'56 Packard Man

“58L-8134” is the “handle” used on the PackardInfo.com forum and at the Studebaker Drivers Club by a Studebaker and Packard fan who also has training in art and once considered becoming a car stylist. He uses the handle “58L-8134” in honor of the last Packard (or, if you prefer, “Packardbaker”) produced, a 4 door sedan built finished in Mountain Blue Metallic, on 25 July 1958. 25 July 1958 was the last full day of car production at Studebaker before the line shutdown for the changeover to start building the Lark.

The last Packard-badged passenger car built was painted in Mountain Blue Metallic, VIN 58L-8134.

Going back to the 1970s, “58L-8134” (the man, not the car 😊), has sketched out several Studebaker ideas, several of which are reproduced here. Keep in mind that these are rough sketches, not finished art. His finished art is done to a high level and we will be showing some of his finished art in future posts. He is also working on another great Studebaker “What-if” for us that will be done as finished art. 

Enjoy these sketches for what they are: food for thought worthy of further development for that always fun game of Studebaker “What-ifs”!

Above & below: “58L-8134’s” rough sketches of the Studebaker President built as stylist Robert Bourke originally intended on the 120.5″ wheelbase C-K body shell, a concept bone-headed Studebaker management nixed – one of the bad decisions Studebaker management made in those days that led to Studebaker’s demise. Below is a sketch worked out by former Studebaker stylist Robert Marcks of how the sedan Bourke wanted Studebaker to build would have worked using the C-K shell and frame. 

Above: Note the nice workup of the taillights on this convertible idea. We will see this again in an upcoming post of more work from “58L-8134”, as finished art rather than sketch form. This taillight treatment is very close to the ideal espoused by Robert Bourke in his ’53-’54 Studebaker C-K coupes, another idea nixed by Studebaker management.

Here “58L-8134” presents a nifty ’62 roadster work up which could have easily been  realized. It is similar in concept to this roadster workup at Studebaker from the ’50s that was likely in response to Chevrolet’s Corvette and Ford’s original 2 passenger Thunderbird:

Stay tuned – “58L-8134” has more in store for us in upcoming posts.

Seen on the Road
(Hat tip: “Old Petrol Head”)

 

Over at Bring-a-Trailer, Raffi Minasian won the “Question of the Week” when the question was “What Car Has the Most Beautiful Tail Pipes” with his response:

“No question about it.

1953 Pegaso Z-102 “Thrill”

When I would drive it, the smoke coming out of the twin pipes would spiral from the air flow coming through the flying sail panels and leave a light trail of spiraling smoke behind me.”

Raffi once owned this Pegaso (!), the only one of this style ever built. Raffi is an auto designer and teaches car styling. We first met him on this blog HERE where he shared with us how none other than Raymond Loewy encouraged him. We also posted Raffi’s great “Twin H Brothers” story. We will also learn of his involvement with another Pegaso in an upcoming post.