1930 Studebaker President Hides Something Unexpected Inside the Cabin
Now almost forgotten due to Studebaker's prolonged absence from the market (the firm was shut down in 1967), the President was once the company's top-tier nameplate. Introduced in 1926 as a replacement for the Big Six, it immediately became one of America's finest premium automobiles.
Originally powered by a straight-six engine, the President gained a straight-eight powerplant in 1928. The nameplate also benefited from engineering improvements following Studebaker's takeover of Pierce-Arrow.
By 1933, the President featured one of the most advanced straight-eight engines on the market, established many land speed records, and rivaled more expensive vehicles from Cadillac, Packard, and Lincoln.
The President was redesigned in 1934 when Studebaker streamlined its vehicles and trimmed its model lineup. A second redesign followed in 1941, but World War II put an end to car manufacturing in 1942, and the President did not return when production resumed in 1946.
Studebaker eventually revived the name in 1955. This time around, the President badge was applied to all premium-trimmed vehicles, so the lineup included all body styles, including a station wagon. The fourth-generation President spawned the short-lived Speedster, which preceded the iconic Hawk series. The President went into the history books for good in 1958.
While late-generation Presidents pop up for sale and at classic car events from time to time, pre-WW2 examples are a rare sight. And that's exactly why I got excited when classic car spotter Matt Gause found a 1930 example in the wild.
A first-generation model, this President looks spotless at first glance. It's also quite intimidating due to its extended wheelbase and massive fenders. However, this Studebaker is far from stock and comes with a few surprises that may upset diehard enthusiasts.
Our host doesn't get to look under the hood, and the owner doesn't share much info, but an older auction ad I found indicates that this Studebaker rides on different underpinnings. The listing, which dates back to February 2024, mentions a "frame stretched with a Corvette front end." That's a bit vague and raises more questions than answers.
The original straight-eight engine is also gone, with the auction mentioning a Ford V8 engine. Again, there's no info on the donor car, so it could be anything from a vintage flathead to a more modern truck mill.
But the frame and the engine aren't the only surprises hiding under the shell. This President also features a somewhat unusual heating system mounted behind the front seats. And I say "unusual" because it appears to be an antique gas heater.
Likely much older than the car, this heater (research indicates it's a Humphrey Radiant Fire) was originally conceived for home use. Period brochures do not suggest that Studebaker offered something similar as an option, so it's most likely a period aftermarket thing. On the flip side, there's no info on how this foot warmer works (does it still operate on gas?) and whether it's still functional. Hit the play button below for the full walkaround.
Originally powered by a straight-six engine, the President gained a straight-eight powerplant in 1928. The nameplate also benefited from engineering improvements following Studebaker's takeover of Pierce-Arrow.
By 1933, the President featured one of the most advanced straight-eight engines on the market, established many land speed records, and rivaled more expensive vehicles from Cadillac, Packard, and Lincoln.
The President was redesigned in 1934 when Studebaker streamlined its vehicles and trimmed its model lineup. A second redesign followed in 1941, but World War II put an end to car manufacturing in 1942, and the President did not return when production resumed in 1946.
Studebaker eventually revived the name in 1955. This time around, the President badge was applied to all premium-trimmed vehicles, so the lineup included all body styles, including a station wagon. The fourth-generation President spawned the short-lived Speedster, which preceded the iconic Hawk series. The President went into the history books for good in 1958.
While late-generation Presidents pop up for sale and at classic car events from time to time, pre-WW2 examples are a rare sight. And that's exactly why I got excited when classic car spotter Matt Gause found a 1930 example in the wild.
A first-generation model, this President looks spotless at first glance. It's also quite intimidating due to its extended wheelbase and massive fenders. However, this Studebaker is far from stock and comes with a few surprises that may upset diehard enthusiasts.
Our host doesn't get to look under the hood, and the owner doesn't share much info, but an older auction ad I found indicates that this Studebaker rides on different underpinnings. The listing, which dates back to February 2024, mentions a "frame stretched with a Corvette front end." That's a bit vague and raises more questions than answers.
The original straight-eight engine is also gone, with the auction mentioning a Ford V8 engine. Again, there's no info on the donor car, so it could be anything from a vintage flathead to a more modern truck mill.
But the frame and the engine aren't the only surprises hiding under the shell. This President also features a somewhat unusual heating system mounted behind the front seats. And I say "unusual" because it appears to be an antique gas heater.
Likely much older than the car, this heater (research indicates it's a Humphrey Radiant Fire) was originally conceived for home use. Period brochures do not suggest that Studebaker offered something similar as an option, so it's most likely a period aftermarket thing. On the flip side, there's no info on how this foot warmer works (does it still operate on gas?) and whether it's still functional. Hit the play button below for the full walkaround.