Saleofcar.com :Studebaker

Studebaker Cruiser (1964)
for sale

Price: US $1,000.00

Description:

This is a 1964 Studebaker Cruiser in really nice condition. To our knowledge, the car has not been restored, is in original condition inside and out, and the odometer reflects actual mileage.
Honestly, I'm not really a car guy, or a Studebaker guy. I don't really know what I'm looking at, or how to tell the difference. You probably know much more about this model than I do. Look at the pictures. Read the description. ASK YOUR QUESTIONS. I'll do my best to get more photos or whatever info you need. Check my feedback. I want you to be happy with your purchase. All sales are final.
Here is what I do know:
It belonged to my father, the 3rd owner and long time Studebaker enthusiast, who has passed away. He bought it in 1994 from another old-timer Studebaker enthusiast who bought from the original owner in 1991. We have some of the license records from the previous owners, and what appears to be a photocopy of the original 1964 title. I'm told the original owner was yet another old guy, who had a white poodle, and he installed the vinyl seat cover on the back seat for his little dog. From the license records, the car appears to have spent it's entire life in or near Spokane, WA. My folks garaged it every winter until at least 2012.
It comes with 2 sets of original aluminum Studebaker keys, two aluminum tabs with the key codes stamped on them, the original Owner's Manual and Accessories Manual (manuals are in near new condition), and what I'm guessing are most, or all of the service records since about 1991. I know my dad didn't do any mechanical work himself.
259 c.i. Thunderbolt V8. Flightomatic auto transmission. No overdrive. Column shift. Judging from the manuals, it looks like it has the optional AM push-button Radio, front seat belts, rear fender stone guards, bumper guards, dash clock, cigarette lighter, glove box vanity tray light and back-up lights.
I don't think it has been driven much, if at all, in the last several years.
My observations: It turned over, but didn't start initially. Battery was a little low. After charging, and a squirt of ether, it fired right up. It now starts up easily. Doesn't smoke. Runs smooth. Drives fine. Shocks are kinda crummy. Steering does not pull to either side. Power steering makes a bit of a rumbling noise when going around a corner. Transmission is a little clunky by today's standards, but it appears to shift properly in all gears + reverse (I drove it up to 50 mph). Brakes seem to work fine. Parking brake needs adjustment.
There is a little body rust on the fenders behind the front wheels (see photos - passenger side is worse than driver's side). Seats have a couple tears in them. Rear deck and top of back seat need some attention. Matched set of Cooper Trendsetter radial tires are in good shape (purchased 1991). Tread depth is about at Lincoln's ear on a penny. Spare tire is an Atlas Plycron bias ply. Perhaps that's the original spare? It has 18 psi in it now. Who knows when that was filled last. The jack is in the trunk, underneath the spare. All the doors, windows, door locks etc. are a little stiff, but seem to work just fine. Doors seem to be slightly out of adjustment, but they all open and close properly. There is one ding in the windshield on the passenger side. I think it's visible in one of the photos. There's an insulating mat that was attached to the underside of the hood. It has come off, and is included with the car.
I'm pretty sure it's the original paint. It needs paint. I really don't see much rust of any consequence. The worst of it is the little patch behind the wheel on the right front fender (see photo). The trunk has the original vinyl liner. Trunk floor is solid, and has some superficial rust under the floor mat. Overall, the body is straight and clean. I don't really see any door dings, dents in the grille, or that kind of stuff. It sorta looks like there is water in the tail lights. Some of the chrome needs work. There was at one time, a mirror mounted on top of the left front fender. Screws from that have been left in place. It's hard to tell, even up close, but the hood ornament has a little crack in it. Locking gas cap and keys are not original (Briggs and Stratton).
It's been sitting out the last several years, so there is moss, grunge from the trees, and that sort of thing. There were a lot of cobwebs under the hood when I first opened it up.
Most of the interior stuff seems to work: Dome light works (switch in the door is a little sticky). AM radio works. Wipers worked for a bit and then quit. Then they worked again. And then quit again. Heater fan doesn't come on. Turn signals work front and rear. Low and high beams work. Brake lights work. Right side reverse light is out. Dash lights are out. Gauges (ammeter, . speed-o, etc.) appear to work. Clock is stopped. I have not checked the fuses for any of this stuff.
Odometer reads: 46, 934.5Serial number on the driver's door jamb: 64V-17450Body number on firewall plate: 64V Y9, 3486Engine number: V572640
You will have to do some of your own sleuthing as to what those serial numbers mean.
My dad kept 19 gas purchase records (between 1995 and 2009). Looks like it's most of them. He got up to 19 mpg:
date miles gallons mpg 1 12/23/1995 44801 5.289 2 5/31/1996 44908 7.37 14.5 3 6/6/1996 45027 7.573 15.7 4 6/13/1996 45197 10.678 15.9 5 6/19/1996 45350 9.49 16.1 6 8/4/1996 45526 11.54 15.3 7 4/29/1998 45624 9.122 10.7 8 8/13/1999 45670 5.036 9.1 9 10/17/2000 45898 11.958 19.1 10 10/17/2000 45904 2.316 2.6 11 10/7/2003 46198 16.246 18.1 12 10/21/2003 46253 4.582 12.0 13 10/25/2003 46265 2.82 4.3 14 10/29/2004 46388 10.438 11.8 15 9/27/2005 46595 12.098 17.1 16 10/28/2006 46671 5.706 13.3 17 10/31/2007 46685 7.389 1.9 18 10/20/2008 46696 3.027 3.6 19 10/5/2009 46767 6.28 11.3
Service records that we have are:
1991 Cooper T/S P215/75R15 radial tires/stems.1994 repl. muffler.1998 repl. battery, battery cable.1999 change oil/filter, repl. water pump.2001 change oil, repl. fan belts, lube.2009 valve cover gaskets, front brake pads, repack bearings, replace grease seals, repair brake hoses, clean master cyl., replace thermostat, replace radiator cap, 2008 repl. battery.2012 repl. battery (??? hand written note).
The fine print:
Do not ask me to sell this outside of this auction. Sale is AS IS, WHERE IT IS, in Spokane, WA, zip code 99218. Buyer has 3 days after the auction closes to place a $500 deposit on the vehicle via Paypal, with the balance due as cash or Paypal at or before pickup. If you want to ship the car, I will HAPPILY work with you or your shipper as best I can. It might be prudent to come prepared, just in case the car won't start when you arrive. Buyer is responsible for all aspects of loading and/or transporting the vehicle to its destination. I do not have any equipment available (ramps, etc.) to use for loading. Buyer has 3 weeks to collect the vehicle. After 3 weeks, I reserve the right to cancel the sale and refund only 80% of any amount already paid. Please contact me and begin making arrangements in a timely manner.
While the car runs and drives, and I made a few laps around the neighborhood, I would not recommend trying to drive it any significant distance. It has not been checked out by a mechanic, and I make no claim that it is roadworthy. It's over 50 years old and has been sitting for several years.
Thanks for looking!
_{update: 2016-10-12}