Studillac

1954 Champion Starliner Hard-top
Hard-top for five passengers

Studillac is a name given to an American customized aftermarket car assembled in Rockville Centre, New York between 1953 and 1955, comprising a hard-top Studebaker Starliner coupé fitted with an OHV 210–250 hp Cadillac V8 engine. Bill Frick Motors charged from $1500 to $1795 (manual 3-speed vs automatic) for the conversion or about $4500 to $5000 for a complete car. An option was a dual-range Hydra-Matic transmission. Other extras included leather, wire wheels (bolt-on or Borrani knock-off), electric tachometer, etc.

With top speed of 125–130 mph and 0 to 60 in 8.5 seconds, it was a very good value compared to the Aston Martin DB4 introduced five years later costing £3967 including taxes ($19,835) having 240 hp, top speed of 139.3 mph and 0 to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds, although even considering the Studillac had upgraded drum brakes, the DB4 had all-wheel disk brakes, and very fine fit and finish.

Fictional CIA agent Felix Leiter, friend of James Bond, owned a black Studillac in the Ian Fleming novels Diamonds Are Forever and Goldfinger. Fleming himself had driven a Studillac when in the US.

References

• Kowalke, Ron (1997). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946–1975 4th Edition, Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-521-3

Further reading

• Wilbur Shaw (July 1953). "Studebaker with a Cadillac Engine". The Popular Science Monthly. New York: Popular Science Publishing Co. pp. 76–80, 210, 212.
• https://www.hotrod.com/features/midwest-studillac-march-1954-982-1030-24-1 By John Kampp and Harless King.