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24-680: Prior to mid-1926, Studebaker’s premium model was the Studebaker Big Six . The first automobile bearing the name President was unveiled on July 23, 1926, designated as the ES model in internal Studebaker memos. It was powered by a 354 cu in (5,800 cc) six-cylinder engine until the appearance in January 1928 of the smaller and smoother straight-eight engine of 312.5 cu in (5,121 cc). Albert Russel Erskine , Studebaker’s president, spared no expense in his goal of making

48-431: A machine turned instrument panel with a Stewart-Warner 160 mph (260 km/h) speedometer and an 8,000 rpm tachometer, turn signals, electric clock, tinted glass, cigarette lighter, oil filter and oil bath air cleaner, dual backup lamps, triple horns, two-speed electric wipers, tubeless whitewall tires, simulated wire wheel covers and fog-light bumperettes. There was also Speedster-specific trim including

72-422: A base 1955 President State hardtop. The reason was the 1955 President Speedster was loaded with standard equipment including: choice of Studebaker Automatic Drive or overdrive transmissions, power steering, power brakes, four-barrel carburetor, dual exhaust, "Shoemaker-stitched" diamond-quilted genuine top-grain leather seating, carpeting front and rear, a map pocket (but no glove box) an eight-tube push-button radio,

96-421: A hood-length hood ornament, stainless roof band, Speedster nameplates and checkered emblems as well as chrome-plated ashtrays, rear-view mirror , moldings and tailpipe extensions. They also came in 2- and 3-tone paint jobs, the most famous of which was Hialeah Green & Sun Valley Yellow, called "lemon/lime" by the public. The green was a gold flake metallic. Studebaker produced 2,215 Speedsters during

120-702: A new body, the Land Cruiser , which was offered on the Dictator , Commander and President. The Land Cruiser models were easily identified by their extreme streamlining features, unusual 4-piece rear window, trunk and the full fender skirts on the rear of the vehicle. The new Presidents were smaller and less impressive than their predecessors, though still fine automobiles, priced at $ 1,245, ($ 28,356 in 2023 dollars ). For 1935, Presidents and Commanders offered an optional steel sliding roof similar to sunroofs common on vehicles today. In 1936, all Studebaker cars featured

144-597: A testament to the longevity and durability of Studebaker vehicles. In 1927, the model gained the transitional model name Big Six President as Studebaker began the process of converting all of its model names away from engine-type-based, and towards the more evocative Dictator (Standard Six) and Commander (Special Six). In the case of the Big Six President, 1928 would mark the introduction of Studebaker's famed 313-in³ Straight-8 which developed 100 bhp (75 kW) at 2600 rpm. The larger straight-six engine

168-406: The "Planar" suspension system, and offered the " Startix " automatic engine-starting system as an optional accessory. Vehicles manufactured from 1936 also showed the influence of industrial designer Raymond Loewy , who was hired as Studebaker’s design consultant, and Helen Dryden who specialised in interior styling. Studebaker made its Hill-Holder device (an anti-rollback brake system) standard on

192-531: The President and other "senior" Studebaker models easier. Presidents manufactured in this era were considered to rival more expensive marques such as Cadillac , Packard , Lincoln , and Chrysler’s Imperial model range. Studebaker went into receivership during 1933-34, Albert Erskine committed suicide, and the era of the big, impressive President came to an abrupt end. For 1934, Studebaker trimmed its model lineup and streamlined its vehicles. The company designed

216-439: The President in that year. In 1938, the company offered a remote-controlled "Miracle-Shift" transmission which featured a dashboard-mounted shifter. The unit was discontinued in 1939 when the transmission shift lever was moved to the steering column. For 1941, the President received a new body style, a four-door sedan with rear-opening rear doors, as opposed to the then-conventional front-opening (suicide) rear doors. This vehicle

240-456: The President the finest automobile on the American road, with prices ranging from $ 1,985 to $ 2,485 ($ 35,222 to $ 44,094 in 2023 dollars ). Presidents produced from 1928-1933 established land speed records, some of which went unbroken for 35 years. The President benefited from engineering improvements once the company took control of Pierce-Arrow in 1928. The primary advances of the 1931 engine

264-524: The Speedster name in the early 1920s, and was a marketing strategy revival of the President during that time. The Speedster was a member of the President series, and was based on President hardtop coupe. For 1955, the company heavily restyled its models to incorporate a larger front bumper and a massive chrome grille more in keeping with American cars of the era. An initial run of twenty Speedsters

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288-467: The automaker because they represented a clean break from the legacy of E-M-F Studebaker had been producing. Between 1918 and 1920, the Big Six was offered only as a four-door touring car , the most popular body style for automobiles at the time. As the price of enclosed cars came down and consumers discovered the benefits of closed and semi-closed passenger compartments, a wider variety of body styles

