∙Possibly the only one of its kind in the UK ∙One owner since being imported in 1996 ∙Amazing ‘survivor’ condition ∙Incredible history file ∙One year only special edition 'Speedster'
The Background
Today, the Studebaker name is one that is sadly confined to the history books. A crying shame really, given how revolutionary and how historical the company was. With a lineage that can be traced back to the early 1700s, Studebaker first made wagons, it was a blacksmiths, it had a foundry, they harvested their own wood and, well, they were an intrinsic part to the industrial development of the United States. It wasn’t until 1902 that the company turned to making cars, such was the public demand of the time for such things.
Studebaker was always a brand to tow its own line. The cars were luxurious, they were styled to be like nothing else and over the years, the company developed a reputation for being bold and brave in the way it did things. And this was a modus operandi that paid dividends in the ‘rocket age’ of the 1950s, when excess was king and to be anything less than bold was to be a failure. Cars like this President Speedster, for example, were a glowing (literally) example of just how wild and unabashed a Studebaker could be. It is worth noting that the Speedster, not to be confused with the standard President, was a one year only model of Studebaker’s top-of-the-line offering of which only 2,215 were ever produced,
The current owner is passionate not only about cars, but the Studebaker company in particular. Sitting with him as he explains the history, he enthuses over memories of his parents having one when they lived in America, and of the same car when it came back to the UK. He’s proud to have a tangible link to these cars, a place in his history which tied so closely to them. Of course, that car of his parents is long gone. However, in 1996 he set about building his own relationship with a Stude, and imported this glorious 1955 President Speedster.
A ‘halo’ car for the brand, the President Speedster was a no holds barred assault on chrome, on metal flake and on luxury. Based on the President two-door coupe, the Speedster was a palace on wheels. It was laden with chrome, it was powered by a thumping V8 and it was as such the epitome of luxury. Aimed at the likes of the Ford Thunderbird, the President was a ‘personal luxury vehicle’. Long, low and laden with equipment like power brakes, four-barrel carb, power steering and more.
The current owner - the only person in the UK to own it - imported the car in 1996 and has used it sparingly since. It has been fastidiously maintained, it has been garaged for the entirety of its time in the UK and it comes with a dazzling amount of history. It’s wonderfully original, it’s the ‘brochure’ specification, and while not concours, it is beautifully preserved and ready to both rock and roll.
A box file literally bursting at the seams is the first thing to see. In it, there is every invoice, every old MOT for the car, every receipt for parts and much more. The current owner has never left the car wanting for anything. It has been regularly serviced, it has been maintained to original specifications and it’s all here to see on paper.
Over the years the car has had new brake hoses, hub seals, ignition system, fuel sender, wheel bearings and new shocks. The carb has been stripped and rebuilt, the rear main oil seal replaced, there is a new mechanical fuel pump as well as auxiliary electric fuel pump for peace of mind.
The front bumper has been rechromed, the car has been completely rewired, the engine has been rebuilt, the windscreen was replaced in 2000, the rear axle was rebuilt in 2001, the body has been maintained and even the interior clock has been refurbished by a specialist. It’s exceptionally detailed.
But it doesn’t end there. The car comes with a stack of period workshop manuals laden with technical drawings and even part numbers. And in amongst it all, there are even letters and documents pertaining to the car’s time on home soil in the U.S. There are hours to be lost here, sifting through all this detail. It’s incredible.
The cabin of this President makes for quite the spectacle. The bright diamond-stitched trim is in excellent order throughout, with the rear seats looking to have been barely used. The turned aluminium dash is bright and clear, with all gauges functioning as they should. The bright door cards and associated door furniture are all in good order, too.
In the dash, the original pre-selector AM radio remains, as does the factory clock. This has been serviced, but doesn’t currently function - a believed electrical imperfection. Under the dash, the wiring is all in good order having been replaced in the past. The bulkhead looks good, as do the floors. Looking into the A-pillars, the hinges are solid and there is no corrosion to be seen. In fact, the hinges on the driver door seem to have been replaced at some point. Both doors shut cleanly and without catching.
