Wild AND Mild – Custom Studebaker Pickup

Posted by GreaseGirl on Apr 2, 2011 in Featured, Muscle & Style, Vintage Rides | 3 comments

Custom Studebaker Pickup from 2011 Grand National Roadster Show

I promised I had a few customized Studebakers up my sleeve that I found at the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show….so here’s #2 (Check out this Studebaker Ute if ya missed #1!)

Who’s ever seen a Studebaker pickup like this one!? Believe it or not, this 1949 Studebaker Pickup has been in the works for about 25 years. When the current owner, John Saltsman, got the truck it had already been chopped about 6″ by “Merc John.”

With a small block Chevy drivetrain (just like my Studebaker coupe,) John used it as his daily driver on long commutes for at least 8 years. As John drove it, his vision for what he wanted it to become grew. He had a “wild and mild” proportioned-custom in his mind.

As its been completed, this Custom 1949 Studebaker Pickup has a laundry list of custom items from customizing legends! It started with the 6″ chop of course. To that was added a 15 1/2 ” channel. And as “one thing led to another,” this pickup was transformed with:

• a 59 Chevy trunk lid,
• 55 Cadillac bumpers,
• taillights by Gene Winfield,
• custom Barris headlights (an extra pair leftover from another custom Studebaker, The Modern Grecian),
• and paint by Larry Watson/Keith Dean.

With such a list of custom features, it wasn’t a surprise to see it in the “Customs: Then and Now” hall at the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show. As it ends up, John’s ’49 Studebaker was sitting right next to another custom Studebaker truck that looked awfully similar! As it ends up, the two have no relation. The purple Studebaker truck was customized sometime in the 1950s-60s. John couldn’t be happier with his Atomitron and will still be seen driving it around town.

If you think this truck is unique… just wait ’til I show you the pictures of the 1953 Studebaker coupe that this truck’s owner, John Saltsman, customized in his teens!!!

What do you think? Would you have built it the same or differently? MyRideisMe.com is interactive! Share what’s in your garage.