December 2016 The Brass Lamp Studebaker: First in Muscle Cars? Glenn Arlt Historical Vehicle Association Blog October 2016 A conventional view of automo- when they redesigned the Styled by Raymond Loewy’s tive history remembers that the Thunderbird for 1958. And it team in 1952, the Starlight and muscle/pony car era pretty much was this “new” style of Thunder- Starliner started out as a couple began with the debut of GTO bird that begat the smaller and of concept cars. Going from the and Mustang, respectively, in less expensive Ford Mustang drawing board to the clay- 1964½. Not according to Hager- and its competitors, which be- model phase, the cars were ty Historian, Glenn Arlt, who gat cars like the Trans Am and considered so gorgeous that looks back a decade prior to the Camaro. they were ultimately given the evolution of Studebaker’s line go-ahead for full production in screaming “family sports cars.” After digging into the history of 1952 and debuted the follow- Starliner, Studebaker’s largely ing model year. The other day, I was rearranging unrecognized place in muscle a few 1/18 models I keep on my car history becomes even im- One look at the long hood, desk at the Hagerty Institute portant when you consider the short deck and low profile of and something caught my eye. automotive missing link that the Starliner, and even the cas- Two of the models—a 1977 really connects all these cars ual observer would agree, this black Trans Am and a 1953 Stu- together—another, ground- Studebaker classic satisfies the debaker Commander Starliner— breaking Studebaker known as modern definition of “pony car” were curiously similar. the Hawk. style. To say nothing of the in- credibly powerful engines un- The Starliner (essentially a low der the hood. slung, sporty, 2+2 seater per- In The Beginning sonal car) is the car/design Ford Initially, Studebaker offered two designers may have had in mind After a little research, I’m more versions of the cars—the convinced than ever that per- Champion series (6-six cylinder) haps “first pony car honor” and Commander series (V8 cyl- should be given to long-gone inder). Starlight (pillared Studebaker, which introduced a coupe) and Starliner (hardtop very sporty, very low, gorgeous coupe) were sub-series desig- and classy looking Starlight nating the body-style. coupe and Starliner hardtop coupe a full 11½ years prior to Continued on page 4 >>> the Mustang. Joseph F Yochim The President’s (314) 602-9498 President Column… Mark Goldfeder By Joseph F Yochim (314) 878-2786 1st Vice President/Programs Sharon Mercer (636) 928-8672 Season’s greetings every- ticket you could be the 2nd Vice President/Membership one! Let me quote the lyrics proud owner of this beauti- from one of my favorite hol- ful magnificent 1966 Golden Louis Allen iday songs “it’s the most Rolls-Royce. More im- (314) 741-4158 wonderful time of the year!” portantly, that vehicle will Treasurer I’m sure all of you know that be given away at the Fa- is one of many hit songs thers’ Day show. The win- Vacant performed by Andy Wil- ning ticket will be drawn in Recording Secretary liams. Mr. Williams loved conjunction with the HCCM Dr. Gerald Perschbacher the holiday season so much Fathers’ Day classic car show (314) 849-5249 that he named his daughter at the Museum of Transpor- Corresponding Secretary Noel. tation. Wow! You can’t buy that kind of publicity! The Directors Remember: no January vehicle will be on display at Bill Albertin(2016) general meeting. the greater St. Louis area Al Mercer(2016) The date of the general auto show January 19th John Clark (2017) st Ron Nelson(2017) membership meeting in through the 21 at the St. Jackie Allen (2018) January conflicts with the Louis Convention Center. David Stephens (2018) St. Louis area auto show. The vehicle will be in the display exclusively for the Ron Nelson 9826 Affton View Ct. Next scheduled member- Museum. The vehicle will St. Louis, MO 63123 ship meeting February 17, not be part of the HCCM (314) 638-7131 2017, 7:30 PM at Logan display. Brass Lamp Editor College Ladies and gentlemen, it Don Hoelscher (636) 939-9667 The annual HCCM Christmas has been a privilege to be Webmaster party took place on Sunday, your president this last cal- December 4 at the Glen endar year and I look for- Echo Country Club. Mr. ward to serving all of you in Ronald Elz a.k.a. Johnny the 2017 calendar year. Rabbit was our master of Moving forward