Cortes and Roadmaster, I do agree with you both. I have the last road-worthy Studebaker Wagonaire left in Atlantic Canada. I have another Studebaker, a 64 "Commander Special" 2 door sedan Studebaker, which is an oddball and perhaps unique variant of an already rare model. These were specifically built after January 1964 as a special trim model, after Studebaker had shut down in South Bend, and uniquely have the Hamilton ON serial # that started in a new series when it was "Canadian only" production. Mine is different, and I have the build sheet to prove it. It was built much earlier than the actual shutdown or the announced shutdown of the US production, and so it has a 'wrong' regular Canadian serial number. No-one had ever seen one of these 'stealth' production cars, which shows that Studebaker had the US production shutdown long planned before announced. As far as I have heard, it is the only one of its type that still exists. Its a six automatic, perhaps the least desirable combination for a Studebaker and needs everything including engine and transmission rebuild, paint, trim, interior, and some sheet metal repair, and I hauled it home from a junkyard. I could throw as much money into this, if I had it, as I could a Packard or a Buick. It was known, and languishing, for a LONG time. The asking price was down to about scrap metal price when I finally hauled it home. I wish I had money enough to save more.
I doubt that I will ever do any of my cars justice, but I keep them operating and spending money on them hoping for the day that someone who is intrigued enough to restore one of them steps up. If you have at least $50,000 available, yes a 55 Manhattan, or a 54 Manhattan, or any Frazer/Kaiser convertible or hardtop Virginian, or 53 or even 51 Dragon, or Darrin is a more attractive restoration candidate for not only value but also sheer pride of ownership, joy in the details, and pleasure in perhaps driving it and showing it off, than say a 51 trunkless Henry J in a dull colour, no options, and a 4 cylinder without overdrive. Each will cost you similar dollars to restore though. Even my 49 Kaiser Special in Glass Green is sometimes a hard sell to myself, as it doesn't even have an overdrive, a clock or a radio, and the only option it does have, a lighter, is useless to me even as a power point as it is 6Volt.
Some of the cars I've had over the years: 65 Corvair coupe, 65 Corvair convertible, 63 Corvair convertible, 61 Corvair Rampside (all dogs with large appetites) 53 Willys Aero hardtop, 53 Kaiser Manhattan, 63 International bus and 87 Peugeot turbo. I still have a bunch, including two cars that will never hit the roads again, including a 56 Panhard from France which I hope to get up to a 100 ft 'lawn ornament' status someday.
