Studebaker president speedster (1955)
for sale
Price: US $20,000.00
Price: US $20,000.00
The
Studebaker Speedster
was an ONE YEAR ONLY model produced by the Studebaker Corporation
of South
Bend, Indiana during the 1955 model year. The vehicle is considered
Studebaker’s halo model
for the 1955 season. Studebaker had previously used the Speedster name in the
early 1920s.
The Speedster was a member of the Studebaker
President series, and was based on Studebaker’s 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.[4]
An initial run of twenty Speedsters 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.
The Speedster's list price started at $3, 346, or about $800 more than 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, an engine-turned dashboard 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[4][3] and
fog-light bumperettes.
There was also Speedster-specific trim including 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 the 1955 model year. This particular Speedster has its original engine and drive train and has had a total nut and
bolt restoration completed in 2010 of which there is extensive photos of what
was done. The car was purchased by the current owner in 2012 and has been the
veteran of two Copperstate 1000 rallies in Arizona where it performed flawlessly.
The car is in truly concours level condition inside and out and everything on
the car works as the day it was new. This is a turn key classic automobile that
is truly unique and very rare and in what is considered by many to be he most
attractive “tuxedo” paint scheme available to the Speedster in 1955.
update: 2016-11-09
Condition: | Used | Year: | 1955 |
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): | 7162456 | Mileage: | 34,434 |
Make: | Studebaker | Number of Cylinders: | 8 |
Transmission: | Automatic | Model: | president speedster |
Body Type: | Coupe | Engine: | 259 |
Warranty: | Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty | Drive Type: | RWD |
Vehicle Title: | Clear | Fuel Type: | Gasoline |
Sub Model: | Speedster | For Sale By: | Private Seller |
Exterior Color: | tuxedo black and white | Disability Equipped: | No |
Interior Color: | grey, cream and black |