have sold the Studebaker but continue to drive two splendid cars, both Packards, a 1933 Coupe Roadster (their Florida car) and a 1935 model 1200 Senior Series Sedan. A 1955 Packard hardtop awaits restoration.

The restorations of the Studebaker and the Packard Coupe were "strictly home grown" efforts by Dick and Helen, they doing everything but the plating. As most know, Dick is otherwise known as the "Temperature Guage Guy" specializing in the repair of these elusive devices.

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http://www.celticmalts.com/edge.htm

February 1, 2001

In the late 1910s and early 1920s Studebaker sold its 6-cylinder engine models under the names of "Standard Six", "Light Six", "Big Six" and "Special Six". But Prohibition saw an additional Studebaker model appear on the American roads that you could not buy from your local Studebaker dealer: the "Whiskey Six"!

Because of their sturdiness and speed, Studebaker Sixes were among the cars favoured by the 'rum runners'. Road surfaces were not always exactly ideal in those days, but the "Whiskey Six" went over them 'like a thunderbolt', reaching speeds of 90 miles an hour!

Studebakers were of course not the only cars used for smuggling, The "Whiskey Six" found itself in the company of Fords, Chevrolets, Packards, Lincolns, Franklins, Chryslers, Cadillacs, Buicks, LaSalles, Hudsons and DeSotos (and I probably missed one or two). To adapt cars to smuggling whiskey and other spirits, bootleggers usually took out the rear seats and reinforced the chassis. Storage areas were created under the floor or in a false back seat. Special springs were often added to level the car and prevent it from looking like it carried a heavy load. Some cars could carry over 100 gallons of spirits, invisible from the outside. Heavy chains could be attached to the rear which, on dirt roads, created a huge dust cloud which made pursuit all the more difficult and hazardous. A clever feature was to make the head lights turn with the steering wheel; this allowed for much higher speeds on windy roads in the dark of the night. Some of the 'big guys' even added armour-plating to their cars!

Although a whole armada of cars was used in the rum running business, the 'Studey' was the only car that earned itself a whiskey-nickname; a testament to its popularity

[Guest stude8]

In 1925 Studebaker built a car known on the street as "The Sheriff" because in Arizona many county Sheriffs preferred it for its speed and durability chasing outlaws on and off the road. It was a short wheel base chassis with their largest Big 6 engine, 354 cubic inch displacement that could climb most any grade in high gear without effort.

Of course it didn't take the Outlaws long to figure out that it was a great getaway or smuggling car to use.

The Big 6 engine actually began around 1916 so any of the Big 6 models from 1916 to 1927 were capable of being "Whiskey Runners".

See attached photo of a "Sheriff Big 6" at the Studebaker Museum in South Bend.

Stude8

[Rusty_OToole]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In 1925 Studebaker built a car known on the street as "The Sheriff" because in Arizona many county Sheriffs preferred it for its speed and durability chasing outlaws on and off the road. It was a short wheel base chassis with their largest Big 6 engine, 354 cubic inch displacement that could climb most any grade in high gear without effort.

Of course it didn't take the Outlaws long to figure out that it was a great getaway or smuggling car to use.

The Big 6 engine actually began around 1916 so any of the Big 6 models from 1916 to 1927 were capable of being "Whiskey Runners".

Years ago I saw an illustrated ad for the Sherriff model. I believe it was in one of Floyd Clymer's books. It was definitely a Studebaker company ad so the Sherriff must have been an official model name.

See attached photo of a "Sheriff Big 6" at the Studebaker Museum in South Bend.

Stude8 </div></div>

[Guest bkazmer]

when was the article about Mr. Evans written? He was a former owner of my car so I'm curious.

[Guest rbl2]

It doesn't say but if you click on that link maybe you can do a little researching and find something I overlooked.