NRV Rides- Studebaker

A Much-Loved Studebaker

Text by Joanne M. Anderson | Photos by Tom and Christy Wallace

Lest you think electric vehicles have come to the market recently, consider that Studebaker designed and produced an electric car in 1902, designed by none-otherthan Thomas Alva Edison. Two years later, their first gaspowered vehicle came on the market. However, across the previous 40 years, the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company produced covered wagons. Many a Studebaker Conestoga took many a pioneer family to settle the American West.

Three of the five ingenious Studebaker brothers (there were five sisters, too) established their business in 1868 (or 1852 depending on the source) in South Bend, Indiana. A 4th brother joined the firm later, and they called themselves “The World on Wheels”. Studebaker was a popular automobile in the 1920s, then took a hit in the Depression years of the 1930s. The company emerged from bankruptcy with models which incorporated better steering gears, a silent gear transmission and free-wheeling brakes. From 1942 to 1945, Studebaker did not manufacture cars, but was active in the efforts of World War II, producing army and cargo trucks. The company also manufactured 63,789 Wright Cyclone 9-cylinder radial engines for the B-17 Flying Fortress, a low-wing, heavy bomber. With lofty car model names like Commander, Skyway Champion, President and Pinehurst, the firm continued producing cars until 1966. In the middle, 1954 to 1962, Studebaker was part of the Packard Motor Car Company.

The deep maroon, 1932, 2-door sedan pictured here was owned for decades by J.C. and Kathleen Absher of Christiansburg. The couple toured all over the country in this vehicle, and the car won a dozen or more show awards as well. About a year after Kathleen died in April of 2021, J.C. needed extra care, and their precious Studebaker sat idle. Chester Linkous, also of Christiansburg, stepped

in and purchased the classic car in mid-2022. He enjoys carrying on their legacy of caring for it, driving it and showing it in the warmer months. The car sports an automatic 3-speed transmission with a 289 Ford engine under the hood. The trunk looks like an add-on in the back, and 1932 design changes include the oval headlights, veeshaped grill and sloped windshield. “It’s 90 years old,” Linkous relates, “and it looks like it just came out of the showroom. I did a few small cosmetic things, but any restoration work was all done, and it runs fine.” Linkous has owned other old vehicles during his career as a trucker. The New River Valley native is especially humbled to own and appreciate the Abshers much-loved Studebaker.

Photo by James Lee

When my spell check put a capital letter on Conestoga, I had to research why. Apparently, the first known reference was in a man’s accounting log in 1717, and it was named after either the Conestoga River or the Conestoga Township. The latter name comes from a small tribe of Native Americans of the Susquehannock in Lancaster, Penn. This transport vehicle was constructed with a flooring which was tipped up so contents inside would be safe from shifting along the bumpy ride. Seams were caulked with tar for protection of the interior load when crossing rivers. Tool boxes, just like on today’s pick-up trucks, were mounted on the sides, with livestock feed boxes on the back. Pennsylvania’s Conestoga Valley also bred a draft horse specifically for hauling the wagons loaded with heavy freight. The breed never became official, though there is a claim that the Conestoga was the first outstanding horse to be developed in America. Justin Morgan of Vermont might take issue with that, as he is credited with founding the Morgan breed in the late 1700s. Oxen, however, became the preferred covered wagon haulers because of their strength and needing less forage than horses. They were slower, and not so beautiful, thus, less likely to be stolen by Indians. Well, that makes sense.