Studebaker Light Four

The 3153cc, four-cylinder, Studebaker, was introduced in 1913 as the Model SA25 and was one of three models that were the first to be manufactured as complete cars by the South Bend, Indiana, company.

Brothers Henry and Clem Studebaker were blacksmiths in the middle of the 19th century who turned to making wagons and profited during the California Gold Rush and the American Civil War to make them, by 1872, the largest wagon maker in the world. The first car to carry the Studebaker name – in 1902 – was battery powered, but by this time the founding brothers had died and the company was in the hands of family members, who considered the future was in gasoline power. Electric car production ended in 1911.

Studebaker was building bodies on chassis supplied by other companies and then marketing them. In 1911 the company was refinanced and two years later Studebaker launched its own wholly-made range with the accent on rugged performance and reliability.

Sales boomed during the First World War and continued afterwards, but from the mid-1920s the company was forever fighting bigger manufacturers. Mergers and re-finances kept Studebaker afloat, the company often leading the way with its styling, but eventually the last car was made in 1963.

About this vehicle

The car is a gift by Stanley and Joyce Young, of North London. It was brought over from the USA in 1976 to play a part in James Cagney’s last film Ragtime which was part-produced at London’s Shepperton Studios. Purchased by Stanley, the car had been laid up in his garage until he decided to part with it and offer it to the Collection.

On arrival at Old Warden early in 2017 the Studebaker was a non-runner but a sterling effort by Vehicle Workshop volunteers had it working in time to take part in the vehicle parade in September of that year.

This example has a rear-mounted, three-speed, manual gearbox and continued in production until 1919 as the ‘Light Four’. Many similar Studebakers came to Europe to see service on the Home front during the First World War and our exhibit is presented as a British military vehicle of the period.