Bullet Nose: 1951 Studebaker Commander Land Cruiser
Studebaker launched the Land Cruiser sedan at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, a fitting venue for a standout “streamliner” design. We forget the contribution of these long-defunct carmakers toward the advancement of the automobile, but Studebaker’s contribution resounded once again in 1947 when its all-new sheet metal was touted as “First by Far with a Postwar Car”. The bulbous early ’40s nose was minimized, sweeping graciously into the hood line; the new car’s fanny was sleek and proportionately shortened. The Land Cruiser had transformed from stately to svelte while retaining four doors and the longest wheelbase of Studebaker’s offerings. In 1950, Studebaker broke new ground again, with its bullet nose design, reminiscent of an airplane propeller. Only the ’50/’51 models were “bullet nose” cars. Here on eBay is a 1951 Studebaker Commander Land Cruiser, a former project car that’s now ready to go, bid to $8851, reserve met. This car is located in Jefferson, Maryland.
The big story for the Commander in 1951 was its new 233 cu. in. OHV V8 engine. With 120 hp on tap, this motor was a significant improvement over the previous six-cylinder with barely 100 ponies. The mechanicals here saw a significant refresh by the original restorer but the seller really refined the rebuild, chasing down a miss, performing a valve job, and regrinding the cam. The automatic transmission received service as well, bringing the car ever closer to perfection. The seller also replaced the car’s fuel and brake lines, all brake hoses, the master cylinder, the wheel cylinders, and the entire hand brake cable system. While the motor and gearbox were out, the mounts were replaced, along with the rear main, timing cover, and front and rear transmission seals – eliminating any drips. The starter has been rebuilt, and the shock absorbers are new. The differential was serviced and the rear pinion seal was replaced. The seller means it: he hates a car that drips!
The interior is fresh enough, with the carpet and headliner replaced by a previous owner, and the seats, doors, and other cosmetics cared for by the seller. The original clock works now and then; the seller bought another clock – which also works now and then. The trunk is just as spiffy as the cabin. Studebaker’s suicide door configuration lasted through 1952.
The seller removed all the old undercoating, detailing much of the undercarriage. While not perfect, the car presents very well from top to bottom. The paint isn’t perfect, and a close inspection for rust is warranted, but this is a simple car with virtually all the major mechanical work completed. The meticulous description and photos are a testament to this seller’s caring attitude toward the car – an attitude that will benefit the new owner for years to come.
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Comments
I always liked these and wish I had bought one. I came close to buying a Starlite coupe 35 years ago and to this day regret that I did not. That car was even green like this one.
You can buy one now.
I have way too many vehicles now and enough to keep me busy for 3 lifetimes. Down sizing and the scrap man are in my not so distant future. My kid and wife dred being left with even my functioning units much less my parts hoard and projects. It’s nice to window shop and occasionally compare notes with another borderline geezer with caritious, to which there is no known cure.
I have a 48 starlight coupe champion
Body is in good shape, engine has a Total rebuild
Gauges work and the instrument cluster is lit when headlights are on.
Much other work done. Interior is great, floor carpets need to be removed and cleaned. Radio does not work, has been removed but is with car.
If you have ever seen one of these in person you know that they are huge. This one with the V-8 and automatic shows Studebaker was really in the game back in 1951. This will be good deal for someone, it looks as if the present and previous owners put a lot of time and money into this car.
And just how far ahead Studebaker was is amazing when you consider that Chevy couldn’t come up with a V8 for four more years.
A friend had a 1950. We were about 12 years-old and he and his brother had “field cars” they were allowed to drive in the surrounding corn field when not in use. My friend paid $8.65 for the car! After using it for a year, he sold it for around $11.00!
THAT story ( the prices) simply sounds untrue, sorry.
Why, I bought tons of driving cars ions back for less than I can fuel my Crotch Rocket for today. 25.00 59 Chevies that drove. A 300.00 Challenger convertible that I drove away. A 50.00 63 Impala with every option including cruise control. A 60 Cadillac convertible that was given to me that i still have decades later. Yup very believable we had a 66 Chevelle hardtop we used as a woods basher along with a 340 Duster after we destroyed that. Late 40s and early 50s cars were archaic crap by the 60s and unless a high end model or in pristine condition, the metal monster had a voracious appetite for them and few cared.
