2013 Mid-Century Modern Home Tour

There were a few dozen mid-century cars at the Sacramento Executive Airport as part of the 2013 Mid-Century Modern Home Tour. From Harley Earl designs, to a Citroen, to some really wonderful American convertibles. 

There were two Studebakers in attendance: "Doc," our 1950 Champion, as well as a modified 1950 Starlight Coupe whose owner inquired about the local Karel Staple Chapter Studebaker club. 

The Mid-Century fans had lots of questions about the Bourke/Loewy nose-cone design. If you're interested in the Mid-Century Modern Home Tour and car show, go to either http://sacmcmhometour.blogspot.com and/or http://www.facebook.com/SacMod.

1950 Studebaker Champion Fixed

After four months of rough riding and much turmoil, the Champion is back on the road. Here's what needed repair:

• New points in the condenser 
• New vacuum advance part
• Fixed the carburetor

The downside was the cost of the repairs, but the upside is that we're ready for the summer car shows.

Fair Oaks Fiesta Days 2013 - Studebakers

There were many KS Chapter Studebakers at the 2013 Fair Oaks, CA Fiesta Days event. Here are a few pics:

Studebaker 3R Seat Cover

The seat cover for our Studebaker 3R pickup truck arrived! Here's a preview, hastily draped over our kitchen chairs. We ordered the seat cover from LaBaron Bonney, http://www.lebaronbonney.com.

Studebakers on the CW31 Car Czar

The Karel Staple Chapter was on the CW31 Car Czar TV show. See the show here:

Studebaker Meet-Up in Rancho Cordova, CA

The Karel Staple Chapter of the SDC had a great breakfast meet-up at Brookfield's in Rancho Cordova, CA. Here are a few pictures from the event.

3R Engine Bay is Clean

Thanks to a friend in the Karel Staple Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club, the 3R's engine bay is scarily clean. I can now see the original red engine paint. Wow.

Black Plates Redux in California, for a Fee

Will you get reproduction California black plates?

"State Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill allowing for the return of those plate styles. If the Department of Motor Vehicles receives 7,500 pre-orders between January 1, 2013 and January 1, 2015 for the vintage replica plates, it will begin issuing them for any vehicle for a personalized plate fee of $50. If fewer than 7,500 pre-orders are received in that two-year span, those who submitted $50 payments will have their money refunded. According to the Los Angeles Times, if the program goes through, buyers of the plates will also have to spend a further $40 every time they renew their registrations."

Read the full article.

Reader Profile: 1956 Studebaker Sky Hawk

Thanks to Studebaker Guide reader, P.L., for sending me this great write up and photograph of his beautiful '56 Studebaker Sky Hawk.

"My 1956 Studebaker Sky Hawk is only one of 66 remaining registered un the US of the original 3,050 built. It has the rebuilt Studie 289 4-barrel engine with the B/W Flight-O-Matic 3-speed automatic. This is a numbers-matching car which is totally original/restored, or has authenitc replacement parts. The restoration was completed here on Long Island, NY in 2009, and since has been meticulously maintained by me, and repaired and upgraded by classic car mechanical and body specialists in Southampton, LI. It is a multiple AACA and other club award winner, and has been profiled in Old Cars Weekly, Newsday, and Turning Wheels magazine."

Thanks again, P.L.!