Studebaker Starliner Coupe

Famed stylist, Raymond Loewy, designed a sleek body for the 1953 Studebaker Starliner. It was a marked contrast to the bloated bodies coming out of Detroit. Loewy's sophisticated styling was seen as Studebaker's competitive advantage and a way to erase its image as a stodgy company from South Bend, Indiana.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• auto
• studebaker
• Starliner
• raymond loewy

[TomLibby100]

One of the truly great automobile designs of the 20th century, it was the first Milestone Car, (post WW II classics). Although Raymond Loewy received the credit because he owned the industrial design company which produced the plans, it was actually designed by Robert Bourke, Loewy's South Bend man, who also did the front end of the '49 Ford.

[mrpitv]

thanks for adding to the story and making sure Robert Bourke received well-deserved credit.

[Featureman]

I remember when that came out. South Bend was way ahead of Detroit when it came to style.

[Vincek88]

By all the gods, I shall own one of these in my lifetime!

[MattTheSaiyan]

For some reason I often picture deities driving cars like this. Should I be worried?

[canthill3]

Too hell with the european look .Theres nothing nicer than a Big finned american classic,thats what folks want

[KnockoffNigeI]

@OlegKostoglatov Yeah I think the Rapier was a pretty successful rally car in its day, I didn't mean to knock it, I'm a bit of a Rootes fan it's just if I do look at them side by side "quaint" is the word that comes to mind.

[OlegKostoglatov]

@KnockoffNigeI I wouldn't mind owning either car actually, glad that I'm not the only one who thought a Rapier's grille resembled a Studebaker. I don't know if you could say that the Rapier was a quaint imitation, Rootes may have been copying the Studebaker sedans which have the same grill but a taller profile then the coupes. Still the Rapier was nothing to sneeze at, I remember seeing some old saloon car races on TV and they did pretty good.

[KnockoffNigeI]

That's the most beautiful car ever build IMO, over here Rootes copied it albeit with in a more modest dumpier looking form with the Sunbeam Rapier, still a nice car but very much a quaint imitation.

[greggesimmons]

My partner has the 1954 Commander Starlight Regal in red. When the car goes anywhere it attracts attention and wins awards. It's also fun to drive.

The '54 model was almost identical to the '53 except for stiffeners for the frame to keep the doors from popping open on a turn. Very helpful in a car with no seat belts.

[Rowzdower69ify]

My grandfather bench tested the Mercedes transmissions,at Studebaker in South Bend. If it didn't have the right pitch,at speed,they threw it out!

[thegalaxybeing]

This is the same car that's used in the movie "Killers From Space" The one driven by Dr. Martin (Peter Graves) Of course the film is in B&W so not sure what color the car is. It is only describes as a "two tone coupe"