Lot details

Year: 1950
Make: Studebaker
Model: Commander Regal Deluxe Convertible
Registration: NXS 739
Chassis No: 4422130
Odometer: 74,693

• Recent engine rebuild
• Previously displayed in the United States for many years

Few cars capture early 1950s America's fascination with aviation design better than Studebaker's iconic Bullet Nose. Only 2,867 Commander convertibles were produced for 1950, making this Studebaker's most expensive model that year and exceptionally rare today. Unlike the smaller Champion, the Commander featured a front end approximately one foot longer and a more powerful 245.6 cubic-inch, L-head, inline six-cylinder engine producing 102hp. The dramatic styling was described as everything from 'an aeroplane without a propeller' to 'a Buck Rogers special'. Although often compared with the 1948 Tucker, Studebaker's Bullet Nose concept appeared in drawings from Raymond Loewy's team as early as 1941. The 1950 facelift was directed by Robert Bourke at Loewy's South Bend studio, with Virgil Exner also contributing.

The current owner first admired 1950 Studebakers at a Cape Town dealership when he was seven. Decades later, he successfully purchased this example at RM Sotheby's Auburn, Indiana auction in September 2020 and privately imported it to the UK.Originally sold in California, the car spent much of the period from around 1970 in museums and major collections. It now shows just under 75,000 original miles. Finished in its original Comanche Red with black vinyl upholstery, it has a three-speed manual gearbox with overdrive, radio, Climatizer heater, bumper overriders and a rare aftermarket Lindberg propeller. Between mid-2021 and early 2022, the car underwent extensive recommissioning. Work included rebuilding the brakes, replacing the fuel tank and chassis rubbers, fitting a stainless-steel exhaust and rebuilding the engine with new pistons. The manifolds were machined flat, a new-old-stock carburettor installed and components repainted correctly. It starts easily on its original six-volt electrics, drives exceptionally well and wears five period-correct whitewall tyres. A comprehensive history file contains receipts totalling approximately £27,000 for its importation and recommissioning work. Supplied with V5 registration document and large history file.Consigned by John Tomlin