Stude News, cont.

In response to my International Drive Your Studebaker Day post, a number of loyal readers wrote in with their own Studebaker stories. Let me count the ways…

Ron P. shared this photo of himself behind the wheel of his dad’s 1951 Studebaker Commander. The photo was taken in 1960. Ron does not identify the specific day the photo was taken, but let’s assume it was on the second Saturday of September, which is International Drive Your Studebaker Day.

The 1951 Commander is an iconic car, with a bullet nose and a wrap-around rear window reminiscent of a B-52. It was truly distinctive and unique. Here’s a shot of the front of the car, theoretically being washed by Ron’s sister:

Meanwhile, the Rev. Jonathan C. shared his own Studebaker story: In 1964 his family drove from New York to California in a Studebaker. Much of that journey followed the storied Route 66. The Studebaker was a 1953 Conestoga. You’ll recall that Studebaker started out making Conestoga wagons in the 1800s, but Jonathan’s Studebaker was a station wagon. (Although his family may have purchased the car in 1953, 1954 was the first model year of the Conestoga.) Also notable about the car: It was the company’s first all-steel station wagon, and it only had two doors. The Conestoga was also available in an ambulance form, which Studebaker called the “Ambulet.” I’m not making this up.

Next, there’s this: Loyal reader Brian W. reminded me that Frank Zappa had a symphonic fairy tale (?) from 1971 titled “Billy the Mountain,” with a short movement that featured Studebaker Hoch. Among the unforgettable lyrics:

Studebaker Hoch, he’s really outta sight!
Studebaker Hoch, he does it every night!
Studebaker Hoch, he treats the flies all right
Studebaker Hoch, that’s why they never bite, hey!

Don’t believe me? Have a listen:

And speaking of Studebaker-associated musicians: Did you know that Alice Cooper owns a Studebaker Avanti? It’s true!

Meanwhile, high school buddy Detlef K. shared this Studebaker reminiscence:

[Driving with the Studebaker Hawk] was an off-the-charts exceedingly cool experience. I can recall back the two of us cruising side by side up Foothill Expressway – I seem to recall driving my mom’s 1974 Chrysler T&C Station Wagon – both machines each with a massive V8s reverberating between the cars made for an unforgettable experience! But keep in mind a 1960 Studebaker in 1979 is only a 19 year old car. Barely can be acknowledged as a used car, let alone a classic. It’s an entirely different thing to consider driving a 1963 production vehicle in 2026. That is a whopping 63 years old!

Finally, my brother David B. was musing about how the well-known oil additive STP was a property of the Studebaker Corporation in the 1960s. In their advertising they claimed STP stands for “Studebaker Tested Products.” To which Dave scoffed “As if ‘Studebaker Tested Products’ would be a selling point for anything!”

Thus concludes today’s episode of Stude-Talk. Send in your own Studebaker stories and we might do another one!