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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2012 => Topic started by: Otto Puzzell on October 12, 2012, 05:59:09 AM

Title: Could-have-been #336 - Proposed Studebaker Hatchback Design for 1950
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 12, 2012, 05:59:09 AM
For one point: Identify what this mock-up was meant to represent

Only a complete and specific answer will earn a point!  

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Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 19, 2012, 03:31:18 AM
Could have been (should have been?) a Rookie point.

Experts?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: sixtee5cuda on October 19, 2012, 09:07:10 AM
1950 Tucker?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 19, 2012, 10:37:05 AM
More mainstream than Tucker
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Zerk on October 19, 2012, 11:27:30 AM
Post-1941 LaSalle?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 19, 2012, 12:52:40 PM
Not a LaSalle
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Zerk on October 19, 2012, 03:27:41 PM
This mockup seems very GM-like. It's only a guess, but is it an early postwar design study that was to be all-new in 1946? Maybe Pontiac?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 19, 2012, 03:29:59 PM
No sir
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: D-type on October 19, 2012, 04:49:37 PM
Hudson Hornet replacement about 1954
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 20, 2012, 03:54:31 AM
Not one of those.
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: sixtee5cuda on October 20, 2012, 10:25:53 AM
Was Harley Earl involved?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 20, 2012, 03:22:09 PM
Was Harley Earl involved?


I doubt it
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Zerk on October 20, 2012, 03:41:03 PM
Was it to be a rear-engined project?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: RayTheRat on October 20, 2012, 04:25:33 PM
Is it a GM styling clay proposal?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 21, 2012, 03:29:28 AM
Was it to be a rear-engined project?

No
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 21, 2012, 03:29:45 AM
Is it a GM styling clay proposal?


No
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: RayTheRat on October 21, 2012, 03:54:43 AM
Made in USA?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 21, 2012, 04:16:48 AM
Yes sir
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: RayTheRat on October 21, 2012, 04:27:00 AM
Studebaker?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 21, 2012, 04:27:47 AM
Yes - locked for RayTheRat
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 25, 2012, 03:57:06 PM
Yes - locked for RayTheRat

 :bump:
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: RayTheRat on October 25, 2012, 11:27:18 PM
Yeah.  I know.  I appreciate your patience.  I've gone thru more Stude websites, read more owner's stories and found more photos of prototypes that I thought imaginable.  But I haven't located that particular image.  However, in my own archives, I had the article that told the story of finding the "prototype graveyard in the woods" and the follow-up article that discussed some of the prototypes that could have ended up there.  Still, nothing definite, so I'll resort to SWAG techniques.  I think the clay model is part of the 1952 "Model N" project that led to the 1953 Loewy Stude.  There's one clay in the article that;s described as being "strangely out of sequence."  Photo attached.

The greenhouse and rear quarter are very similar to the puzzle photo.  They both seem to be 4-door concepts, which makes me wonder if a different "President" or replacement for the "Dictator" model was being considered. 

That's what I have for the moment...for what it's worth.

RtR
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 26, 2012, 03:33:20 AM
The puzzle car is not a 4-door.

Lock continues.
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: RayTheRat on October 27, 2012, 10:19:04 PM
Go ahead and unlock it, Otto.  I've run outta places to check.

RtR
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 28, 2012, 03:34:02 AM
OK... :-\
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: mymokke on October 28, 2012, 10:07:38 PM
Is there an Exner connection?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 29, 2012, 04:30:39 AM
Exner was part of the design team
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: fyreline on October 29, 2012, 10:00:08 AM
Sometimes it's the simplest things that are good clues . . . in this case, the number of letters on the rear deck led me to think it had to be a make with a LOT of letters in it's name, such as "Studebaker". Now, having said that. I am having the same search dilemma as Ray. All of that just means this is a great puzzle - we kind of know what we're looking for, we just can"t find it (yet). I guess I have to ask, although I think I already know what the answer will be . . . seeing as it's a Studebaker, is there any Raymond Loewy involvement in this particular design?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 29, 2012, 03:18:56 PM
No more or less Loewy input than any other Studebaker styling models of a similar vintage, as near as I can determine.
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: RayTheRat on October 29, 2012, 08:58:29 PM
Could this one have doubled up...like a scale model for the 1947 Studebaker Champion kustom by Albrecht Goertz?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 30, 2012, 05:17:43 AM
Not a custom; I don't think Goertz had anything to do with it.

This a s proposal for a production Studebaker, but this configuration didn't make into production.
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Tuckeroo on October 31, 2012, 11:42:00 AM
I would describe it as a late 1940s mock-up, not full size, that forecasted the 1950-51 bullet-nose Studebakers.  Probably a Robert Bourke design under the direction of Raymond Loewy...
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 31, 2012, 12:15:28 PM
Sure - but what is different about this one, versus other mock-ups from the same company and time?
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: fyreline on October 31, 2012, 05:20:59 PM
Quote
Sure - but what is different about this one, versus other mock-ups from the same company and time?


Well, it's a fastback like the GM Sedanettes, but I don't think that's it . . . . it also appears to be a hatchback, and that's pretty significant even if Kaiser was thinking along the same lines. I think the integrated rear bumper and tail lights are pretty forward-thinking, as well. Also no "A" pillar to speak of, and it looks as if it could have been a hardtop although it's hard to tell if that's supposed to be a "B" pillar or not from this angle. Lots of little things that make it "different" from the numerous Studebaker styling clays we all CAN find . . . good job by you turning up this one, I haven't been able to find anything  specific on it yet.
Title: Re: Could-have-been Puzzle #336
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 01, 2012, 04:34:50 AM
. . . . it also appears to be a hatchback

That's the missing piece.

One point each for RtR and the fyreman