into the ceremonies. He led three 2017 calendar year we are rounds of trivia that every- now in the beginning plan- one enjoyed and Chris Crin- ning stages of Easter Con- gle made a visit to the party cours d’Elegance number giving out lots of prizes to 56. The location again is the lots of people in attendance. St. Louis Forest Park Muni Wendell Smith from the Opera house upper parking www.hccmo.com Museum of Transportation lot. As all of you know this (314) 991-HONK was kind enough to bring is the premier venue of our the 1966 Rolls-Royce that is organization. Therefore, I the 2017 calendar year raffle am reaching out to each vehicle. Yes, that is correct. and every one of you to Celebrating 72 Years That is not a misprint. With participate or help in some In the purchase of a $25 raffle capacity. Easter Sunday will St. Louis! 2 fall on April 16, 2017. The fighters Museum on Tamm with nothing but fully loaded Concours number 56 poster Avenue. auto carriers. Three trains of car is a 1933 Rolls-Royce. In supplies in and two conjunction with the poster And—I’m still working on it trainloads of brand-new vehicle the club will be ac- ladies and gentlemen—I am vehicles out. knowledging the first year not going to give up trying of production of the inimita- to get an inside tour of the I am also working on a Route ble Chevrolet Camaro in GM Wentzville assembly 66 road trip to Oklahoma City! 1967. We will display a plant. For those that were th I set the date and I put this 2017 50 anniversary Cama- not in attendance at the last out there back in October. So ro convertible alongside the few meetings I reported that far, to date I’ve only had one 1967 SS convertible Camaro. I had obtained a way of get- person express any interest in If you are unaware, the ting us into the plant for a participating in this event. Chevrolet Camaro is now on tour. That was until the Therefore, I am putting it in the national historic registry plant manager caught wind the newsletter. If anyone is of vehicles. of it being a car club organi- interested in participating in a zation and not a family road trip in the month of May. A member of the club who group. The tour was imme- (Before it gets too darn hot) is one of my dear friends diately canceled. My friend please send me an email, give suggested that we do a who works at the plant said me a call, or a shout out. The road trip to the Blue Owl the manager said “If I let wife and I are for sure making restaurant in Kimmswick, one club in here I’ll have to this road trip and all are wel- Missouri. I could not agree let everybody in here.” Not come to come along and en- more. I will set a date and to be deterred, I’m still try- joy the fun. time in either late April or ing to figure out a way for early May for all of us to us to take that tour. I was Well, that takes all of us half- participate on a voluntary fortunate enough to attend way into the New Year. On basis to make a road trip to an open house in the early behalf of myself and my fami- the restaurant. Everyone 80s when the plant was pro- ly and the Board of Directors that participated last June in ducing Buicks, Oldsmobiles of the Horseless Carriage Club the hot summer night’s car and Pontiacs. I really really of Missouri, we wish you and cruise for ice cream knows want to see how the full-size all your family a happy and we all had an extremely vans and Colorado pick up joyous holiday season. awesome time. This is an- are assembled. Every day I other event that I plan to see three separate long revisit in calendar year 2017. trains of cargo containers Sincerely You can look forward also to heading to the plant. Every Joseph F Yochim a visit to the St. Louis Fire- day I see at least two trains Used with permission from Leonard Lawson, Saint Louis Auto Dealers Association 3 <<< from front page “Golden Hawk” subseries). Iron- traits that Mustang would emu- ically, the huge Packard V8 lateand capitalize on years later. By 1956, the body had been weighed only about 30 pounds facelifted with fiberglass tail fins, more than the much smaller obligatory for the era, and re- displacement Studebaker 259 christened as the Hawk se- V8 engine, but being physically On A Lark ries. The Hawk came about as a longer, it really filled the engine series, because the sedans and bay. Ford’s Thunderbird was built as family cars were restyled to less a boulevard two-seater, not resemble the Loewy look.