Offered up for sale is the center piece car in a Virginia Studebaker collection. Designed in the tradition of Raymond Loewy, his 1954 Commander Starliner hardtop was arguably the best design of the early 50's. In fact the style was so terrific that the New York School of Fashion presented its Gold Medal to Studebaker and the design continues to win design awards after half a century as being one of the top 15 designs of all time. This was the year Studebaker became Studebaker-Packard with total production of about 68,000 cars with the hope of a new design offering. It has a 1958 Studebaker 289 V, ower steering, G-200 automatic transmission; no attempt was made to restore the AM radio itself, ut its bezel, nobs and dial were restored as was the clock, nd it works. It is 6V positive ground. Because of their appealing design many of these cars have been customized and re-powered into magnificent hot rods. Thus original Starliners are rarely found in any condition and almost never in this condition.
They sold new just over $2,000, hich, n today’s market would just cover some engine parts. It was bought about 15 years ago from the Washington, .C. Avanti dealer who wanted to restore it for his personal collection but sold it well before completion beyond mechanical work. Since then it has undergone a complete, nd detailed frame off restoration with few miles driven since then, n fact, o car in this collection is driven adequately but when driven be prepared to have people wanting to know about the car. The under 60's people want to know “what is it” and the over 60's folks want to tell you their father, ncle, r neighbor had a Studebaker but it never looked this good. This car received high level attention and care in the frame off restoration.
The theme always being to bring it back to another half century of service paying little attention to cost or labor hours. No detail was overlooked or covered up, nd no pop rivets and no Bondo to cover body rust. Rusted areas were cut out and repaired with 20 ga cold roll welded steel and the frame treated with anti-rust chemicals. Manufactured metal parts were used for the sub floor, nner and outer rockers and trunk, ll were welded in place. Even the dash and interior trim was blasted and repainted its proper colors and gauges restored/repaired. Exterior paint is Viper red (with black top) using 4 coats of Valspar single stage urathane on top of 2K primer, nd it has many rare NOS trim parts that were originally bought from American Service Center in Arlington, A., Studebaker dealer (now Mercedes Benz). The correct interior is an upholstery kit from the original Phantom in Knoxville, N. While the goal is original restoration, his car has a fiberglass front air scoop and outer front fenders, delbrock carburetor with adapted Studebaker air cleaner and vapor return to the gas tank intake port to provide relief from vapor lock; seat belts, ew sub floor and a 289 engine.
This is a rare opportunity to buy a very rare car. A similar Starliner cost the buyer $38,500 at the January 17, 013 Barrett Jackson auction and it was pushed off the block. More recently one sold at auction for over $35,000. Just about every removable part was, o some degree, ebuilt, eplaced, verhauled right down to the tiny rollers that facilitate the window going up and down. If there is a question as to specifics please feel free to ask (804 776-6215), r to get additional photographs. Age is catching up with the collection owner, nd is selling the cars. Any out of the country buyer must have a US representative prepared to ship the car. Two pictures were added to show proper battery installation and a dent on the upper part of the passenger door passenger door that was missed during the first photographs.On Jun-06-15 at 07:43:29 PDT, eller added the following information:

Added two pictures; one showing a ding that was missed on the passenger door, nd second showing properly mounted battery.