Make:
Studebaker
Model:
Commander Wagonaire
Country:
USA
Region:
MS
City:
Jackson
Zip:
39201
Body Style:
Wagon
Year:
1965
Transmission:
Automatic
Fuel:
Gasoline
Doors:
4
Color:
Yellow
Engine:
327
Condition:
Used
1965 P4 Studebaker Commander Wagonaire
I purchased this wagon in 2013 in Bellingham Washington. The car was manufactured in Canada in 1965 as were all Studebakers in the companies last two years of 1965-66. As far as I can tell from records the wagon spent time in California and a previous owner in Fife Washington.
Mechanical Condition:
Mechanically the car is equipped with a 275 hp. 1967 327 engine. It is equipped with a new Offenhauser intake manifold and new Edelbrock carburetor, new rams horn exhaust manifolds and a complete new duel exhaust with Flow-master mufflers. It has PowerPak heads, and all new ignition, pertronics and new alternator. The cooling system has been boiled out with a new 4 core radiator installed with new coolant. Runs cool. Although the engine has un-known mileage, as it was installed by previous owners, It has been overhauled at some point in the past and the tested compression is good and strong across all cylinders at about 160psi. Oil pressure is 65lbs. cold – 40 warm. This engine runs strong, pulls hard and is fast and fun!
The transmission is THM 350 and was in the car when I got it. Tight, shifts nice and no issues. Shift indicator doesn’t line up exactly with all gears, as the stock trans was a 2 speed.
The differential is a 9 inch ford Trac-Lock (limited slip) with 3:00 to 1 ratio with 28 spline alloy axles and new bearings. It also is outfitted with a quality looking 4 link set-up with air bags in the rear. New steel wheel from Wheel Vintiques. All new Ford drum brakes and hydraulics in the rear. No issues.
Front Suspension is stock Studebaker but all rebuilt and brand new. New springs, all bushings, A arms, shocks, roll bar, and new GM 11 inch disc brakes. All brakes, cylinders, hard lines, flex lines are new. Tight and steers and stops great.
Body Condition:
The body was completely disassembled and stripped down to bare metal. All the doors were removed and disassembled, hood and tail gate removed, all windows taken out and complete interior removed including the sliding roof. The body was really solid and rust free with the only rust being the bottom of the tail gate and a spot on the roof. All rust was cut out and replaced with new metal. A very solid and rust free car.
There was only one major dent and that was the left rear. All repairs were done with new metal and correct body work. Body was primed, sealed, and sanded before complete acrylic enamel paint. (Sunflower yellow & white) After weeks of curing, body was color sanded and buffed to high level.
All chrome and stainless was either replaced with new or very good used and buffed to shine.
Interior:
All doors and windows have all new rubber seals, gaskets, window channels and whiskers. Windows received new rollers, with all mechanisms rebuilt and lubricated.
Windshield was removed, cleaned, and installed with a new seal.
Tailgate was rebuilt with new window regulator, channels, whiskers, and rollers.
Rear sliding roof panel was removed, cleaned and lubed with new rollers installed. New roof seals installed with new water drains also.
Amazingly the seats and door panels are all original and are in excellent condition with no holes, rips, or stains. Carpet is new.
All interior metal work was repainted, and most of the headliner is original in excellent shape, with the front section being new.
Dash board has been renewed with new engine turned finish, new speedometer, tachometer, and multi gauge cluster. New gas gauge sending unit in cleaned and lined fuel tank.
All gauges are new and work, windows and doors, lights and turns function as should.
Driving:
The car starts right up with no smoke, goes to nice fast idle when cold, and kicks down to very nice sounding idle after about 2-3 minutes. Transmission engages as soon as in gear with no lag, accelerates very strong, and is quite fast. No pulls on the road, tracks good, brakes very nice with the big 11 inch disc brakes, turns good with no noises and no rattles or squeaks as it goes down the road on the completely rebuilt front-end. All accessories work, light, turns, heater, wipers, etc. Tail gate and window operate smoothly and rear sliding roof unlatches and manually opens and closes as it should. Very fun to drive with open top!
