1953 Studebaker Commander

This 1953 Studebaker Commander started as a Starlight coupe and was built into a 5.0L Coyote V8–powered station wagon by the seller, who has owned the car since 2000. Work also included customizing and powdercoating the frame and installing a four-speed automatic transmission, Ridetech air suspension, Wilwood disc brakes, a Fat Man Fabrications front clip, 18″ Budnik wheels, custom upholstery, fifth-generation Mustang seats, a custom stereo system, Vintage Air climate control, and a stainless steel exhaust system. This Studebaker street rod is now offered with build photos and a California title. Originally a Starlight coupe, the car was converted into a station wagon using the roof section from a 1955 Commander. In addition to adapting the roof, electrically operated fender vents were added along with the station wagon rear seat, spare tire well, upper and lower tailgates, and sliding passenger windows. The body was then media blasted, primed with PPG epoxy primer, and painted in single-stage PPG Concept black. The chrome and stainless polishing was done by Sherms Custom Plating in Sacramento, California. The license plate in the photos is not included in the sale. Photos of the build process, including splicing the coupe and station wagon roofs together, are included in the sale. The car’s 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk frame was powdercoated and fitted with a Fat Man Fabrications front clip, Ridetech air suspension, four-wheel Wilwood disc brakes with four-piston calipers, and 18″ Budnik wheels shod in 215/40 and 275/40 BFGoodrich g-Force Sport tires from 2016. The cabin has been reupholstered in gray and fitted with a 1958 Studebaker Hawk dashboard, a custom center console, electric power steering, fifth-generation Ford Mustang seats, Vintage Air climate control, two-speed intermittent windshield wipers, LED lighting, German square-weave carpets, a Kenwood touchscreen stereo, and aftermarket speakers behind custom grilles. Controllers for the transmission and air suspension are mounted in the center console. The two-spoke steering wheel was sourced from a Lark and is mounted on a tilt column. The gauges are from Auto Meter, and the digital odometer shows approximately 1,700 miles, which represents the distance driven since the build was completed. The 5.0-liter Coyote V8 was sourced from a 2013 Mustang GT and was factory rated at 420 horsepower. The seller fabricated the headers and they are ceramic-coated in Titanium. The dual exhaust system was built with 2.5″ stainless steel piping and ceramic-coated Dynomax mufflers. The four-speed 4R70W automatic transmission was sourced from a 2003 Ford F-150 and rebuilt before installation. It is controlled by a Baumann Quick-4 controller and connected to the Ford 9″ rear end by an aluminum driveshaft. The title carries a Not Actual Mileage odometer notation.