This 1955 Studebaker President State Speedster was acquired by the seller around 2004, and its 259ci V8 was rebuilt in 2019, at which point a T-10 four-speed manual transmission was installed in place of a previously fitted automatic transmission. Finished in two-tone black and white over beige leather upholstery, the car is equipped with a Carter carburetor, wire-style wheel covers, whitewall tires, power steering, power brakes, dual exhaust, a Hurst shifter, a Studebaker-branded AM radio, and a clock. Other work performed in 2019 involved replacement of the intake manifold, fuel tank, water pump, ignition parts, and the six-volt battery. This 6H-K7 Speedster is now offered with service records from current ownership and a New Hampshire title in the seller’s name.
Studebaker built 2,215 examples of the Speedster version of the President State model for 1955, and its base price of $3,253 made it the most expensive offering from the brand that year. This car is finished in two-tone black and white and was repainted under prior ownership. Equipment includes a stainless-steel roof band, fender vents, wind splits, dual side mirrors, Speedster badging, dual exhaust outlets, and reverse lights. Bubbling paint is evident on the decklid, and rust is visible on the rocker panels and the lower portions of the doors, as pictured in the gallery below.
Black-finished 15” steel wheels wear wire-spoke covers and are mounted with 215/75 Coker Classic whitewall tires, and a matching spare is located in the trunk. Power steering and power-assisted drum brakes were standard equipment. The braking system was serviced in early 2019 with replacement of four wheel cylinders, the master cylinder, three flex hoses, and fabricated steel lines. The wheel bearings also were packed, and the sway-bar bushings were replaced.
The bench seats are trimmed in beige leather and are complemented by black door panels and carpeting. An engine-turned metal panel accents the dashboard and houses an analog clock and a Studebaker-branded push-button AM radio. The cabin also offers a Hurst shifter, front lap belts, multiple ashtrays, and rubber floor mats.
A worn two-tone steering wheel with a bright horn ring sits ahead of a 160-mph speedometer, an 8k-rpm tachometer, and a suite of auxiliary instrumentation. The five-digit odometer shows 54k miles, approximately 1k of which have been added under current ownership; true mileage is unknown. The speedometer reads slower than the actual vehicle speed.
The 259ci Passmaster V8 was factory rated at 185 horsepower and is topped by a single Carter four-barrel carburetor. A used WCFB intake manifold was installed during an engine rebuild that was conducted by W.C.D. Garage Inc of Northborough, Massachusetts, in 2019, which also involved the following:
- Decked and Magnafluxed engine block
- Replaced piston rings
- Resurfaced and reconditioned cylinder heads
- Replaced lifters
- Cleaned rocker-arm assemblies
- Replaced main-bearing, rod-bearing, and camshaft-bearing sets
- Replaced points, condenser, distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs, and ignition wires
- Replaced six-volt battery
- Replaced water pump
- Replaced fuel tank and fuel lines
- Replaced engine mounts
An oil leak is noted from the front of the engine.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a T-10 four-speed manual transmission that was rebuilt and installed by W.C.D. Garage in early 2019 in place of an automatic transmission. The gearbox conversion involved adapting a four-speed gear lever and a fiberglass shifter cover to the interior as well as fitting a used four-speed bellhousing, a replacement speedometer cable, a clutch, and a shortened driveshaft. The axle shafts also were serviced, the differential cover was resealed, and cracks in the frame were welded. A five-page, $20,167 receipt for the work is viewable in the photo gallery.
The New Hampshire title carries an “Antique Vehicle” brand.
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