Introduced in 1956, the Studebaker Golden Hawk is widely regarded as the company’s first personal luxury car. It was aimed at the Ford Thunderbird, which arrived in 1955 to kickstart the new segment. However, Studebaker actually offered a personal luxury car in 1955. It’s called the Speedster, and it’s one of America’s forgotten gems.
Based on the President hardtop coupe, the Speedster was developed as a show car for the 1955 model year. Studebaker created 20 vehicles to tour around the US. Positive reactions to the stylish car prompted Studebaker’s management to put the Speedster into production.
Just like the President it was based on, the Speedster hit showrooms midway through the 1955 model year with the larger front bumper and chrome grille assembly. Design-wise, it wasn’t massively different from the President but features like a long hood ornament, stainless roof band, checkered emblems, and extra chrome trim made it stand out.
The Speedster was also loaded with standard features that were optional or not available on the President. The list included diamond-quilted top-gran leather upholstery, a machine-turned dashboard insert, and simulated wire wheel covers.
More notably, the Speedster came standard in two-tone paint jobs, with three-tone finishes optionally available. The Hialeah Green and Sun Valley Yellow combo, called “lemon/lime” by the public, is the most famous. The Speedster was nothing special under the hood, relying on the same 259-cubic-inch (4.2-liter) V8 engine. Available with a three-speed manual or automatic, the mill delivered 185 horsepower.
But even though it was very well received on the showroom floor, the Speedster wasn’t a sales success. Priced from $3,346 (nearly $40,000 in 2024 dollars), about $800 more than a base 1955 President hardtop, the Speedster moved only 2,215 units. For reference, Studebaker sold 116,333 examples that year, while 1955 President deliveries accounted for 22,450 units.
This figure is low enough to turn the Speedster into a rare classic, a beneficial status for what was a halo model at the time. However, the Speedster is not exactly desirable nowadays, most likely because the nameplate is mostly unknown, and many 1950s automobile enthusiasts don’t favor the 1955 redesign.
As a result, restored and highly original examples rarely change hands for more than $50,000. As of 2024, three examples barely exceeded that mark, while the record holder is a “lemon/lime” car that sold for $73,700.
If you’re a fan of the Speedster and want to snag a one-year gem without signing a six-figure check, this three-tone Speedster is gorgeous, highly original, and available.
This Studebaker, the result of a “refurbishment under prior ownership,” is quite gorgeous to look at. Both the paint and the chrome trim appear to be in excellent condition, and all the Speedster-specific features are still in place. This Speedster left the factory with a pink lower body, a gray upper section, and a white roof. It may not be the most appealing color combination, but I love it and find it appropriate on a 1950s automobile.
The interior is just as gorgeous, and the diamond-quilted upholstery on the seats and door panels gives the car a premium look. The two-tone white-and-gray combo complements the exterior.
There’s no specific confirmation on whether the 259-cubic-inch V8 is numbers-matching, but the engine bay looks period correct. The car runs and drives as it should, as shown in the video at the bottom of this blurb.
This is the second 1955 Speedster in gray over pink that crosses the auction block in 2024. A nearly identical example with a white roof sold for $50,400, while a version with a pink top found a new home for $52,500. Auctioned off via Bring a Trailer, this Studebaker has a high bid of $25,250 with six days to go. Will it also exceed the $50K mark?