Canadian Studebaker Mystery

Steve examines a Canadian-built Studebaker Cruiser sedan. If Studebaker closed its American factory in 1963, why did it keep building cars in Canada through 1966? Was it to avoid a class action lawsuit? Watch and see.

[googleusergp]

As noted by others, Studebaker didn't "move" to Canada, they were already there and production was shifted after South Bend closed. This appears to be a 1964 or 1965 with the four headlight system as 1966 would bring single headlights. The V8 engine used was straight from the GM parts bin, a 283 V8 that Chevrolet used in its models. Looks like code 6419 Bermuda Brown exterior paint.

With that said, hopefully Mr. Magnante is back in business again soon.

[davidjohnmiller]

Studebaker didn’t move to Canada in 1963 .... Studebaker built cars in Hamilton Ontario Canada from 1947 ( until the plant closed in 1966 ) . As I was born and raised in Hamilton I know all about them .

[marygott]

I'm a mopar guy myself but I just bought 19 64 Studebaker With a 289 Studebaker V8 I'm smiling from ear to ear

[harnettsgarage]

I live in Hamilton, Ontario. I work about 4 blocks from the old Studebaker factory location, now the Stubebaker industrial park. I know the man that announced to the world that the world they were closing in 66. Stu Chapman, he was VP of Public Relations and Advertising. He wrote a book called " My father the car, it goes into different ventures that Studebaker was into, and continued on after car production ended." It's a pretty interesting book if you can find it. He's still around, along with a few others that probably assembled parts of my 66.

Another way to tell a Canadian Studebaker is by all of them having white steering wheels and a small piece of stainless trim to protect the dash from cigarette burns above the ash tray. 65-66 Studes still retained the Borg-Warner 3 speed automatics that were used behind the Stude engines, with slight differences to the V8 model, such as a TV cable instead of a rod/linkage set up. They never used power glides, they got the gm to borg-warner pieces from Checker to made them work with the GM engines.

[ZIPCORD]

As someone already mentioned Studebaker didn't "go" to Canada, they were already there. The reason they CONTINUED there is stated correctly. '64 cars still had the Studebaker engines. Correct, the '65 and '66 Studebakers got the GM (McKinnon) inline 6 and the 283 "Chevy" engines. While easily changed the late Canadian cars had white wheels and steering wheels. The transmission wasn't a Powerglide, rather the Borg Warner cast iron 3 speed (considered a very strong transmission similar to the Ford FMX). The bellhousing to adapt this transmission to the GM (McKinnon) engine was already in use by Checker - of taxi cab fame.
Search You Tube for "Studebaker - The Plain Brown Wrapper" and Goodwood Saint Mary's Trophy. The PBR car is a supercharged Studebaker and the SMT car dices the twisty course with Britain's best sedans. I have an odd find for So. Cal.. A '64 Canadian built (originally Studebaker engine) Daytona with the McKinnon engine swap sometime in its life. Currently it has a 350 Corvette engine and a 700R4.

[hugieflhr]

That steering linkage looks like a geometry project that went wrong!

[raymondpetrovits]

I can’t talk that fast or think that fast. I am a lifelong Mopar fan and really enjoy Steve rattle of the information for us to absorb slowly. Just saw you at Barrett Jackson pointing out even more facts. I love it.

[dannytomen]

This video brings back a lot of memories for me.
My Father had the Studebaker dealership in Chatham, ON.
Thank you Steve for all the info.

[Dragonballguy]

I’ll never get tired of Steve’s encyclopaedic knowledge- I’m glad he’s on YouTube- not that other platform

[captaintoyota]

This channel should have million subs. Steve is an encyclopedia of old american cars. So much knowledge

[DScaglione.]

The Funk & Wagnals of the American Automotive Industry!
You’re the Man Steve!
God Bless
😎

[Nowherenotime]

Hi Steve
I worked at Dofasco ( now Arcelor Mittal Dofasco )in Hamilton and the Studebaker Plant was on the property . It was just an empty shell . Torn down in the early 2000s . Also on the property was the old CIL Paint Plant that probably supplied them and other car manufacturers in the Province. Paint and other solvents could be seen in basement sump pump holes leaching out . That building was our Trade School for apprentices for many years . Now it is gone and a State of the art Steel Caster sits over it . Fun Fact

[robin]

Nice one, you genuinely are trying to show how dire things of the countries and it's citizens. Economically and other aspects. At this time the future doesn't look good. First thing. About solving a problem is to acknowledge it. It's doesn't look like the media wants to do, I hope your channel expand and bring awareness and opportunity to people. ❤️

[talfacprez]

I worked at a used car lot and chose a 1966 Studebaker with a 283 V8 3 on the tree as my demo. I loved it!

[paullee]

I really enjoy when Steve is in the junkyard, with spring coming I look forward to seeing more.

[CarputingYT]

Thanks for another video Steve! Have a great day

[winston]

5:55 Studebaker used the 194 and 230 six-cylinder engines and the 283 V8, all sourced from McKinnon. All automatics were the Borg-Warner three-speed units, never Powerglides.

[PlatypusPerspective]

Looks very similar, including color (ours was a metallic brown), to the 1964 Cruiser our family had here in Australia, where Studebakers were assembled from Canadian CKD kits for the RHD market. Ours had the 259 Stude V8, but it was hard to convince Australian mechanics of that, so we had more than one instance where the car went in for service and a baffled mechanic couldn't get a part to fit. Pointing out once again that it was a Studebaker motor, usually got some argument that Studebakers use GM motors... Anyone who knew Studebakers could tell straight away from the characteristic exhaust sound that it had the Studebaker V8.

[hamishdavidson]

The Ontario plant sent build kits RHD to Melbourne Australia from 62-68. Studebaker Cruisers were also purchased by the Victorian State Police Force.

[automatedelectronics]

Most of the 1964 U.S. Studebakers I've seen had Studebaker-made V-8's, including the Avanti's with R-1, 2, 3 & 4 V-8's. Maybe it was the R5 V-8 which had been increased in size from 289 to 304 cubic inches. They also had twin Paxton superchargers.
Paxton was Andy Granitelli's company and he is the one who talked Studebaker into using his Paxton supercharger. That supercharger was the basis for the Vortech centrifugal, an improved unit designed by former Paxton engineer, Jim Middlebrook.
One of Studebaker's most famous and successful semi-non-automotive ventures was Onan. Their power generators and gasoline engines are legendary. I remember working on Bobcats which had Onan engines in them and they had labels "a division of Studebaker".