1964 Studebaker Commander

Wagon

8 - Cyl.

Unspecified

C502633

Gasoline

I am a 40 year Studebaker collector and the third owner of this original California "black plate" fixed roof Wagonaire. Studebaker hurried these into production after the sliding roof models quickly developed rattles and leaks. It runs and drives beautifully with a very strong, non-smoking, cool and quiet running 259 Studebaker V-8 with a (working) overdrive transmission. I added electronic ignition (no points! - fast starts, full power), brand new complete dual exhaust with quiet mufflers, NOS (New-Old-Stock) Studebaker accessory mud flaps, excellent full wheel covers (one is NOS), a white (removable tape) stripe to the side moulding, NOS rear bumper guards and a 'regal" model horn ring. Also brand new: tires in the correct size, fuel pump, front shocks, valve cover gaskets, front brake wheel cylinders, brake master cylinder, spark plug wires, motor mounts, all headlights, tail light lenses and very expensive LeBaron Bonney seat covers over the faded but very intact original upholstery. ('64 Stude wagons came stock with vinyl upholstery but this one was special ordered with cloth seats.) The original Studebaker AM radio plays beautifully through a new, original type in-dash replacemant speaker. I have a rare Studebaker accesory "hill-holder" kit not as yet installed that goes with the car. Also note the very cool era-accessory rear stainless steel station wagon wind deflectors which I believe have been on the car since new. The chrome is very nice, as is the paint which is about 10 years old and a pretty good match of the original "Horizon green". The headliner was re-done by the 80 year old previous (2nd) owner after which a rodent became trapped behind it and chewed his way out behind the passenger sun visor. The previous owner also added a tachometer and auxilliary turn signal indicators below the dash. The speedometer is not working but mileage is believed to be about 112K. The engine bay is very clean and shows on the driver's side cowl what appears to be original factory crayon markings. As far as flaws, although the transmission is quiet and otherwise 100%, it leaks out the shift shaft and OD lock-out seals and, strangely, once in a while it doesn't engage in reverse. When it does this if I drive the car ahead for a few feet it works fine. There are two small cracks in the dash by the radio speaker and some previous rust repair is beginning to bubble up in the bottom of the tailgate. (See pictures.) Floors are solid and original and there doesn't seem to have been rust in any of the other "usual" places. This car is truly "unmolested", not perfect but very, very nice, not a "project" car but with some things to play with. It is a great "driver" quality classic that goes, stops and steers as it should, sounds great and shines up and lines up very respectably with the Concours de Elegance cars! Unless you're a "Stude Nut" like me, you might think that it's hard to get parts for these cars but not so! The Studebaker Driver's Club ("SDC") has upwards of 12,000 members worldwide, publishes an award winning monthly magazine and offers great resources for parts, services and technical advise. In my experience as an auto repair shop manager, I find parts more easily for a Studebaker from the '50's or '60's than for Fords or Toyotas from the '80's! Ask questions! I have more pictures I can e-mail you. The buyer is responsible for picking up or shipping this vehicle. A $500 pay-pal deposit will hold the car with the balance by cashier's check, wire transfer or cash in person.On Mar-04-12 at 17:38:03 PST, seller added the following information: Some questioners have priompted me to add some more details. This car has been in California all it's life. It spent the first part of it's life in the high dessert of the Sierras. I haven't driven the car at night very much but when I do I notice some pitting in the glass from tha car's dessert days. The second owner, who I bought the car from, explained that the first owner, his neighbor, ordered the car special with cloth seats because she (probably rightly) thought the cloth would be warmer in the winter than vinyl would. I have added a picture of the front seat and steering wheel before i covered them. The steering wheel does have some of the "usual' cracks". I did the "magnet test" on all the usual rust prone areas and there does seem to be some bondo in the rear quarters aft of the wheel openings although there is no visable evidence ( a good job), the front fenders doors and rockers seem to be all metal. The floor is solid but with surface rust under the carpets on the front floors. The carpets were apparently added long ago as a fellow SDCer tells me that the Commander model originally came with rubber floor coverings in '64. The drivers door panel has deteriorated at the very top and has a piece of black tape over the damage, a photo of which I have added. The 80 year old collector I bought the car from said he'd "jump in and drive 'er to New York" and she's much more road worthy since then. I can't think of anything that might spoil a cross-country drive home. It's been said that "old Studebakers don't leak oil, they just mark their spot" and, as old Studeys go, the oil leaks aren't bad since I fixed the most major one when I recently replaced the fuel pump. I have replacement shift shaft seals for those that leak on the transmission but have not yet installed them. Again, the car is not a perfect trophy winner (if it were it would be twice or three times the price) but a VERY nice "driver" quality automobile. Thanks for all your interest. Studebakers Forever!!On Mar-04-12 at 17:42:12 PST, seller added the following information: Oops! I just realized I can't add any more pictures here so if you'd like to see the original upholstery and the steering wheel before I covered them, forward me your personal e-mail addres and I'll send you them.