Mechanix Illustrated tests the 1950 Studebaker

[Tuckeroo]

This test includes one of my favorite quotes from the inimitable Tom McCahill:

To this writer, however, it looks like the Studebaker people did a bit of borrowing themselves for a change. Most of us knew it would be just a matter of months before the Tucker “turkey” was laid on the Thanksgiving table for carving. Well, it appears as how Studebaker has started the dissection rolling by slicing off the Tucker nose as their helping. When I was first asked by a Studebaker executive what I thought of the new car I told him, “Though it’s not exact, the front looks as though Tucker must have passed through South Bend on a bicycle.” He quickly pointed out that I was wrong and said he could prove how it varied. But I’ll stick to my guns and say again that, to my eyes anyway, it looks like the turkey is on the table.

Rest of the article:

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/06/19/mi-tests-the-1950-studebaker/#more-7885

[Randy Earle]

I always liked Tom McCahill, in my opinion he was the best automotive jounalist that ever lived. Gray Baskerville comes in a close second.

[NailheadRocketman]

Automobile magazine just did a review of the 1950-51 Studebakers and the reviews weren't much different than what Tom McCahill said about the car all the way back then, except the author of the article complained about these cars not having power steering and how parking a Studebaker was a "chore". These Studebakers are great cars, even if slower than watching paint dry. The V8 Commanders and Land Cruisers are a little more gutsy. In MN, we mainly have the Champion and Commander versions of these cars, Land Cruisers that haven't been cut up for street rods are rare in these parts. Craigslist recently was full of bullet nose Studes including one 1950 Commander with a v8. I've also seen a couple 1951 Champions with automatics in them around here, but no Starlight coupes other than a non-bullet nose 1947 model which was all beat up(that's okay though, you can't tell if a Starlight is coming or going). 52' Studes are great cars as well, they are identical to the 1950-51 models past the firewall, but have an odd "clam digger" front clip with turn signals under the headlights. The high amount of these cars still out there in either fair or near drivable condition is a testament to them being great vehicles. if anyone out there has a chance to buy one, please take it! it may be as close to owning a Tucker as you're ever going to get. Anyway, here is the URL to the Automobile magazine article:

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/c ... index.html