Studebaker

Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Studebaker shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Studebaker offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Studebaker at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Studebaker? Wrong! If the Studebaker is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Studebaker then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Studebaker? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Studebaker and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Studebaker wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Studebaker then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Studebaker site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Studebaker, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Studebaker, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

{{Infobox Defunct Company| company_name = Studebaker| company_logo = , was used from the 1950s until 1966| slogan = First by far with a post-war car| fate = Merged| successor = Studebaker-Worthington Corp.| foundation = 1852 | location = [South Bend, Indiana, Indiana, United States| key_people = [Henry Studebaker, founder]
Mining Wagons | num_employees = | parent = | subsid = -->Studebaker Corporation, or simply Studebaker, was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana, Indiana. Originally, the company was a producer of industrial mining wagons, founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company. While Studebaker entered the automotive business in 1902 with electric vehicles and 1904 with gasoline vehicles, it partnered with other builders of gasoline-powered vehicles until 1911. In 1913, Studebaker introduced the first gasoline-powered automobiles under its own “Studebaker” name brand name. Acquired in 1954 by Packard of Detroit, Michigan, Michigan, Studebaker was a division of the Studebaker Packard Corporation from 1957 to 1962. In 1962, it reverted to its previous name, the Studebaker Corporation. While the company left the automobile business in 1966, Studebaker survived as an independent closed investment firm until 1967 when it merged with Worthington to become Studebaker-Worthington Corp.

History 19th century wagonmaker Henry Studebaker was a farmer, blacksmith, and wagon-maker who lived near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in the early 19th century. By 1860, he had moved to Ashland, Ohio, Ohio and taught his five sons to make wagons. They all went into that business as it grew westward with the country.Clement Studebaker and Henry Studebaker Jr. became blacksmiths and foundrymen in South Bend. They first made metal parts for freight wagons and later expanded into the manufacture of complete wagons. John Studebaker made wheelbarrows in Placerville, California, California, and Peter made wagons in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The site of John's business is Chinas Historic Landmark #142. The first major expansion in their business came from their being in the right place to meet the needs of the California Gold Rush in 1849.

When the gold rush settled down, John returned to Indiana and bought out Henry's share of the business. They brought in their youngest brother, Jacob, in 1852. Expansion continued to support westward Human migration, but the next major decrease came from supplying wagons for the Union Army in the American Civil War. After the war, they reviewed what they had accomplished and set a direction for the company.

They reorganized into the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company in 1878, built around the motto of "Always give more than you promise." By this time the railroad and steamship companies had become the big freight movers in the east. So they set their sights on supplying farmers and others with the means to move themselves and their goods. Peter's business became a branch operation.

During the height of westward migration and wagon train Settler, half of the wagons were Studebakers. They made about a quarter of them, and manufactured the metal fittings to sell to other builders in Missouri for another quarter century.

Studebaker Automobiles 1897-1966 , Studebaker offered a full range of models, including the Avanti, Hawk, Wagonaire and Lark based Cruiser, Commander, and Daytona convertible.Studebaker experimented with powered vehicles as early as 1897, choosing electric over gasoline engines. While it attempted to manufacture its own electric vehicles from 1902 to 1912, the company entered into a distribution agreement with two manufacturers of gasoline powered vehicles: Garford (automobile) of Elyria, Ohio, and the E-M-F Company (E-M-F) Company of Detroit.

Under the agreement with Studebaker, Garford would receive completed chassis and drivetrains from Ohio and then mate them with Studebaker built auto body, which were sold under the Studebaker-Garford brand name and at a premium price. Eventually, even the Garford built engines began to carry the Studebaker name. However, Garford also built a limited number of cars under its own name, and by 1907 attempted to increase production at the expense of Studebaker. Once the Studebakers discovered what was going on with their partner, John Moehler Studebaker enforced a primacy clause, forcing Garford back onto the scheduled production quotas. The decision to drop the Garford was made and the final product rolled off the assembly line by 1911, leaving Garford to try it alone until it was acquired by John North Willys in 1913.

