1. The Studebaker
Brothers: A
Family With
A Vision
The rise and
Fall of Illinois
automaker
The Legend & the
Legacy Lives
On
Lithe, Low &
Loewy
2. TUDEBAKER
ISTORY
EGACY
NVEST
TUDEBAKER
ISTORY
EGACY
NVEST
The Studebaker brothers came from a
large family of thirteen children, only
ten of which lived to adulthood -- five
girls and five boys: Clement, Henry, John,
Jacob, and Peter.
John Studebaker, the boys’ father, taught his sons
to make wagons. and the family became known for
this. In 1895, John’s son-in-law Fred Fish urged for
development of “a practical horseless carriage.” The
first Studebaker automabiles built in 1902 were bat-
tery-powered with a top speed of around 13 miles
an hour. In 1902, Studebaker made 20 electric cars
and trucks, the Runabout and the Electric among
them.
In 1904, Studebaker began producing gaso-
line-powered automobiles. In 1920, Stude-
baker stopped building horse drawn vehi-
cles to concentrate
exclusively on au-
tomobiles.
Studebaker’s early models
included the President, the
Commander, the Dictator, and
the Studebaker Six.
3. TUDEBAKER
ISTORY
EGACY
NVEST
TUDEBAKER
ISTORY
EGACY
NVEST
In1936,StudebakerhiredtheRaymondLoewyAssociatesdesign
firm to head Studebaker’s Design Department. Many of Studebaker’s
most iconic automobiles were designed by Loewy and his staff, includ-
ing the 1950-1951 “Bullet Nose” models, the 1953 Champion and Com-
manderStarliner,andthe1963Avanti.1950wasStudebaker’srecordyear,with
over400,000carsandtrucksbuilt.Thefactoryemployednearly24,000people.
However, by the mid 1950s, Studebaker was struggling to survive. Ballooning
laborcosts,qualitycontrolissues,andthenew-carsaleswarbetweenFordand
General Motors wreaked havoc on Studebaker’s balance sheet.
It negotiated a strategic takeover by
Packard, a smaller but more finan-
cially stable car manufacturer.
However, the cash position was worse than it
had led Packard to believe and, by 1956, the
company was nearly bankrupt. Not even
the introduction of the Lark and Avanti
could save Studebaker.
In December of 1963,
Studebaker closed its
South Bend factory.
Automobile produc-
tion continued at its
Hamilton, Ontario,
Canada factory until
March 17, 1966.
4.
5.
6. TUDEB
ISTORY
EGACY
NVEST
TUDEB
ISTORY
EGACY
NVEST
Studebaker is one of the most legendary names in the car manufac-
turing industry. Their legacy has produced some of the world’s most
innovative body styles, providing a model for every type of collector
-- from the Lark compact-car, to the streamlined Commander Starliner, to
the head turning Avanti.
One of the most oft-heard Studebaker clichés -- “they were so ahead of their
time” -- is exemplified by the bullet nose. Studebaker’s gamble with aircraft
design vocabulary paid off for two glorious years.
The Avanti was referred to as “America’s Only 4 Passenger High-Perfor-
mance Personal Car!” The car had a rare combination of safety with blazing
fast speed. Twenty-nine records were broken by it at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Studebaker has been the choice of U.S. presidents inlcuding Ulysses Grant,
Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, and Teddy Roosevelt, and they man-
ufactured military vehicles for six different wars.
With a track record like that, why would you
not want a Studebaker?
7. NVESTNVESTBAKER
Y
BAKER
Y
We’re bring-
ing the clas-
sic Stude-
baker to the
21st Century.
With all new
concepts and
environmentally conscious hybrid engines, we
plan to return Studebaker Motor Company to the Amer-
ica icon it once was.
Even in 1902, Clement Studebaker knew that electric engines
were the way to go. Our hybrid engines feature the late Tom
Kasmer’s Hydristor, a hydraulic transistor that works like an
extremely efficient continuous variable transmission.
We’ve re-incorporated in Colorado and plan to develop and
reopen factories on U.S. soil where we can employ Ameri-
cans in our plants.
We’re looking for investors and working partners to turn
this dream into reality. If you’re interested in reviving the
Studebaker empire, contact us today!
STUDEBAKER MOTOR COMPANY,
“A Time Honored Name, A New Company for the Future”
