[Fot] Studebaker stories

Thu Oct 2 15:04:58 MDT 2008

Real vintage Studebaker.  While doing geologic mapping in the White-Inyo Mountains in California, we used an abandoned mining cabin, circa 1900, as a base camp.  So remote that it was unmolested by thieves and still had a relic Studebaker Wheelbarrow along with other items that were left there.  I understand that Mr. Studebaker got his start making wheelbarrows.

We left it as we found it but would be surprised if is still in the same condition today. 

Dan Forgey

From: westerneagleracing at att.netTo: budscars at comcast.netDate: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 19:12:42 +0000CC: fot at autox.team.netSubject: Re: [Fot] Studebaker stories

Bud,
In 1953 and 54 they were either Comanders (V-8) or Champions (6 cly) in 55 they added the President and beginning in1956 they were mildly restyled and given various Hawk names.
It's funny but a lot of TR owners are Studebaker  lovers as well.
Ron Western Eagle Racing Jacobs
-------------- Original message from "RACER BUD" <budscars at comcast.net>: -------------- 

Thanks Bob..for the Terrific history...I am forwarding it to my Newsletter Group
Racer Bud

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Robert Johns 
To: RACER BUD ; Steven Preiss ; edwardbarnard at prodigy.net 
Cc: fot at autox.team.net 
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 7:45 PM
Subject: Studebaker stories

All right guys, you have done it.  I am going to have to tell you my tale of woe.  Visualize this!  I was attending the Swiss Auto Club Racing Drivers School in Monza, Italy in 1956.  After we attended classes, they grouped us in classes (more like bunches) to do some racing. 

After Studebaker had merged with Packard, they built a variation of the Hawk with the huge Packard engine of the day.  What did I know of such things?   I was stuck in Europe at the time.  Guess what they stuck in the class with me, one of these monsters.  

Off we went, racing our little hearts out.  Me in my little TR2, the Stude (model?) Hawk, and several more interesting pieces of iron.  That Stude would blow my doors off going down the straight and I would pass him on the next set of curves.  Back and forth we went, and I think I finally got far enough ahead of him that he didn't catch me again. 

Speaking of interesting iron.  That race was my first and only experience of running against a genuine Austin Healy S (not M,  but S).  They were not many built, and the Importer for Switzerland had this one, and it ran very well,  with its cross flow head and lots of tricks.

Any ways,  that is my Studebaker story.  

Bob Johns

----- Original Message ----- 
From: RACER BUD 
To: Steven Preiss ; edwardbarnard at prodigy.net 
Cc: fot at autox.team.net 
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 9:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Fot] Non-LBC group question

One of my favorite cars for Style was the (I think 53 stude..Golden Hawk?..no fins...when the fins were added..they were literaly 'attached')..i saw a NASCAR Hawk in a movie theater lobby promoting a movie which I cannot remember(mid -late 1950s)...That was one of the cars that added to the racing bug
Racer Bud

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Steven Preiss 
To: edwardbarnard at prodigy.net 
Cc: fot at autox.team.net 
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 2:04 AM
Subject: Re: [Fot] Non-LBC group question

One of my neighborhood friends growing up was a Studebaker nut, a passion (or perhaps a genetic trait) no doubt inherited from his dad. They would work into the night in the carport on one or another of their cars, droplights providing a weary glow. The cars, which as I recall ranged from a 1950 convertible, painted red with a white top, to a sleek Silver Hawk with a 289 and glass packs, always seemed exotic in an atypical American sort of way. A buddy of theirs had what they referred to as 'the Studebaker farm', which was actually a small dairy farm, the main pasture of which was lined with over 100 Studebakers that had been hauled in from all over the countryside and carefully placed side by side around the perimeter, providing an endless supply of parts and projects. Martin was a somewhat laconic fellow who carpeted his cars with an array of carpet "chucks" gleaned from a local flooring company. He also was the first in our group of carpoolers to drive his own car to school. Some wild rides down narrow curving residential streets are emblazoned in my memory. One striking characteristic of the cars was the overdrives, activated by a little toggle switch always placed inconspicuously under the dash. Another was their propensity for burning oil, which meant that the dipstick became a familiar friend. Which leads me to the point. Whether a result of unintentional poor' design or intentional daily abuse, cans of STP were always kept in the trunks of the cars, along with quarts of inexpensive motor oil, giving true meaning to the term, "Studebaker Tested Products"!
STeve P. ----- Original Message ----- 

From: EDWARD BARNARD 
To: ehusmann53 at yahoo.com ; dkettler at tcbi.com 
Cc: FOT 
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 3:44 AM
Subject: Re: [Fot] Non-LBC group question

Lister's: Thank you to all that answered my question about STP. A call to their H.Q. public relations office this morning has revealed what we should assume is the truth. The STP does stand for Scientifically Treated Petroleum. The Wiki reference to it standing for Studebaker Tested Products is in fact true. The company did tie their name to the product for a short time until Andy G. took over. But, the Wiki reference to King Richard no longer being a spokeperson for the company is false. According to the P.R. department, they have the longest commercial endorse in history. 
Thanks again to the list!
 -Ed---- On Tue, 9/30/08, David Kettler <dkettler at tcbi.com> wrote:
From: David Kettler <dkettler at tcbi.com>Subject: Re: [Fot] Non-LBC group questionTo: ehusmann53 at yahoo.comCc: "FOT" <fot at autox.team.net>, edwardbarnard at prodigy.netDate: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 9:52 PMI recall when I was a kid collecting STP stickers at gas stations.
I always understood it to be Scientifically Tested Products.

Dave Kettler

At Tuesday, 30 September 2008, Ernest Husmann <ehusmann53 at yahoo.com> 
wrote:

>Ed:
> 
>From STP's web page: STP = Scientifically Treated Petroleum--- On 
Tue, 9/30/08, EDWARD BARNARD <edwardbarnard at prodigy.net> wrote:
>From: EDWARD BARNARD <edwardbarnard at prodigy.net>Subject: [Fot] Non-
LBC group questionTo: "FOT" <fot at autox.team.net>Date: Tuesday,
September 
30, 2008, 11:06 AM
>
>Lister's: I'm writing a magazine article about Indy roadsters
(Kurtis',
Novi', etc) and am examining the Studebaker/Packard powered cars.
In 1963 Studebaker purchased from three gentlemen a little known 
company named Chemical Compounds, which had an oil additive product 
they were selling from the trunks of their cars. Studebaker gave 
Andy Granatelli, then head engineer and chief test driver for Studebaker 
the position of CEO of the newly acquired company which he then renamed 
STP. Now my question...does anyone know for certain the meaning of 
STP? I am getting mixed answers from The Racing History Group. Most 
say it stands for Specially Treated Petroleum, while a few are saying 
it stands for Studebaker Test Products. Do any of the FOTers know 
the "true" side of the story? 
>BTW, later I will relate this past Saturday spent with three great 
guys, Johnny Rutherford, Lloyd Ruby,  and Jim McElreath, at a car 
show we had. 
>Thanks - Ed - _______________________________________________
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