Studebaker's marketing agreement with E-M-F was a different relationship, one that John Studebaker had hoped would give Studebaker a quality product without the entanglements found in the Garford relationship. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case.

Under the terms of the agreement, E-M-F would manufacture vehicles and the Studebakers would distribute them through their wagon dealers. Problems with E-M-F made the cars unreliable, leading the public to say that E-M-F stood for "Every Morning Fix-it." Compounding the problems was the internal fighting between E-M-F's principal partners, Mr. Everett, Mr. Flanders and Mr. Metzger. Eventually, two-thirds of the trio left, leaving the bombastic Mr. Metzger to run the operation on his own. J.M. Studebaker, unhappy with E-M-F's poor quality, gained control of the assets and factory facilities in 1910. To remedy the damage done by E-M-F, Studebaker paid mechanics to visit each unsatisfied owner and replace the defective automobile parts in their vehicles at a cost to the company of US$1 million.

Studebaker also began putting its name on new automobiles produced at the former E-M-F facilities, both as an assurance that the vehicles were well-built, and as its commitment to making automobile production and sales a success. In 1911, the company reorganized as the Studebaker Corporation.

In addition to cars, Studebaker added a pickup truck line, which in time, replaced the horse drawn wagon business started in 1852. In 1926, Studebaker became the first automobile manufacturer in the United States to open a controlled Bendix Woods; in 1937 the company planted 5,000 pine trees in a pattern that when viewed from the air spelled "STUDEBAKER."

From the 1920s to the 1960s, the South Bend company originated many style and engineering milestones, including the classic 1929-1932 Studebaker President and the 1939 Studebaker Champion. During World War II, Studebaker produced the Studebaker US6 truck in great quantity and the unique M29 Weasel cargo and personnel carrier. After cessation of hostilities, Studebaker returned to building automobiles that appealed to average United States and their need for transportation and mobility.

However, ballooning labor costs (the company had never had an official United Auto Workers (UAW) strike and Studebaker workers and retirees were among the highest paid in the industry), quality control issues, and the new car sales war between Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation in the early 1950s wreaked havoc on Studebaker's balance sheet. Professional financial managers stressed short term earnings rather than long term vision. There was enough momentum to keep going for another ten years, but stiff competition and price cutting by the Big Three automobile manufacturers doomed the enterprise.

Merger with Packard Hoping to stem the tide of losses and bolster its market position, Studebaker allowed itself to be acquired by Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit; the merger entity was called the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. Studebaker's cash position was far worse than it led Packard to believe and, in 1956, the nearly bankrupt auto-maker brought in a management team from aircraft maker Curtiss-Wright to help get it back on its feet. At the behest of C-W's president, Roy T. Hurley, the company became the American importer for Mercedes-Benz, Auto Union, and DKW automobiles and many Studebaker car dealer sold those brands as well. In 1958, the Packard name was discontinued, although the company continued to bear the Studebaker-Packard name through 1962.

With an abundance of tax credits in hand from the years of financial losses, at the insistence of the company's banks and some members of the board of directors, Studebaker-Packard began diversifying away from automobiles in the late 1950s. While this was good for the corporate bottom line, it virtually guaranteed there would be little spending on Studebaker's mainstay products, its automobiles.

The automobiles that came after the diversification process began, including the ingeniously-designed compact car Studebaker Lark (1959) and even the Studebaker Avanti sports car (1963), were based on old chassis and engine designs. The Lark, in particular, was based on existing parts to the degree that it even utilized the central body section of the company's 1953 cars, but was a clever enough design to be quite popular in its first year, selling over 150,000 units and delivering an unexpected $28 million profit to the automaker.

