Studebaker Speedster

The Studebaker Speedster was a one-year halo model built by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana, in the 1955 model year as a member of the President series, based on the President hardtop coupe. Studebaker first built twenty to show at car shows, and the reaction led management to put the car into production mid-year, giving the company a rival to the Ford Thunderbird and Chrysler 300 until the previously planned Hawk series replaced it. Power came from the 259 cubic inch V8 with 185 horsepower. The list price started at 3,346 dollars, about 800 more than a base President State hardtop, because the car carried leather seating, power steering, power brakes, a tachometer and a speedometer reading to 160 mph as standard, and its paint included the Hialeah Green and Sun Valley Yellow scheme the public called lemon and lime. Studebaker built 2,215 Speedsters.