1955 Studebaker President Speedster
An initial run of 20 Speedsters was made to be displayed at car shows for the 1955 model year. Reaction to the show cars caused Studebaker’s management to put the car into production mid-year and offer it for the rest of the model year. The Speedsters were loaded with standard equipment, including choice of automatic transmission, or the overdrive transmission, power steering, power brakes, four-barrel carburetor, dual exhaust, “shoemaker-stitched“, quilted genuine top green leather seating, carpeting front and rear, map pocket, push button radio “machine turned “instrument panel with 160 mph speedometer and an 8000 RPM tachometer, turn signals, clock, tinted glass, cigarette lighter, oil filter, dual back up lamps, triple horns, two speed electric wipers, tubeless white wall tires, simulated wire wheel covers and fog light bumperettes.
The Speedster presented here is an investment grade collectible, cosmetically and mechanically. It’s hard to find fault with this one-year offering. With the exception of the radio, it’s in turnkey condition. Car is amazing, powered by the venerable 259 V-8 with a four-barrel, automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, power windows and more. Speedsters in 1955 also came in two and three tone paint jobs, the most famous of which was Hialeah Green and Sun Valley Yellow called lemon lime by the public, which is the example here.