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1948 Studebaker Commander

As the world continued to repair after the effects of World War II, the American automobile industry to work on new and updated models. For 1948, the Studebaker Commander was basically a carry-over from the prior year, available with the same body style and trim offerings. It was a diverse range offered in Deluxe and Regal Deluxe trim levels with coupe, sedan, and convertible body styles. For those seeking more, a long-wheelbase Land Cruiser edition was available. Powering the Commander line was an L-head six-cylinder engine displacing 226.2 cubic inches and offering 94 horsepower. A three-speed manual transmission with overdrive was standard.

Except for the Land Cruiser, all bodies were basically the same as the Champions from the cowl back. The Regal Deluxe line added stainless steel windshield trim and stainless steel rocker panel moldings.

by Dan Vaughan

The Studebaker Commander was produced for several years, representing several body style changes, and first appeared in the 1920s. The company continued to use the name until its 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 Dan Vaughan