Vincent E. Gardner's 1947 Studebaker Sportster - The Gardner Special
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Built from a 1947 Studebaker, The Gardner Special is a remarkable manifestation of automobile designer Vincent E. Gardner's vision and craftsmanship. While employed under Raymond Loewy in South Bend, Indiana, Gardner transformed a brand new 1947 Studebaker Champion three-passenger coupe into a Sportster, showcasing a series of innovative modifications. The car not only won accolades in the early racing and custom roadster scenes but also stood as a testament to Gardner's design acumen. The Gardner Special continues to be a celebrated piece of automotive history, especially after its meticulous restoration and showcase at prestigious events like the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2012.
The "Gardner Special" was designed and built by famed automobile designer Vincent E. Gardner of South Bend, Indiana while working under Raymond Loewy. Vincent bought a brand new 1947 Studebaker Champion three-passenger coupe off the assembly line that he brought home, tore down, and made a sportster out of. The whole firewall and cockpit were moved back 18 inches before Vince fitted the car with a new grille, hood, deck, and taillights. The exhaust was routed through the taillights, making the pipes look red hot at night. The headlight frames were rotated 180 degrees, which set the parking lights below. Sedan front doors were used by reworking the top section. Bumpers were 1949 Studebaker Commander. The hood and deck were equipped with an automatic lift operated by compressed air. The frame was reinforced for added rigidity. The radiator was lowered and moved forward, and the fan was mounted on the crankshaft to correspond with the new radiator location. The steering gear was set back and rotated to the correct angle, and the clutch and brake pedals were extended to a new position. The interior was trimmed in natural tan cowhide. Fresh air was drawn into the car through two holes on either side of the grille and blown in through the heater. The heater was mounted on a vertical wall above the toeboard. The controls for the heater, headlights, and more were placed on the steering column. Glove compartments were placed in each door. Vince fit his creation with a removable Plexiglas top that could be stored in the trunk compartment. The engine featured a 7.7 to 1 aluminum high compression head, hard-faced valves, a special coil, two carburetors, and dual exhaust.[2]
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Winner of the Press-on-Regardless Rally
In 1949, Vince won the first ever Press-on-Regardless Rally with the Studebaker. The Press-on-Regardless Rally was a 24-hour time-speed-distance rally organized by the Detroit region of the Sports Car Club of America. Louise Gardner was listed as the navigator.[3]
Winner of the Most Magnificent Custom Roadster Award at the 1950 National Roadster Show
In 1950, The Gardner Special won the Most Magnificent Custom Roadster award at the National Roadster Show in Oakland. It did also come third, behind a George Barris entry and the So-Cal Speed Shop's 1934 Ford Coupe, for a "Greatest Contribution to the Industry" award.[4]
The Restoration
The Gardner Special is still around and was restored by Fran Roxas of Vintage Motorsports in Bridgeview, Illinois for John N. Allen of Naples, Florida between 2011 and 2012. Jason Arrigo of Arrigo Specialty Metalworks did all the metalwork on the car for Fran. The car had changed quite a bit over the years but was restored back to its initial version by Vince Gardner.[1] In March of 2012, the restored version of the car was shown at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in Florida.
Monterey 2016
In 2016, the car was advertised for sale by Mecum Auctions. It was supposed to cross the block during the Monterey 2016 Auction, but it was withdrawn at auction time.[5]
Magazine Features
Trend Book 101 Custom Cars
Fawcett Book 156 How to Build Hot Rods
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 Arrigo Specialty Metalworks
- ↑ Dan Post's Original Blue Book of Custom Restyling - Enlarged Super Edition
- ↑ Wikipedia Press-on-Regardless Rally
- ↑ Oakland Tribune, Monday, Jan.23, 1950
- ↑ Mecum Auctions - Monterey 2016 - Lot F139 - 1947 Studebaker Gardner Special
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