312-440: The bearings was not as effective. Other advances for performance were that the valves had spring dampers and the muffler was a straight-through type. With these improvements the engine achieved 122 hp (91 kW). It also had modern filters for air, oil, and fuel, an improved thermostat, and a Lanchester vibration damper. In 1931, Studebaker introduced "Ovaloid" headlights which were oblong in shape and made identification of

336-545: The compact Studebaker Lark . The final editions of Packard automobiles (1957–58) were based on this platform. The President set 118 stock car records in 1928. It also came in third in the 1932 Indianapolis 500 . The Classic Car Club of America , regarded as the American authority for accreditation of "classic car" status, recognizes only the 38,403 8-cylinder FA & FB model Studebaker Presidents produced in 1928 and those produced between 1929 and 1933 as “full classics”. Studebaker Big Six The Studebaker Big Six

360-660: The company published a pamphlet about the Arizona sheriffs' Studebakers, and named their Big Six Sport Phaeton model the Sheriff . One of the Arizona sheriffs' Big Six cars has been restored, and is on display at the Arizona Historical Society museum in Tucson . At the 1924 New York Auto Show , Studebaker featured a 1918 Big Six that had a verified odometer reading of over 500,000 miles (800,000 km), as

384-511: The following items: The following was available in new models at an extra cost: [REDACTED] Media related to Studebaker Big Six at Wikimedia Commons Studebaker Speedster The Studebaker Speedster was an automobile produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana during the 1955 model year. The vehicle was considered Studebaker's halo model for the 1955 season. Studebaker had previously used

408-446: The shortened 1942 model, after which the President was discontinued. The Skyway designation was, however, used for shortened 1946 Studebaker Champions . Studebaker reintroduced the President nameplate in 1955 when it was applied to all premium-trimmed vehicles. The most noteworthy of these later Presidents was the 1955 Studebaker Speedster . The President name was discontinued after the 1958 model year, when Studebaker began focusing on

432-820: Was an automobile produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana between 1918 and 1926, being designated the Model EG (1918–21), the EK (1922–24) and the EP (1925–26); its name was due to the 127" wheelbase in comparison to the Studebaker Special Six at 120". In 1927, it was renamed the President (ES) pending introduction of a smaller and smoother straight-eight engine for new top-of-the-range models after January 1928. All Studebaker models for 1918 represented an important milestone for

456-584: Was designated the Land Cruiser, recognizable by its concealed running-boards and lack of rear quarter-windows. The Land Cruiser was available in the beginning of 1941, in the Custom and DeLuxetone series. In mid year 1941, the Skyway series was introduced, with a Land Cruiser included. The Skyway had an upgrade in upholstery, and lacked the double strip of chrome down the side of the car. This style continued for

480-420: Was made available beginning with the 1921 model year. By 1926, the Big Six was available in a variety of body styles, including a dual-cowl Phaeton and a Berline (sedan). 1918 and 1919 Big Sixes were powered by Studebaker's 354 in³ (5.8-liter) Straight-6 engine, which produced 60 bhp (45 kW) at 2000 rpm. By 1926, the engine was delivering 75 bhp (56 kW) at 2400 rpm. The car's wheelbase

504-695: Was made to be displayed at car shows for the 1955 model year. Reaction to the show cars caused Studebaker's management to put the car into production mid-year and offer it for the rest of the model year, after which it was replaced by the previously planned Hawk series . It allowed the company to offer a competitor to the Ford Thunderbird and Chrysler 300 . Power came from Studebaker's 259 cu in (4.2 L) V8 engine producing 185 horsepower (138 kW) and 258 pound-feet (350 N⋅m) of torque. The Speedster's list price started at $ 3,346, ($ 38,057 in 2023 dollars ) or about $ 800 more than

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528-413: Was the increase in displacement to 337 cu in (5,520 cc) and the crankshaft was drilled for oil passage to each of its nine large main bearings . At this time, the straight-eight engines of many other firms had only five bearings; connecting the crank throws of every pair of cylinders between said bearings, their crankshafts had a heavy diagonal beam to take the stress, and the lubrication of

552-494: Was utilised in the GB Commander before being replaced with a 248-in³ engine in 1929, marking the end of the line for the famous Big Six. These sixes were the last descendants of rugged cars designed for poor roads in the early 20th century—loaded with torque and massively strong in construction. They were not suited to the higher cruising speeds which were made possible by better roads in later years. New car price included

576-558: Was varied between 1918 120 in (3,048 mm) and 1926 when the car was available in either short 120 in (3,048 mm) or long 127 in (3,226 mm) wheelbases. Studebaker's EK Big Six was popular with rum runners , for its large size and ability to reach up to 80 mph (130 km/h); its C$ 3000 price was not a deterrent. In the 1920s, twelve of the fourteen Arizona counties issued Studebakers to their sheriffs, because of their reputation for power, reliability, and ability to withstand hard use and bad roads. In 1925,

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