1934 Studebaker Commander

Henry and Clem Studebaker established a wagon shop in South Bend, Indiana, in 1852, with a total capital of $68. Success was swift for their covered wagon business due to the Indian Wars, orders from settlers and the U.S. Army, and migration to the western territories. By 1867, the company was grossing $350,000 annually. Joined later by three more brothers, the company offered its first electric vehicle in 1902 and its first gasoline-powered car by 1904. By 1915, Studebaker was among the largest manufacturers of automobiles in America. Despite what many consider to be a series of management misadventures, Studebaker was still a force in the market in the thirties. Struggling with the acquisition of Pierce-Arrow, and burdened with a diverse product line, the company rallied around the completely new product lines, and the styling of the 1933 to 1937 Studebaker is often credited with saving the company.

The ill-advised acquisition of Pierce-Arrow and the devastating effects of the Great Depression had combined to bring Studebaker to the brink of bankruptcy. The turnaround began when two of Studebaker's vice presidents, Vance and Hoffman, took over in the wake of Albert Russel Erskine's suicide. The Pierce-Arrow company was dropped, and efforts were focused on rebuilding the Studebaker marque.

The vehicle received attractive streamlined coachwork with pontoon fenders, smoothly rounded raked grilles which angled forward at the bottom, and sleek skirted fenders. The engineering improvements were equally impressive, with a 'hill holder' clutch, automatic chokes, an independent front suspension, and harmonic balance weights on the front bumpers.

The 1934 Land Cruiser was one of those 'streamliner' cars, like the vintage Chrysler Airflow. And, like the Airflow, it was FUNKY. It had a smooth trunk deck, a five-piece rear window, skirted fenders, teardrop headlamps, and horizontal hood slats. The Land Cruiser body was available as a Commander and an upscale President. The Land Cruiser body was available for one more year, then it was dropped. The style, albeit toned down a notch, reappeared in 1941. The Land Cruiser's name carried over after the war as the top-of-the-line Commander sedan on a stretched wheelbase, bearing no resemblance to the streamliners of yore. The Land Cruiser nameplate was retired after the 1954 season. The Land Cruiser was used by Japanese automaker Toyota for the name of its new off-road vehicle in 1957.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2012