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2020 Shannons Sydney Summer Classic Auction & Rare Number Plates
Lot
57

1953 Studebaker V8 Land Cruiser 4 Door Sedan (RHD)

$10,000

Sold

Specifications

Engine V8, 233-cid
Gearbox 3-speed manual
Body Work Sedan
Colour Studebaker Bombay Red
Interior Brown
Trim Vinyl
Wheels Steel disc
Brakes Drums

Description

This lot is no longer available

Founded in South Bend, Indiana by brothers Henry and Clement Studebaker in February 1852 as a small blacksmith shop, the Studebaker Corporation had a habit of doing things a little differently, introducing a new low-slung look for the Champion and Commander series for 1953 under the direction of Robert E Bourke, head of Raymond Loewy’s design studio.  Although no convertible was offered, Studebaker continued with a two-door hardtop coupe (badged as the Starlight), and both two and four-door sedans.  Powered exclusively by the V8, the Commander was available in three trim levels – Deluxe, Regal and Land Cruiser, the latter built on an extended wheelbase with vent windows in the rear doors.  Displacing 232.6 cubic inches, Studebaker’s small block V8 was rated at 120 horsepower and featured a Stromberg two-barrel carburettor.  Retailing for $2,316, just 15,981 Land Cruisers were built in 1953.  Studebaker always had a following in Australia and early post-war sales were quite strong, albeit predominantly for trucks.  In 1953 a total of 190 Studebakers were sold here, of which 141 were cars – the majority of these were Champions but a handful of Land Cruisers did make it here.  Few of these remain on the road today, making the car offered here something of a rarity.