Studebaker: The Complete History - Hardcover

Foster, Patrick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0785832610 ISBN 13: 9780785832614

Publisher: Crestline, 2015

Synopsis

The Studebaker history is a short one, and a sad one at that, but inside Studebaker, you'll find a meticulously crafted history of the early automobile. Studebaker began business as a builder of covered wagons. By 1921 they were the number four automaker in the nation. By 1932 they were bankrupt. And for Studebaker, one of the most remarkable stories in American automotive history, that was only the beginning. Studebaker: America's Most Successful Independent Automaker tells the full and fabulously colorful history of this icon of the American automotive scene. Rife with triumph and tragedy, brilliant moves and boneheaded decisions, Studebaker's decades of building cars makes for a tempestuous saga featuring some of the more interesting characters in the twentieth-century business world.

Above all, the story features cars that, for countless Americans, truly defined driving: not just the Champion, which rocketed the company back to the top in 1939, or the 1950s Raymond Loewy-designed Starliner, deemed a "work of art" by the Museum of Modern Art, but also the Hawks and Larks that so many drivers loved. As the book traces Studebaker's fortunes from success to crisis to merger and back, it also dwells with loving photographic attention on the vehicles, from the first electric car to the last Avanti.

About this title

Review:

Patrick Foster's new book Studebaker, The Complete History is an 8-chapter, 192-page book covering the history of the Studebaker Corporation from 1852 until 1970. The text covers all of the major Studebaker product and corporate decision highlights from 1852 until 1970 without going into extensive detail. The text is supported by numerous colored and black-and-white photos showing Studebaker products, people, plants, ads and dealer brochures. Author Patrick Foster has included more color photos than I have seen in any other book on Studebaker. Color factory ads and brochures catch the eye when one opens the book and there are many full-color "glamour shots" of members' Studebakers illustrating models available for a given year. Mr. Foster has also included many never widely seen before color photos and drawings of stylist Bob Marcks's proposals for 1967 and later Studebakers. Now, slightly over a year ago, Bob Marcks shared many of his photos and drawings of his 1967 and later Studebaker proposals with members of the Avanti Owners Association International and members of the Studebaker Drivers Club. Well, these photos and drawings in this book are mostly different. It looks like Bob Marcks held back many of his photos and drawings for Mr. Foster to include in this book. There are color photos of running 1967 Studebaker prototypes with several different rear end treatments. There is even a side-by-side color photo showing the differences between the rear of the 1966 Studebaker and the leading candidate to be the 1967 Studebaker. Studebaker, The Complete History is also filled with many Studebaker black and white photos I've never seen before in any other book on Studebaker. For example, there are many photographs of Raymond Loewy's proposed Avanti II 4-door prototypes I've never seen before. Sure I've seen photos of these vehicles before, but not these photos, which are larger, in more detail and from better angles. It would appear these photos were taken while these cars sat on the third floor of Avanti Motors during the early Nate Altman years. I say early years because these cars are shown relatively clean. In later years these cars were photographed covered in bird droppings with many body panels warped from heat and age. Before the book ends, Mr. Foster tells us briefly how the Avanti II and the Excalibur rose Phoenix-like from the ashes of what was once Studebaker. To sum up, author Patrick Foster has brought us a Studebaker book that offers something new to both the Studebaker/Avanti enthusiast and the general auto enthusiast who has the time, money and space for maybe just one book on Studebaker/Avanti in their collection. Studebaker/Avanti enthusiasts will appreciate the new and never seen before color and black-and-white photos. The general auto enthusiast will also appreciate these photos plus the fact the book offers a good "big picture" history of the Studebaker Corporation in an entertaining and breezy style. This book would also make an outstanding coffee table book in any auto enthusiast's home. --Hemmings Auto Magazine

The book looks 'fresh' and is nicely laid out. There are a few pictures and renderings that I have not seen before. 114 years of history is a very large amount for any author to give justice to. I think that Patrick has managed a very readable, smooth flowing account or overview of all the salient highs and lows. --Studebaker Owners Club UK Newsletter

Patrick Foster has brought us a Studebaker book that offers something new to both the Studebaker/Avanti enthusiast and the general auto enthusiast who has the time, money and space for maybe just one book in their collection. This book would make an outstanding addition. --Avanti magazine

When you're reading this book, its more than likely that two things will come to mind. First, while you're looking at the array of attractive cars and trucks depicted in the numerous factory and current photos, you may well decide that you 'll have to own a Studebaker some day. Second, as the domestic automakers continue to post multi-billion-dollar losses, you might find yourself pausing to consider just what the future holds for Detroit(Auto Restorer)Foster punctures several long-held myths regarding Studebakers merger with Packard...for the neophyte, this book tells the story of a great car company(Arizona Republic) have found it to be very interesting and informative and I would recommend that everyone have a copyThe book has stunning pictures on just about every page, and many of those pictures are in color. With a total of 192 pages, I know there is going to be a lot of interesting information and will undoubtedly be a good source of Studebaker Corporation details and factsit is a very interesting book full of facts and figures about the Studebaker Corporation. All Studebaker enthusiasts would greatly enjoy having a copy of this bookThis book does not stop with the end of cars being produced in 1966, it goes on with the cars tha thad been developed for '67 - '70 and what the company was after the end of the cars and trucks. Several very nice pictures and a easy read. Really a nice book to have(Studebaker US Club Newsletter)Foster punctures several long-held myths regarding Studebakers merger with Packard...for the neophyte, this book tells the story of a great car company(Daily News Los Angeles)Foster punctures several long-held myths regarding Studebakers merger with Packard...for the neophyte, this book tells the story of a great car company(The Vindicator)Automotive writer and historian Foster does fine work here spelling out the hope, hype and hardships that faced Studebaker throughout its existence. It's a cautionary tale for businesses that grow too confident in their success(Washingotn CEO magazine) --Auto Restorer

About the Author:

One of America's best-known automotive writers, Patrick R. Foster has spent over 30 years studying the automotive industry. The leading authority on AMC and its predecessors, Pat has written several books on that subject along with many others, including Jeep, Studebaker, Hudson, Kaiser-Frazer, and Metropolitan. His popular columns appear in Hemmings Classic Car and Old Cars Weekly, and he has won awards for his books and articles from the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) and SAH (Society of Automotive Historians). In 2011, he was honored with the Lee Iacocca Award--one of the most coveted awards in automotive writing. His website is The Olde Milford Press (oldemilfordpress.com).

About this edition

• Publisher: Crestline
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0785832610
• ISBN 13: 9780785832614
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 192