Hamilton, Ontario On August 18, 1948, surrounded by more than 400 employees and a battery of reporters, the first vehicle, a blue Champion four-door sedan, rolled off of the Studebaker assembly line in Hamilton, Ontario, Ontario, Canada. The company was located in the former Otis-Fenson military weapons factory off Burlington Street on Victoria Avenue (Hamilton, Ontario), which was built in 1941. The Indiana-based Studebaker Corporation was looking for a Canadian site and settled on Hamilton because of its steel industry. The company was known for making automotive innovations and building solid, distinctive cars. 1950 was its best year, but the descent was quick. By 1954, Studebaker was in the red and merging with Packard, another troubled car manufacturer. In 1963, the company moved its entire car operations to Hamilton. The Canadian car side had always been a money-maker and Studebaker was looking to curtail disastrous losses. That took the plant from a single to second shift - 48 to 96 cars daily.

The last car to roll off the line was a turquoise Lark cruiser on March 16, 1966. Studebaker officially announced the shutdown of its last car factory on March 4. It was terrible news for the 700 workers who had formed a true family at the company, known for its employee parties and day trips. It was a huge blow to the city, too. Studebaker was Hamilton's 10th largest employer at the time.

Non-Auto Businesses Studebaker was involved in other areas of manufacture besides automobiles. The Franklin Appliance Company manufactured Home Appliances such as Refrigerators and such, until its sale to White Sewing Machine Company http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/White-Consolidated-Industries-Inc-Company-History.html.

Studebaker also owned and manufactured STP (motor oil company), Gravely Tractor, Onan Electric Generators, and Clarke Floor Machine.

Exit from auto business Nothing that was tried in the years following the Lark's debut proved enough to stop the financial bleeding. The company produced its last car in South Bend in December 1963, selling its Studebaker Avanti brand, tooling and plant space to Leo Newman and Nate Altman, who owned a Studebaker dealership in South Bend. Newman and Altman revived the car in 1965 under the brand name Avanti II. They likewise purchased the rights and tooling for Studebaker's trucks (which were never again built after Studebaker fulfilled its remaining orders in early 1964), along with the company's vast stock of parts and accessories.

Automotive production was Consolidation at the company's last remaining production facility in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where Studebaker produced cars until March, 1966 under the leadership of Gordon Grundy. Grundy tried very hard to turn a profit on his operation, and he succeeded to some degree.

However, the company's directors felt that the small profits that Grundy was producing were not enough to justify continued investment. Studebaker left the automobile business on March 16, 1966 after a turquoise and white Cruiser sedan rolled out the door.

After the final closure, Studebaker turned its focus to the company's myriad of profitable, wholly owned Subsidiary.

Many of Studebaker's dealers either closed, took on other automakers' product lines, or converted to Mercedes-Benz dealerships following the closure of the Canadian plant.

Studebaker's proving grounds were acquired by its former supplier, Bendix Corporation, which later donation the grounds for use as a park to the St. Joseph County, Indiana, parks department. As a condition of the donation, the new park was named Bendix Woods. The grove of 5,000 trees planted in 1937 that spelled out the company name still stand and have proven to be a popular topic on such satellite photography sites as Google Earth . Today, the former proving ground is owned by Robert Bosch GmbH and it continues to be active some 80 years after it was built. Its General Products Division, which handled defense contracts, was acquired by Kaiser Industries and continues to this day as AM General.

After 1966, Studebaker continued to exist as a closed investment group, with income derived from its numerous diversified units including STP (motor oil company), Gravely Tractor, Onan Electric Generators, and Clarke Floor Machine. Studebaker was acquired by Wagner Electric in 1967. Subsequently, Studebaker was then merged with the Worthington Corporation to form Studebaker-Worthington. The Studebaker name disappeared from the American business scene in 1979, when McGraw-Edison acquired Studebaker-Worthington. McGraw-Edison was itself purchased in 1985 by Cooper Industries, which sold off its auto-parts divisions to Federal-Mogul some years later.