Make no mistake, the cabin is an assault on the senses - it’s bright, it shines and as such, it’s certain to make you smile every time you slide in behind the solid, but charmingly patinated steering wheel.
In the boot, the conditions are dry, the spare wheel is present and in good order, the boot hinges are in excellent condition and the carpets are good, too. The fuel filler shroud is solid, as is the floor. There is a small amount of corrosion on the back edge though, where the floor meets the upright of the rear panel. Something to address now ideally, but not something that detracts from the overall condition of the car.
This is not a car you’re going to lose in the car park! The official name for the bold colour scheme is Hialeah Green and Sun Valley Yellow, which is now in more colloquial terms as lemon and lime. It’s bright, it’s bold and it’s rather beautiful. The green is actually a metal flake paint, and it twinkles as you move around the car. All the paint is in largely excellent condition. There is the odd scratch here and there, but nothing of any major concern, nor anything that aggressively draws the eye.
The chrome - and there are acres of it - is all excellent. There is some slight pitting on the exhaust finishers, and some slight pitting in general commensurate with the age of the car, but it’s time-earned patina, not neglect. In fact, the kinked strip around the windows, the President-specific bonnet chrome, the handles, the side strips, the front and rear bumpers are all excellent. You’ll soon become familiar with your metal polish, that’s for sure.
The tyres are all modern, but are of course white walls. There is some slight damage/staining, but nothing of major concern. The chrome hubcaps are also in excellent condition.
The glass is all in good order, especially the windscreen which was replaced a number of years ago. It’s just a very pleasing car to look at. There is always something new and interesting to draw the eye, to captivate and to excite. This is not, on any level, a dull car to look at. It’s an exciting leap into the flair and ‘in your face’ flair of the ‘50s.
If we had to score the car, it would be a solid 8/10 in terms of its visual condition. It’s got some age to it, and as such is no concours trailer queen. The owner has enjoyed driving this, and rightly so. There are slight imperfections to be observed (please do look through the pictures in detail) but not the car’s detriment. Instead, it’s an approachable, usable car. One that encourages you to take it for a drive.
There are 90,000 miles on the clock, but as the paperwork attests, it’s nothing for this car. Over the course of its life here in the UK, the owner has lavished unlimited levels of care and attention upon it. As such, it is in perfect mechanical health.
The engine, a 259 cubic inch V8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission barks into life without hesitation. The car is still on the original six-volt electrical system, but now features a modern high capacity battery. Furthermore, being a London car, vapour-locking has been a real risk. To overcome this, an electric fuel pump has been fitted as well, which is on its own circuit and is operated via a switch under the dash.
There are no leaks, no squeaks, no rattles nor any groans. It’s all in very good health. The V8 burbles along happily, and thanks to the rebuilt cooling system, doesn’t get hot. The carb has been rebuilt, so delivers fuel as it should, and the engine as a whole is regularly serviced. It’s probably in better condition than some modern cars.
The brakes are all good, with new lines and new pistons. The tyres are, as previously mentioned, good. So too is the suspension, which again has been renewed over the years. The power steering functions as it should, though it can make a slight whine which may need investigation. It may be indicative of the car having not been used much of late.
On that note, the car is MOT exempt, so is ready to go. The current owner has had the car MOT'd every year without fail, though given the current ‘conditions’ a new one hasn’t been carried out since 2019. However, the MOT history is exceptionally clean and, as we say, the car is exempt anyway.
This car is a celebration. Not only of how wonderfully wild ‘50s Americana could be, but also of the Studebaker company itself. This was a flagship, halo car. One to show the world what Studebaker could do when it went for it. A bright, bold, big machine, it’s a car that commands attention. One that will turn heads and spark conversations where it goes. It’s a car to excite and to stimulate the senses.
But more than that, it is a cherished, loved machine that deserves to be preserved in the fashion it has become accustomed. The condition, the history, the passionate and invested current owner are why this car has survived. It’s a piece of rolling history that is awaiting its next chapter, which could be with you. But only if you bid.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
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1955 Studebaker President Speedster
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