Howdy all! I have had just lately been taking a look at a car that is way out here even for me. In the hinterland of northern Alberta is a 1966 Studebaker Wagonaire sitting in a field. I have been asked what I think it is worth, so my 65 Custom sport 409 owning brother and I went for a look the other day. It is a very weathered wagon that, if you recall, had a retractable rear section of the roof that slid into the front section thus allowing you to haul tall loads. Very ahead of its time. The reason it is related to Canadian Ponchos is that first, it was made in Hamilton, Canada! and second, it has a 283 "Thunderbolt" 2 barrel from McKinnon Industries and a Powerglide (I think) as do many of our Ponchos under another name. We have not been able so far to get a look at the VIN but, according to the second owner, it was the fourth last car off the line. I'm dubious, as the stuff I have been able to access shows the last five cars went to the states so...
However, on Friday me and my two bros are going over see this mostly windowless, moribund but very complete car and we may collectively bring it home to store in the yard of the least disgruntled of our wives. Should be fun. The questions are, should we bother with a Studebaker, and second, should we video the whole thing including the wives reaction and then post it. As I say, should be fun!
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
I love these cars! As a former owner of two Studebakers (63 Lark Regal 2 door sedan) and 64 Commander I say go for it. There's a huge following for Studebakers (The Studebaker Drivers Club has a fantastic monthly magazine) and there's also a TON of NOS parts still out there. The auto trans would be a Borg Warner. Fun fact: The rear 1/4 panels on these Studes bolt on and I'm sure NOS ones wouldn't be hard to find. I had a ton of NOS parts for my 63 including a complete 4 speed setup with a rebuilt correct T-10, upholstery, door panels, rear 1/4 panel, grills, lenses etc. I regret selling it.
Since that Wagonaire has a V8 it will have a Dana 44 rear end and possibly Twin Traction. Only 618 Wagonaires were built in 1966.
Here's some photos of mine and some of the NOS parts I had accumulated
do you have access to any parts cars? if this car has had its glass gone for years the interior is probably destroyed. replacement door panels would probably have to come from another wagon and parts like that would not be cheap to ship
That is part of canadian history just about as much as any beaumont is. Im not a studebaker guy, but as far as i know in 1966 they were only built in canada, the USA had already stopped production of studebaker cars. The drivetrain is a chevy smallblock and powerglide straight from GM canada, and all factory correct. Being a wagon, its gotta be super low production. Save it for sure!
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Beaumontguru
MY BEAUMONT HAS 4 STUDDED TIRES AND 2 BLOCKHEATERS......AND LOTS OF OIL UNDERNEATH. The other one has a longer roof.
There was one for sale here in Ontario, maybe 7 years back I discovered at a garage sale, here in Muskoka. In very good condition, a driver. I had never seen one before at the time and was intrigued and had some thoughts of buying it. I think he wanted like $3000 at the time. I had no time to pursue it, but I had pictures and was real sure on the specific car. The next time I see it for sale it's in the USA and being flipped for over $10K !!!!!! Lost the trail after that...
Can't imagine there being a lot of available NOS parts or repro's.....But I have no need to explore that avenue.
I'm pretty sure they didn't use Powerglides. They were Borg Warner automatics. I had a 66 Daytona parts car and that's what it had behind the 283. They also all had transistorized ignition. Studebaker in Southbend closed in December 1963 leaving Hamilton the only plant building cars.
Thanks for the replies guys. i didnt really take any usable pictures last time but on Friday i will bring back a bunch and post them. Good to know about the NOS parts although as you say maybe not so much for a wagon. As for the transistorized ignition as far as I have able to read it was an option but we will definitely check for that when we go again. I assume it would be the same as the GM transistor ignition option? As for the glass there is enough side glass left to make templates and it is all flat except for the windshield. Luckily the back tailgate glass is intact and seems to work quite well yet.
Know what a bunch of shmucks we are one of us is very likely to bring it home unless the guy figures it is made of solid gold instead of rusty metal, leaves, flat tires and broken glass.
We'll keep you posted just so I can continue to horrify Carl.
Super-cool car! Checks all the right boxes: Canadian made, last year of production for the company, wagon with sliding roof, low production numbers, etc etc.
Besides, who didn't have one of the Corgi Junior Studebaker Wagonaires as a kid? They left a big impression on me.
Yes it should be a Borg-Warner automatic transmission. Dont be surprised if it has a powerglide trans in it. In the 70s Powerglides were a dime a dozen and I did swap a couple into Studebakers that had Chevy engines. If I remember correctly the Borg-Warners would break the reverse band. People would shift into reverse with the engine on fast idle and the reverse band would break. Powerglides wouldnt break and were a cheap fix.
Howdy guys finally went back to see it and took some pictures. Not great pictures but then it is not a great car. In fact, it is bad to its rusty bones.
Found out the VIN and it is nowhere near the end of the 66 run. The tranny has a shift quadrant of PNDLR so I assume it is a Borg Warner not a 66 vintage Powerglide. it is not a transistorized ignition either.
The top panel works and slides back fairly easily but pretty much everything else on the car is rusted. Taking advice from one of the guys on the Studebaker forum I took a look at the pillars between the front and rear doors as he said they drained the roof panels through there. On both side of the cars the whole structure moved at the bottom of the doors so that is very bad. Ie disconnected from what left of the floors.
If it was the last car of its kind in the world or even the last one made maybe but as it is parts car only. Anybody need any?