Revival attempts In 2003, the owners of the Studebaker XUV trademark, Avanti Motor Corp. (based in Villa Rica, Georgia), announced a Studebaker-branded SUV, the Studebaker XUV, for production that fall. A demonstration model appeared at the Chicago Auto Show. General Motors Corporation sued, claiming infringement of the trade dress of its Hummer model. In 2004, the parties announced a settlement after a redesign of the XUV concept, but owner Michael Kelly decided to retirement and announced an auction of the Avanti company. It was not publicly announced whether there were bidders or a sale, and there were no further public announcements made regarding any such sale. However, it appears that Avanti is producing vehicles again, as the company announced a 2006 model-year line. The company produces a limited run of only 150 vehicles per year.

The XUV was joined for 2006 by the Studebaker XUT, a pickup truck version that is similar in concept to the Chevrolet Avalanche, although it is not known if the XUT has the same type of "mid-gate" that allows the expansion of the cargo area into the passenger cabin.

By March 2007, Avanti Motor Corp. had stopped using the Studebaker XUV name and had removed all references to the XUV from its website. (See the link below.) Avanti may have halted use of the name to keep from having conflict with the Studebaker Motor Co., but there is no official word on this matter.

In 2002, Studebaker Motor Co. of Texas was founded. Research by other Wikipedia writers has shown that Studebaker Motor Co. Inc. is listed with the United States Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (USDOT/NHTSA). There have been articles about the company, including one that appeared on page 38 of the December 2006 issue of AMD/American Motorcycle Dealer magazine. Another article appeared in the December 2006 issue of the motorcycle magazine Iron Works, entitled "Stud Stude" (page 98).

Based on information from the company’s website and other sources, it appears that Studebaker Motor Co. is in the development stages with its vehicles. In a more recent company release, the company announced that it will locate its corporate headquarters in the San Antonio, Texas metropolitan area.

On the company website, Tom Raines is listed as president and chief executive officer of Studebaker Motor Co. and Ric Reed is listed as executive vice president.

Corporate survivor The remains of the auto maker still exist as Studebaker-Worthington Leasing, a subsidiary of State Bank of Long Island (amex: STB), which provides Lease services for Manufacurer and resale of Business product and Industry.{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/personalfinance/2004/10/27/cx_pk_1027crasheyeonstocks.html|publisher=Forbes|author=Peter Kang|title=Eye On Stocks For Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929|date=October 27, 2004-->

Products see also List of Studebaker vehicles

Studebaker automobile models

Studebaker Electric (automobile) (1902–1912)
Studebaker Big Six (1918–1927)
Studebaker Special Six (1918–1927)
Studebaker Light Six (includes Standard Six model) (1918–1927)
Studebaker Light Four (1918–1920)
Studebaker President (1927–42, 1955–58)
Studebaker Dictator (1928–36)
Studebaker Champion (1939–58)
Studebaker Land Cruiser (1947–54)
Studebaker Scotsman (1957–58)
Studebaker Commander (1928–35, 1937–58, 1964–66)
Studebaker Conestoga (1954–55)
Studebaker Speedster (1955)
Studebaker-Packard Hawk series:

Studebaker Golden Hawk (1956–58)
Studebaker Silver Hawk (1957–59)
Studebaker Sky Hawk (1956)
Studebaker Flight Hawk (1956)
Studebaker Power Hawk (1956)
Studebaker Hawk (1960–61)
Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk (1962–64)

Studebaker Lark (1959–1966) (Includes Cruiser, Daytona and Lark based Commander)
Studebaker Wagonaire (1963–66)
Studebaker Avanti (1963–64)

Studebaker trucks

Studebaker Coupe Express (1937–1939)
Studebaker US6 (1941–45)
Studebaker M29 Weasel (1942–45)
Studebaker Transtar (1959–1963)
Studebaker Champ (1960–1964)
Studebaker M series (1940–1948)

