AMT / Round 2 1:25 1953 Studebaker

In 1953, my father purchased this Studebaker. These cars were rather unique for the time. They are relatively small for one thing; a two door coupe. The car is also quite light weight, low to the ground and aerodynamic. It was very different from your typical early '50s American design.

At that time there was a well know modification commonly done to these cars. A more powerful Cadillac engine happened to be a perfectly fitting, drop in replacement. Given the Studebaker's sleek design and light weight, the result was one fast hot rod. Such modified cars been called "Studellacs".

The car my Dad bought was part way through this modification. He completed the job. 

My Dad never sold this car, his dream car, and his first "real" car. This car was part of my life growing up. It sat in the garage under a cover for many years. A couple times, my Dad got the urge to work on it. I badly needed paint and other work. But it never became an ongoing project, not until much later.

Keeping the car was a challenge over the decades, through devoice and moves. I even had it in a garage myself for awhile when I was in college and there was no place for it to go. 

 

 

When I found out this model existed I ordered it immediately.

I won't go into a lot of detail, but here's a few photos.

Here's the final cream colored top. The lower is still primer. 

I ended up cementing the hood down because it wasn't a perfect fit. Take one last look at the engine.

Done!

I was pleased with the red paint job, two-tone no less. That's something I usually do pretty badly.

These were the colors on my Dad's car.

The quality iof this kit is inline with others of this sale. There's enough detail to look good on the shelf. The fit and molding is fine, but just fine.

My only complaint about the model is that the Studebaker V-8 logos detailed on the body are completely wrong. It's an odd error. You'd think the designers would look up what the badges looked like on a vehicle so well known among car buffs.

The hub caps are also wrong. You can't have everything I guess.

The only after market detail I added was vintage Oregon license plates.

See the album for this project here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pUh6fL3ftCWttR1z5

Late in life, in the 1980s, my Dad finally restored his dream car. This last photo shows the Studebaker at that time.

After his death the car was sold to a collector. Someplace on YouTube, I've since lost the link, there is a video posted by the car's new owner about this Studellac. It's finally on the road again.