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1954 Studebaker Commander news, pictures, and information

Regal Station Wagon
 
1954 was a milestone year for Studebaker, as the company merged with the Packard Motor Car Company in June to become the Studebaker-Packard Corporation.

The two-door Conestoga station wagon body style was a new offering by Studebaker for the 1954 model year and was continued through 1955.

The car is powered by a Studebaker-built V-8 motor coupled to a three-speed transmission with overdrive. The car is also equipped with 'hill holder,' which prevented the car from rolling back on hills. This Commander Regal Conestoga Station Wagon is also equipped with factory accessory wire wheel covers.
The Studebaker Commander was produced for several years, representing several bodystyle changes, and first appeared in the 1920s. The company would continue to use the name until their demise in 1966. There were only a few years where the Commander did not appear in Studebaker's line-up during that time; those were in 1936 and 1959-1963.

When the name first appeared in 1927, it was Studebaker's middle-series. As the years progress, it would move up and down market, often changing positions from year to year. The name would continue until it was dropped in 1935, only to reappear in 1937 where it served as the company's least expensive model, taking the place of the previous Studebaker Dictator. The company had decided to do away with the 'Dictator' name, due to the negative political connectors associated with the name. Mainly, Adolf Hitler in Germany had tainted the word 'dictator.'

The Commander moved up-market in 1939 when Studebaker introduced the Champion model. After the Second World War, Studebaker dropped its President moniker, and repositioned the Commander in its place. At the same time, Studebaker introduced an extended wheelbase model known as the Land Cruiser.

The President name reappeared in 1955; the President model became the premium model range and the Commander was demoted to the mid-range model. The name would continue until 1958 and reappear in 1963 for the 1964 model range. It was positioned next to the lowest-priced Lark model and above the entry-level Challenger model.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2008
Avanti
Champion
Commander
Coupe Express
Daytona
Dictator
Golden Hawk
Gran Turismo Hawk
Lark
President
Silver Hawk
Six

Image Left 1953 Commander Starliner1955 Commander Image Right
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