My love for Studebakers began long before I owned one. In 1948, my mom bought a four-door Commander from her sister. Mom had four boys, and her sister had four girls. Together they would cram all eight kids into the car for park trips. My aunt always joked, “My cup runneth over,” as we tumbled out.
The car rarely ran reliably—missing flywheel teeth meant the starter often failed. My resourceful dad crafted a huge wrench to turn the crankshaft manually until the teeth aligned. Mom still laughs about the garbage man who once helped her start it with that wrench. “Nothing says love like a big wrench for your car,” I tell her now.
The car became our neighborhood “tank” for Army games, complete with a black pipe cannon stretching from backseat to dashboard. All the kids flocked to our house for the arsenal of toy guns. Those 1950s and 1960s memories fueled my lifelong quest to find one just like it.
Mom and Dad eventually paid $25 to have it hauled away. I searched for years, passing on customized or two-door versions, holding out for an original 1948 four-door Commander in Rodeo Tan. After months of negotiation, my wife found one near Casper, Wyoming. I bought it for $9,000, shipped it to Stella, NC, for $2,000, and planned minor fixes.
The real purpose was a Thanksgiving surprise for Mom (now 94) and my brothers. I trailered it to Illinois, hid it in her garage, and fixed brakes and a fuel leak en route. After Thanksgiving lunch, I gathered everyone, passed out an NC Region magazine featuring the car on the cover (credited to owner Scott Gruenke), and my son backed it out as Mom spotted it. Her face lit up—she kept saying it was shinier than hers. We helped her into the driver’s seat, squeezed three brothers in the back (tight fit!), and reminisced about childhood. The family took photos in the driveway. My serious oldest brother called it the best thing any of us had done for the family.
Mom’s memory challenges mean she forgets quickly, but keeping the magazine nearby helps her remember a little. Dad passed three years ago, and I wish he could have been there to enjoy the moment and see the joy on Mom’s face—but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Purchase: $9,000; transport: $2,000; fuel for 2,000 miles: scary to calculate. Mom’s priceless smile? Worth every penny.
This heartfelt story of family, nostalgia, and a beloved 1948 Studebaker Commander aligns perfectly with events celebrating vintage vehicles. The 33rd Annual Spring Car Show, sponsored by the First Capital Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America, returns to historic downtown New Bern on Saturday, May 9th. The free public event features up to 150 collector cars from the early 1900s to the late 1990s, displayed on Middle, Pollock, and Craven streets from 10am to 3pm, with trophies awarded at Pollock and Middle. Entries (25+ years old, $20–$25 registration) welcome all makes, including Studebakers. For details, visit https://ncregionaaca.com/firstcapital/.