Studebaker Starliner Commander V8

Studebaker Starliner Commander V8

The 1953 Studebaker Starliner Commander V8 is one of those rare automobiles whose design significance transcends its mechanical specifications and market success. Penned by the legendary industrial designer Raymond Loewy and his team (including Robert Bourke, who did much of the actual drawing work), the Starliner is consistently cited as one of the most beautiful American automobile designs of the 20th century — a car so far ahead of its time that it seemed to belong to a different era than its chrome-laden contemporaries.

The Starliner's design was revolutionary for 1953 America. While competitors from GM, Ford, and Chrysler were producing increasingly bulky, chrome-encrusted vehicles, the Starliner offered clean, European-proportioned lines with minimal decoration. The low roof, long hood, short rear deck, and gracefully curved greenhouse created a profile of remarkable elegance that anticipated the sporting coupé proportions that would become fashionable a decade later.

The Commander V8 specification placed Studebaker's new 232.6 cubic inch overhead-valve V8 under that beautiful hood. Producing 185 horsepower with a four-barrel carburetor, the engine was a modern and capable unit that gave the lightweight Starliner respectable performance. The car was available with either a three-speed manual with overdrive or automatic transmission.

Raymond Loewy's involvement in the design brought international prestige. Already famous for his industrial designs — the Lucky Strike cigarette package, the Coca-Cola fountain dispenser, Air Force One's livery — Loewy brought a European sophistication to the Studebaker that was unprecedented in American car design. The car won numerous design awards and was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art.

Despite its critical acclaim, the Starliner's commercial success was limited. Studebaker's production capabilities and dealer network couldn't match the Big Three, and quality control issues in the early production run damaged the car's reputation. The company was already in the financial decline that would ultimately lead to its closure in 1966.

Total Starliner production for 1953 was approximately 13,058 units in hardtop form. Today, the Starliner is one of the most collectible American cars of the 1950s, valued primarily for its design significance. Clean, well-preserved examples are increasingly rare, and the car's recognition as a design landmark has pushed values steadily upward.