Re: PREwar Studebaker opinions

Posted by 58L8134 On 2009/10/12 11:50:54

Hi PackardV8

As bkazmer noted, the '33 President Speedway Eight Series 92 would be the last pre-war Studebaker comparable to and competitive with the Packard models until the advent of the Junior models.

With the prosperity of the late 1920's, a number of the medium priced car makers entered a series in the luxury car price class. Their motivation was the volume success of the Packard Single Six/Standard eight and the LaSalle in the emergent entry-level luxury price segment from $2,000-$3,000.

In addition to the Studebaker Presidents beginning in 1928, Nash developed the Ambassador 490 for 1930, REO their Royale by 1931, Graham-Paige Eights such as 835, 827, 837 & 137, Hupmobile Custom Eight model U, Chrysler the Imperial L-80 and Custom Imperials as well as Buick 90 Series.

As the Depression deepened, these series found a rapidly diminishing market. The results were the dropping of the luxury series models as follows: the 92 President after 1933, the Royale 831 & 835 and Ambassador 1290 after 1934, Graham Custom 137 after 1931, Hupmobile U after 1932. The upper series nameplates would appear on the subsequent high end middle priced models throughout the remainder of their time in the car business.


Chrysler continued the Custom Imperial CL through 1933, becoming the Custom Imperial CW, various Custom and Crown models through 1942. Buick built the Series 90 through 1942 as well. Of course, these last two makes had the considerable resources of their parent corporations to support the cost of producing relatively tiny numbers of luxury models.

The easiest way to identify which models are comtemporary to Classic Packard is to check the CCCA list of approved Classics.

If you have the chance to inspect a '28-'33 President, you'll find it is a finely engineered and built car comparable to the Packards in it's price class.

Steve