Richard Poe owns a pretty cool Studebaker, but it’s not one you would instantly recognize. Starlights, Hawks, Champions, and Larks are the norm when it comes to Studebakers you see at most shows, but what the hell is a Challenger? And who the hell races one? Apparently Richard Poe and a group of other die hard Stude guys, that’s who.
And while the easy route is to slam a big blog or small block Chevrolet into one like we’ve all see a jillion times, Richard will have none of it. It’s Stude power or no power for this fanatic.
We’ve got two videos here for you to check out. One is a great shot of the tach and shift light as Richard slams this sucker through all 5 gears at the dragstrip. We’re not sure what the ET was on this run, but it sure sounds like fun. Sign us up!
The second video gives you a better look at just what a Studebaker Challenger is, as we get the tour of Richards car and more.
Wow
Iv’e never seen such a collection of such cooooool cars!
I always loved the 60s Studes and to see so many in one place is beyond belief. The Avanti must rank as one of the most oddly beautiful cars ever made but for me the sedans are the dogs bollocks – especially the one with the Paxton blown engine.
Thank you yet again BangShift for making my day!
I remember reading (possibly on this very site, come to think of it) that Stude had some really bonkers V8s back in their heyday. It’s cool to see it get some camera time!
Great videos of great cars; it is good to see Richard’s 1964 Challenger get the video time it deserves.
Richard’s voice is heard describing the cars in the second video. At 6:18, he introduces “Bob Palma’s 1964 Daytona Wagonaire,” saying he believes that “completes his set.”
It does complete the set, and here’s what Richard means: 1964 was the last model year in which Studebakers were built in South Bend IN. The top of the line was the Daytona series. There were four Daytonas: 4-door sedan, 2-door hardtop, convertible, and station wagon. The station wagon was known as a “Wagonaire” when it had the sliding roof in the rear, as most of them did.
I set out to accumulate all four 1964 Daytona models in the same color, Astra White, and have done just that. As Richard says, acquiring the Wagonaire in January 2013 completed the set of all four 1964 Studebaker Daytona models in the same color. BP
Thanks, Chad;
It should also be mentioned that Richard’s green Challenger is naturally aspirated; NO supercharger.
Far too many people think Studebakers need superchargers to be fast, but Richard’s car proves otherwise: It has been in the 11s with only a single 4-barrel carburetor, UN-supercharged. BP
The ET on the in car run was 11.61 and I was testing my new slicks at Indianapolis Raceway Park. That was only the third run on slicks ever.
Thanks
Richard
That looks like a very cool event at a very cool old fashioned little drag strip. Great selection of Studes and Hudsons.
Friday and Saturday May 1 and 2nd are the dates for the South Bend, Indiana Studebaker swap meet. Swap meet both days, with the car show on Saturday only. I never miss it, and I haven’t had a Studebaker in over 40 years. Oh, free admission for spectators. Held at the St Joe County Fairgrounds.
Just to clear it up, the Studebaker Drags in the video has nothing to do with the May 1 and 2 Studebaker swap meet. That is a great meet every year.
The drags in the video are in Nashville, Indiana at the Brown County Dragway about 40 miles south of Indianapolis and are held this year on May 21, and 22.
Thanks goes to BangShift.com for being open to Studebaker performance.
Sorry May 22 and 23 is the Studebaker Drags.