The only problems are very minor. Gear shift indicator doesn’t line up in all gears (originally 2 speed trans. & now 3 speed). One hub cap has a tendency to come off, and although the speedometer is a brand new NOS 160 mph unit, it is not working because it needs a drive gear for the cable.
I purchased this wagon in 2013 in Bellingham Washington. The car was manufactured in Canada in 1965 as were all Studebakers in the companies last two years of 1965-66. As far as I can tell from records the wagon spent time in California and a previous owner in Fife Washington.
Mechanical Condition:
Mechanically the car is equipped with a 275 hp. 1967 327 engine. It is equipped with a new Offenhauser intake manifold and new Edelbrock carburetor, new rams horn exhaust manifolds and a complete new duel exhaust with Flow-master mufflers. It has PowerPak heads, and all new ignition, pertronics and new alternator. The cooling system has been boiled out with a new 4 core radiator installed with new coolant. Runs cool. Although the engine has un-known mileage, as it was installed by previous owners, It has been overhauled at some point in the past and the tested compression is good and strong across all cylinders at about 160psi. Oil pressure is 65lbs. cold – 40 warm. This engine runs strong, pulls hard and is fast and fun!
The transmission is THM 350 and was in the car when I got it. Tight, shifts nice and no issues. Shift indicator doesn’t line up exactly with all gears, as the stock trans was a 2 speed.
The differential is a 9 inch ford Trac-Lock (limited slip) with 3:00 to 1 ratio with 28 spline alloy axles and new bearings. It also is outfitted with a quality looking 4 link set-up with air bags in the rear. New steel wheel from Wheel Vintiques. All new Ford drum brakes and hydraulics in the rear. No issues.
Front Suspension is stock Studebaker but all rebuilt and brand new. New springs, all bushings, A arms, shocks, roll bar, and new GM 11 inch disc brakes. All brakes, cylinders, hard lines, flex lines are new. Tight and steers and stops great.
Body Condition:
The body was completely disassembled and stripped down to bare metal. All the doors were removed and disassembled, hood and tail gate removed, all windows taken out and complete interior removed including the sliding roof. The body was really solid and rust free with the only rust being the bottom of the tail gate and a spot on the roof. All rust was cut out and replaced with new metal. A very solid and rust free car.
There was only one major dent and that was the left rear. All repairs were done with new metal and correct body work. Body was primed, sealed, and sanded before complete acrylic enamel paint. (Sunflower yellow & white) After weeks of curing, body was color sanded and buffed to high level.
All chrome and stainless was either replaced with new or very good used and buffed to shine.
Interior:
All doors and windows have all new rubber seals, gaskets, window channels and whiskers. Windows received new rollers, with all mechanisms rebuilt and lubricated.
Windshield was removed, cleaned, and installed with a new seal.
Tailgate was rebuilt with new window regulator, channels, whiskers, and rollers.
Rear sliding roof panel was removed, cleaned and lubed with new rollers installed. New roof seals installed with new water drains also.
Amazingly the seats and door panels are all original and are in excellent condition with no holes, rips, or stains. Carpet is new.
All interior metal work was repainted, and most of the headliner is original in excellent shape, with the front section being new.
Dash board has been renewed with new engine turned finish, new speedometer, tachometer, and multi gauge cluster. New gas gauge sending unit in cleaned and lined fuel tank.
All gauges are new and work, windows and doors, lights and turns function as should.
Driving:
The car starts right up with no smoke, goes to nice fast idle when cold, and kicks down to very nice sounding idle after about 2-3 minutes. Transmission engages as soon as in gear with no lag, accelerates very strong, and is quite fast. No pulls on the road, tracks good, brakes very nice with the big 11 inch disc brakes, turns good with no noises and no rattles or squeaks as it goes down the road on the completely rebuilt front-end. All accessories work, light, turns, heater, wipers, etc. Tail gate and window operate smoothly and rear sliding roof unlatches and manually opens and closes as it should. Very fun to drive with open top!
The only problems are very minor. Gear shift indicator doesn’t line up in all gears (originally 2 speed trans. & now 3 speed). One hub cap has a tendency to come off, and although the speedometer is a brand new NOS 160 mph unit, it is not working because it needs a drive gear for the cable.
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