1-11-99

Well, back on May 11th, we took the car to the upholstery shop.  Roger estimated he could finish the job in three weeks.  Due to a series of events, surgeries, and other things, I picked up the car 6 months later, in November, not quite finished.   We brought the car home and began wiring the accessories.  Roger came to the house in early January, and finished the interior.  So, the story continues.   The car is complete, and made it to Darryl Starbird's National car show in Oklahoma City January 8th, 9th, and 10th.  This is just short of the 2nd anniversary of when we began, on January 24, 1997.  Since when we last had news to report, it was going to the upholstery shop, we'll begin with the interior.

C'mon in!

The door panels were inspired by my '58 Golden Hawk.  Not original for the Hawk, either, but I like it.

More Hawk Influence

There are many lessons to be learned when rebuilding a car.  One is, if it's hard to get to, and you have it out, and it's not broke...fix it anyway!  All the gauges worked before I started, so I let them be.   We recently installed a 700R4 transmission, put the car on the Interstate, and took the speedometer to places she had not been in many years.  It didn't like it, and twisted a cable.  So, all new gauges.  I used the engine turned aluminum, similar to what was in later Hawks, as was the 160 mph speedo.  (Picture taken after the Starbird meet.)

Roger hand-crafted the console and vanity panels under the dash.  The rear view mirror controls are just below the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel.   Cruise control switch is incorporated with the turn signal switch.

Power window, door lock, and seat switches.

Chrysler Infinity Stereo, tach, B&M Quick Silver shifter.  The Vintage Air controls are mounted where the original radio knobs were.  Notice the modification of the right fender vent knob.  The vanity panels not only offer knee protection, but hide the air conditioner unit and vent tubes, as well as housing the vents.

He took the head rests to Oklahoma City, and had the Studebaker script embroidered.   This was after having to convince them that Studebaker would not sue them for copyright infringement.

Overhead console from a Dodge Dynasty.

Cup holders.  I'm working on a plan to add some hide-away cup holders in the console by the front seats.

Jack and wheel bolted in place, battery box.



These pictures were taken 1-9-99 at the National Darryl Starbird show in Oklahoma City.  The car placed in the top ten in the modified class.

Craig, "If yer gonna do it right, now's the time," Schupp.
Without Craig, I could have never pulled this project off.  I had ideas, but not the talent to do it myself.  Of course, the project took much longer than we thought.  Craig has stuck with it for two years, even though he has a wonderful little family at home, as well as a project of his own waiting in the wings.  Craig has coaxed me on, taught me a lot, and made my schemes work.  THANKS, CRAIG!   (Thanks to Missy, Amanda, and Bradley too!)

Also, I must recognize and thank my boss and friend, Norman, "Oh, my knee, my knee!" McNickle.  As mechanical advisor, paint helper, and electrical wizard, he has spent many hours on the car.  (Not to mention a few very painful minutes trapped in the trunk.)  I would have probably burned down the shop with the car in it if I tried to wire the car.  THANKS, MAC!

It changes colors in the light.

Back home.

Time to stop!

Click the pic to see my Stude truck!

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Studebaker Under Construction comments to:
Dave Lester
SPD2@PROVALUE.NET