I’ve bought cars for similarly low prices. For example, in 1970, I bought a ’56 Plymouth station wagon for $15 and drove it for more than a year before selling it for $50.
In the early 60s, I won a 58 Dodge in a poker game. A guy threw in the keys be cause he couldn’t make a $25 pot. Even though the floorboards were so rusted out you could see the road, I drove that thing for about a year then sold it for $30.
Depending on when it was, those prices are very believable. Heck, even in the 80’s and 90’s, I bought cars that ran and drove for prices from $25 to $100 including a great running 69 Buick Electra 225 for $100 and a bar find 57 Cadillac series 62 4 door hardtop with 44,000 original miles on it for $300. Over the years I have owned many many vehicles and most were vintage (at least 25 years old when I got them) and there are only 2 of them that I paid $1000 or more for. I have never bought a new car and never will. I buy older ones, run them for a year or 2 and sell them for more than I paid for them.
I have been around enough to know that this story could very well be true. I earned $35.00 picking strawberries one summer. This was in the early 60’s. That’s what my first car cost. The $35.00 53 Plymouth ran perfectly.
My friend had an old DeSoto. this was when we were in grade school. We’d all learned how to drive a standard in it and drove on all the old logging roads. That’s just what kids did in small towns across America. And we were either in 5th or 6th grade.
Some of the lines remind me of the Tucker.
They used one of these Studebakers in the Tucker movie for the scene where the Tucker rolled over on the test track. Sad to lose a Studebaker though.
I remember in the late 1940. Is that my parents bought In the late 1940’s and I believe the car had Hill holding car have the same feature.
Um….what?
Hill holder, retains brake pressure when the pedal’s released and lets it go as the clutch is let out so the driver can start off uphill without extra fancy footwork to keep the car from rolling back. Studebaker was the main early proponent, most ’80s/90s Subarus, 2010s FWD manual Chevys (it was noted at the Sonic’s launch) and some modern Hondas. My daily-driver Fit has it, neither the brochure, website or salesman mentioned it and I discovered it myself one day over a month after purchase since I’m so used to using the handbrake for that.
And the rear doors, thanks to the suicide rear door, had a little switch that disabled the interior door handle on the rear door so the kids could not open it unless the corresponding front door was open. A very simple mechanical device, like the “hill holder”, been around since the 1930’s, so, if you were halted on an uphill, like at a stop light or sign, it would stay there while you took your foot off the brake, ready for the clutch, so, as my mother would frequently comment, “the guy in front of you, who did not have a Studebaker, could roll right back into you, and you could not move back out of the way.” The interior build quality on these was on a par with Buick at the time.
Ok, that helped a lot
Bullet nose Studebakers, especially the 4 door suicide doors are amongst my favorites. Another bucket list car for me.
The seller has a very complete description of their history since purchasing the car including all the work that has been accomplished. Unlike so many listings that are vague at best with awful photos and asking prices that seem detached from reality here is a listing that seems complete and honest – my faith in humanity is restored.
Sold. Just over 12k.
That I think was a very fair price.
It should have sold for more. An incredible amount of work went into this car’s restoration and it presents itself as a real beauty. The buyer got a good deal.
Cheap at twice the price. What is not to like.
I rode in a white 50/51 bullet nose Studebaker convertible. My friend’s dad bought one in the early/mid 1960’s. It had a red/white interior, and barely any options on it. It was summer though, and the top was down.
Talked to sell, he actually thought it brought more than he was willing to accept. It went for $12K and change. But finding out that it is going to a museum in Fla. tells me that definitely didn’t have enough deep pockets for this car. Always another around the corner plus still haven’t got my ’62 Olds f85 convertible done.
In the early 60s, I won a 58 Dodge in a poker game. A guy threw in the keys be cause he couldn’t make a $25 pot. Even though the floorboards were so rusted out you could see the road, I drove that thing for about a year then sold it for $30.
I’ve got a ’51 Champion Starlight Coupe. As a kid we used to say you can’t tell if it’s coming or going with that panoramic rear window.
Had a 69 dart gt convertible I bought in a junkyard for $100 bucks.. Slant six, I adjusted the lifters and drove it for five years. One of the best cars I ever owned.. Sold it for $600… Loved those deals back then