Kit Carnival: Odd bullet-nose Stude replica in NYC
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So there I was, exiting Madison Square Garden after watching my Rangers have their season ended at the hand of Chris Drury and the Buffalo Sabres. As I walked east on 33rd street, I couldn't help but notice the orange bullet-nosed Studebaker Business Coupe stopped at the corner. Only it wasn't a Studebaker. it was a kit, and from the looks of things, I believe that there might have been an older (Fox body?) Thunderbird somewhere underneath it all. The nose looked fine, but it it kinda became a disaster as you moved aft from there -- the proportions seem totally out of whack. My Google powers have failed me, as I haven't been able to dig up anything on the kit. Now I'm just curious. Feel free to weigh in with your own comments.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SilverAero 5:43PM (5/09/2007)
Talk about overhangs.
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easyrods 11:55AM (6/18/2007)
This car is not a kit. It was hand built by Eddie Edwards from Mt Holly area in NJ. Eddie has since passed and the car was sold.
Alex Nunez 11:13PM (6/25/2007)
Easyrods, thanks. That'd explain why I couldn't find anything on it.
Gregg 5:47PM (5/09/2007)
That's an 83 to 86 T-bird underneath. That's "post-Fox." The Studebaker rendition is just awful. But the owner may think it cool.
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iQuack 5:48PM (5/09/2007)
FYI both the front and rear are Studebaker parts and the middle is an '83 to '86 (I think) Thunderbird.
The bullet-nosed Studebakers were built only for 1950 and '51. The car pictured has the '51's nose.
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kingvolcano 5:55PM (5/09/2007)
WHY?
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Todd 6:21PM (5/09/2007)
This is actually the PRODUCTION version of the new Camaro - hanks to all the bureaucrats, lawyers, Ralph-Naderites and especially Bob "Bait and Switch" Lutz :P
As designed:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/camaro-convertible-concept-at-gm-style/124730/
As delivered:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/stude-bn2.jpg
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Rory 6:49PM (5/09/2007)
Wow, I'm shocked someone actually bought that kit. It's made by Retro Trucks out of Orlando, Florida and intended for use on an El Camino. I saw one years ago in Truckin' magazine on a hemi-powered El Camino. Nice looking front end too bad the rest of the car looks like garbage. Dream-cicle Orange?
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musicmike702 1:33AM (5/10/2007)
Not sure if this guy used ths kind of kit, but here's where he may have gotten his inspiration.
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David 6:59PM (5/09/2007)
Hey, the high mounted third brake light IS NOT period!!!...!
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cf harbour 8:45PM (5/10/2007)
I think it looks like a Tucker?
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Jay 10:07PM (5/09/2007)
Looks Chinese!!!!!
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PandaBeat 12:04AM (5/10/2007)
Looks like a mix between an "EasyRod" and a "Studemino"... maybe that's what it is... http://www.easyrods.com/finishedrods.htm
http://studemino.com/
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JBob 12:13AM (5/10/2007)
YA! GO SABRES!
sorry, resident Buffalonian. strange car though.
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Glenn 12:26AM (5/10/2007)
Maybe I am crazy, but if you look at the rear shot, you can tell it is a boring hatchback with a big tail put on it. Horizon-Omni or Chevette???
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Peter Hansen 9:48AM (5/10/2007)
I'm not convinced that the unfortunate donor car was a T-Bird. To me, it looks more like a Lincoln Mark VII.
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Peter L 10:29AM (5/10/2007)
For an American design not too bad. Front reminds me of our neighbours car in NZ, in the 50s, a Studebaker, rear is ok, side is too much like the recent Monte Carlo i.e. is disaster.
My favourite as a elementary school pupil in rural NZ, was the 54 Mercury. They never made it to our shores but Popular Mechanics had the photos along with all the other current models.
American cars were very popular in the 50s good roomy family cars.
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cowboy bob 12:05PM (5/10/2007)
Hey, I kind of like it. The rear quarter window area could have been a little better, but come on. Where are you going to get this kind of action. Do any of you nitpickers have any idea of the effort this takes? I doubt it. Most of you probably can't change your own plugs.
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Gregg 2:19PM (5/10/2007)
Peter, it is an 83-86 T-bird base, not a Lincoln. Nothing in the greenhouse was modified. It's straight T-bird.
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easyrods 11:54AM (6/18/2007)
That car is a one off hand built car. It is a T-bird. Built by Eddie Edwards from NJ, has since passed away.
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