1933 Studebaker Series 56 Six

Studebaker had a track record for producing high-quality horse-drawn vehicles, as the Studebaker brothers of South Bend, Indiana, were wagon makers since the middle of the 19th Century. With a fortune made from this industry, the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company entered the horseless carriage business in 1897, first with electric-powered vehicles and then gasoline-powered ones. Like most Midwestern manufacturers of their time, they started out producing smaller two-cylinder vehicles. During the early years, they relied upon Elyria, Ohio, manufacturer L. Garford for their chassis and engines and the cars were marketed under the 'Studebaker-Garford' name.

Studebaker began an association with the E-M-F Company in 1908, eventually taking over the Detroit-based manufacturer in 1910 to form the Studebaker Corporation on January 1st, 1911, at which time the link with Garford was abandoned. The Studebaker lineup, by this point in history, consisted of the Models G-8 and G-10 – of 40 and 30 horsepower, respectively. The arrival of its first six-cylinder automobile in 1913 - the Model E- is recognized as the first mass-produced 'six' to have its cylinders cast en bloc.

The company's four-cylinder engine, which had displaced 192.4 cubic inches for many years, was enlarged in 1916 to 235.6 cubic inches, and the bodies of the vehicles gained smoother lines. Four-cylinder models remained part of Studebaker's lineup up to 1920, when the company solely embraced sixes. The Big Six of 1918 to 1920 was offered solely as a four-door touring car. It was referenced as the Big Six to distinguish it from the Light Six (which later became the Special Six), the former on a 127-inch wheelbase and the latter on a 120-inch platform.

The list of available body styles offered on the Big Six expanded in 1921, and by 1926, the list had grown even larger (four-wheel braking was adopted as a standard feature in 1926). In 1927, the Big Six was renamed the President (a.k.a. Big Six President) and in January 1928 Studebaker introduced a straight-eight engine for its new top-of-the-line model.

Studebaker took over Pierce-Arrow in 1928 and this proved to be a financial disaster, and the Company ultimately went into receivership in March 1933. A major shake-up and a publicity campaign with the slogan 'Studebaker Carries On' brought about a rationalized model range for 1934, with three distinct models – the Dictator Six, the Commander Eight and President Eight. The 'Dictator' name was last seen in 1931; it returned as part of Studebaker's entry-level six with styling promoted with the 'Year Ahead' slogan, featuring a raked radiator, skirted fenders, slanted bonnet louvers and a beltline molding that ran the length of the body. Notable features included 'Steeldraulic' brakes, safety glass, Autolite ignition. and a new dashboard. Beneath the bonnet was Studebaker's 205 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine offering 88 horsepower at 3,600 RPM and paired with a three-speed transmission.

Under the direction of new president Paul G Hoffman, the Studebaker's line-up for 1935 saw a mild facelift of the 'Year Ahead' styling introduced the previous season, with a narrower grille, bullet-shaped headlamps and straight bumpers. Body styles included two, four and five-passenger coupes and sedans. Mechanical improvements saw the abandonment of the unreliable mechanical braking system and the embracing of a more conventional hydraulic system across the range. The front suspension now used a Planar independent setup, and a Warner Gear automatic overdrive was now optional. The public approved with the direction Studebaker was taking, and it ranked a respectable ninth in the industry standings for 1935.

The 1933 Studebaker Series 56 'Big Six'

The most visual and distinguishable feature of the 1933 Studebaker models compared to the previous year's models were the new fenders and longer vertical grille bars which came to a 'vee' at the bottom. The overall styling of the 1933 Studebaker more rounded, curvaceous and streamlined, in keeping with the designs coming forth from many other manufacturers.

The 1933 Studebaker Six rested on a 117-inch wheelbase and was powered by an L-head, 230 cubic-inch inline six-cylinder engine with a cast iron block, a 3.25-inch bore, and a 4.65-inch stroke. It had a Stromberg two-barrel carburetor and four main bearings, producing 85 horsepower at 3,200 RPM. The synchromesh three-speed manual transmission had a single dry disc clutch and floor shift controls. Vacuum boosted power mechanical brakes provided the stopping power.

Standard amenities included an automatic starter, automatic heat control, automatic ride control, automatic choke, Delco-Remy ignition, and ball-bearing spring shackles.

Prices of the Studebaker Series 56 Six began at $840 and roses to $1,120.

Body styles priced at just under $1,000 included the: convertible, coupe, regal coupe, sport coupe, regal sport coupe, sedan, and St. Regal Brougham.

Body styles priced above $1,000 included: 4-door regal sedan, regal convertible sedan, convertible sedan, and regal convertible.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2024