Studebaker Commander 1964–1966

Motorpedia Studebaker Commander 1964–1966
Commander 1964–1966 Featured Image
 
Studebaker's 'World's Champion' 1928 GB Regal Commander Six, pictured on a 4000 km journey from Sydney to Perth, Australia, in 1975

The Studebaker Commander is the model-name of a long succession of automobiles produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana (United States) and Studebaker of Canada Ltd of Walkerville and, later, Hamilton, Ontario (Canada).

Studebaker began using the Commander name in 1927 and continued to use it until 1964, with the exception of 1936 and 1959-63 The model-name was applied to various positions in the company's product line-up from year to year

History

1920s

 
A 1928 Studebaker Commander at the Vintage Car Museum & Event Center in Weatherford, Texas

Until the appearance of the 8-cylinder President in January 1928, all Studebaker cars of the 1920s were sixes. There were three basic models — the Light, the Special and the Big Six, developing 40 bhp (30 kW; 41 PS), 50 bhp (37 kW; 51 PS), and 60 bhp (45 kW; 61 PS) respectively at 2000 rpm. The first Commander, in 1927, was a continuation of the mid-range Special Six, with a 226 cu in (3.7 L) engine. Their inbuilt durability and toughness gained them great renown under worldwide conditions. The 1928 GB Commander was a descendant of the Big Six, being powered with the proven 354 cu in (5.8 L) engine, modified to deliver 75 bhp (56 kW; 76 PS) at 2400 rpm. In October 1928, three Commander sixes lined up at the Atlantic City speedway to challenge the 15,000 mi (24,000 km) speed record (64.25 mph (103.40 km/h)) held by the much higher-priced Auburn straight-eight Speedster.

They not only accomplished that but then went on to establish new records up to 25,000 miles (40,000 km). The two sports roadsters averaged better than 65 mph (105 km/h) and the sedan, which had flipped on the icy boards during one of the night runs and had been hurriedly repaired, averaged almost 62 mph.

After this, the three cars were closely scrutinised, part by part, and it was established that they were strictly stock automobiles, identical in every respect to those available at any Studebaker showroom.

In Australia, a crew of three drivers led by Norman "Wizard" Smith tackled overland records using a Commander roadster. On a 3,000-mile run from Fremantle to Sydney, they smashed the previous record by 12 hours 23 minutes despite traversing 450 miles through blinding rain, and having to ford a river when a bridge had been washed away. The team rested for a little over three hours before attempting another record on the 600-mile track to Brisbane.

These sixes were the last descendants of rugged cars designed for poor roads in the early 20th century—loaded with torque and strong in construction. They were less well suited to the higher cruising speeds made possible by better roads in later years.

In 1929, Studebaker added an 8-cylinder Commander to the range.

1960s

 
1964 Studebaker Commander

In 1963, Studebaker again resurrected the Commander name for the 1964 model year, applying it to the next-to-lowest-priced Lark model, the Challenger being below. 1964 Studebaker Commanders most commonly had a dual headlight arrangement which they shared with the Challenger though quad headlamps were optional. The 1965 Commander shared the quad-headlight system of the Daytona and Cruiser. Commanders reverted to single headlamps in the final model year of 1966. In March 1966, Studebaker shut down production of all vehicles.

Later use of the Commander name

In 2005, Jeep introduced its new flagship SUV, the Jeep Commander, that was produced through 2010.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Betts, Charles (1972). "Studebaker as Gladiator: on the boards, the bricks & the salt". Automobile Quarterly. 10 (3): 258–265. OH 2265 (Battye). 
  2. ^ Motor Record: Fremantle to Sydney. Studebaker Performance The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 16, 5 April 1928, at Trove
  3. ^ Hendry, Maurice D. (1972). Studebaker: One can do a lot of remembering at South Bend. Automobile Quarterly. 10. pp. 229–257. ...with roads improving, there was less need to overdesign for extreme conditions. 
  4. ^ Chilton Automotive Multi-Guide, Spring 1931, p. 193. In facsimile edition, 2nd printing by Thomas Nelson 1975
  5. ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=-tsDAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
  6. ^ Reynolds, Ed (2003). Studebaker Lark 1959-1966 Photo Archive. Iconografix. ISBN 9781583881071. 
  • Maloney, James H. (1994). Studebaker Cars. Crestline Books. ISBN 978-0-87938-884-3. 
  • Kimes, Beverly R.; Clark, Jr., Henry A., eds. (1996). The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1945. Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-428-4. 
  • Langworth, Richard (1979). Studebaker: the Postwar Years. Motorbooks International. ISBN 978-0-87938-058-8. 
  • Gunnell, John, ed. (1987). The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-096-3.