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| York, NE's extra cool water tower in the background over the Super 8 motel. |
I know I'd never seen one before - but this is a 1955 Studebaker Speedster, part of their President series of models. Considering there were only 22215 Speedsters made that year, it's no wonder I've never run across one. Not like it's a '69 Camaro or a 'Stang. Don't ever let anyone tell you they only made stuffy looking business coupes - this puppy looked like it was fast in the day. Whether it was or not - the car came with a 100mph speedometer and an 8,000rpm tach. The engine, sourced from Packard, was a Passmaster 259-cubic-inch V-8 with 185 horsepower.
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| President script above Speedster script |
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| The original fish mouth grill, way ahead of the Taurus |
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| It was 1955 when tail fins were just starting to grow. Thank God - still tasteful IMHO!!! |
One of our 12'x35' FRP tanks in mid air in the process of being placed in it's new home.
Close enough that it took two tries to get the whole thing.
Welp, until I gather some more pics, that's it for now!
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You would be amazed at the number of old Studebakers, and DeSoto's still living and working as taxi's in Cuba. I asked one of the cabbies where they got parts. "We make them". I asked him about the clutch pads in the old Studie we were riding. They used old belts, like the ones we use to hold our pants up. Cut them up into clutch pad size sections. Replace them about twice a year. Brake pads? I asked? Old tires cut into brake pad size sections. same with the soles on his sandals. Recaps on his feet! Can't use steel belted tires,as they can't cut them up. Bias ply only.
Well, I expect using leather like that helps keep from having to resurface flywheels and drums. I've read some about those guys, and most could not resurface and add material if they had to - just don't have the equipment.
Didja feel kinda queasy knowing the quality of the brakes on your ride?
What started the conversation was the shuddering vibration as he let the clutch out. "Easy pedal, Senor." They don't use the brakes much. Easy go, easy stop. Now in a panic situation???? I'm guessing it's all stop, or none at all. No emmission standards there I can assure you. Bunch a smokin old 50's model USA or 60-70-80's model Iron curtain rides. The East German Mercedes were comical. They had the Mercedes hood ornament on an iron curtain mfg piece of ....
Nice, I really like the sculpture.
I had a girlfriend in high-school whose Mom drove a Golden Hawk.
Man, that thing was quick!
I have always thought the 55 Chevy was the prettiest of the 55-57 series, with the smallest tail-fins and IMO the best grille.
on a first glance the top pic showed a car that is moved by a hot-air balloon
Prolly pretty light for it's time, too - drjim?
I agree, farmist - the '55 was the cleanest design for sure. No doubt the '57 is more iconic, but that's different than pretty.
Tatyana - the balloon powered car would be the new ObamaMobile, coming to a GM dealership near you.
The '55 Chevy grille still makes me think Ferrari. Maybe that was the whole idea.
I turned up a road test of the Speedster, and apparently it could peg that speedo and then some. Zero to sixty was ten flat; quarter mile was 20 flat at 80 mph. For this era, this is more than respectable.
I was just "getting into" cars back then (1967~68) and didn't pay much attention to specs.
I just googled a bit, and found that they weighed about 3000 pounds.
I was "sharing" my Mom's 1967 Corvair Corsa with Mom and my sister, so just about anything with a V-8 felt fast to me!
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