1937 Studebaker J5 Express Pickup

Studebaker was founded in 1852 in South Bend, Indiana. Their original success was in making wheelbarrows for the California Gold Rush followed by supplying wagons to the Union Army in the Civil War. After a fire in 1874 destroyed their factory, they built a new brick factory covering 20 acres which became 'The largest vehicle house in the world.' Some of the carriages could cost up to $20,000. Studebaker entered the automotive business in 1902 with electric vehicles and in 1904 with gasoline vehicles, all sold under the name 'Studebaker Automobile Company.' Over the next 50 years, the company established an enviable reputation for quality and reliability.

The last Studebaker car rolled off the line in 1966. Studebaker pioneered the concept of the car-like pickup truck in 1973, two decades before Ford and Chevrolet. It consisted of a double-wall pickup box sliced onto the rear of its passenger car front end. It is powered by an L-head 6-cylinder engine producing 90 horsepower. Since it was priced 30% more than traditional pickups, fewer than 3,500 were sold.

This truck is painted in its original special order Cardinal Red exterior color. It was found in Kansas incomplete, non-running condition with extensive rust. This Studebaker was fully restored by the current owner with many fabricated parts and is now driven regularly.