Studebaker body styles

Studebaker Starlight (1947–55, 1958)
Starliner
Coupe Express

Affiliated automobile marques

E-M-F Company Independent auto manufacturer that marketed cars through Studebaker wagon dealers 1909-1912
Erskine (automobile) Brand of automobile produced by Studebaker
Packard 1954 merger partner of Studebaker
Pierce-Arrow Acquired by Studebaker in the late 1920s
Rockne Brand of automobile produced by Studebaker in the early 1930s
Mercedes-Benz Distributed through Studebaker dealers 1958-1966
Studebaker-Garford, Studebaker-bodied cars
Tincher An early independent builder of luxury cars financed by Studebaker investment
Studillac, an automobile combining a Studebaker body and a Cadillac engine made in the mid-1950s

Notable Studebaker owners

Benjamin Harrison - Studebaker Carriage
William McKinley - Studebaker Carriage(s)
Thomas Edison - 1902 Studebaker Electric (automobile)
Roger Ebert - Golden Hawk
Al Jolson - 1929 Studebaker Commander
Jack Dempsey - 1931 Studebaker President, 1937 Studebaker President
Joe Louis - 1937 Studebaker President
Judy Garland - 1940 Studebaker Champion
Eleanor Roosevelt - 1958 Studebaker Scotsman
Ed Sullivan - 1964 Studebaker Wagonaire
Kuvempu - 1956 Studebaker Commander
Ralph Nader - 1949
Alice Cooper - 1963 Studebaker Avanti

References in popular culture

In the 2004 tribute album to Warren Zevon, his son Jordan Zevon performs a never-before published song about a Studebaker, entitled ... "Studebaker".
In "Batman: The Animated Series", Bruce Wayne rides in a Studebaker.
In the three-film "Back to the Future" series, the Statler brothers of Hill Valley started selling fine horses in 1885. By 1955, the descendants of the Statlers were selling Studebaker automobiles and light trucks. In 1985, the Statler family business was a Toyota dealership.
In 1979's The Muppet Movie, Fozzie and Kermit drive part-way to California in Fozzie's uncle's 1951 Studebaker Commander. One of the two cars used in the original filming is currently housed in the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana.
The popular early 1960s TV show "Mr. Ed" was sponsored by Studebaker Corporation. In an early form of product placement, Studebakers were seen prominently throughout the show.
A long-running joke on the TV show Golden Girls is that Dorothy Zbornak once became pregnant in the back of a Studebaker.
One of Nathan Detroit's lines in the original Broadway musical Guys and Dolls refers to garage owner Joey Biltmore getting "stabbed by a Studebaker".
Frank Zappa's mock rock-opera "Billy the Mountain" (from Just Another Band from L.A.) features a superhero called "Studebaker Hawk."
In the 1990s Nickelodeon (TV channel) TV show "Doug", one of Doug's friends is named "Chalky Studebaker".
In the TV show "Happy Days", Mr. Cunningham (played by Tom Bosley) trades in his DeSoto (automobile) for a 1962 Studebaker Studebaker Lark during the 1982 season. The car appeared in the opening credits until the show's cancellation in 1984.
The company is also mentioned in Billy Joel's history themed song "We Didn't Start the Fire".
British art-rock band Roxy Music's 1972 debut single "Virginia Plain" contains the lyrics, "Where my Studebaker takes me / That's where I'll make my stand"
In Hunter S. Thompson's novel Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, he notes that, in 1971, LSD is the "Studebaker of the drug market."
The elderly couple in the comic strip, "Pickles" drive what appears to be a 1950s-era Studebaker Commander.
In a 2006 episode of the SciFi Channel's tv show "The Lost Room," the character Detective Joe Miller drove a 1960s model Studebaker Champ pickup. The scene was very short.
InWanda Nevada, a 1979 film starring Peter Fonda and Brooke Shields, the two leads drove around in a 1949 to 1952 model bullet-nosed Studebaker Car (coupe (possibly a Champion or Commander).
In the video game "The Godfather," there appears to be a Studebaker President-type vehicle that the player can hijack. It is the fastest car in the game. There also appears to be a Studebaker truck that can be hijacked.
In an episode of "Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," the grandpa brings home a Studebaker for the young boy to fix up with him.
In the 1998 movie The Newton Boys, the Newton brothers are seen driving around in a 1920s Studebaker.