Studebaker, founded in South Bend, Indiana in 1852, found their original success in making wheelbarrows for the California Gold Rush. In 1902, Studebaker entered the automotive business with electric vehicles. By 1904, they had switched to gasoline vehicles, all sold under the name ‘Studebaker Automobile Company. The 1930 Studebaker Eight was produced between 1929 and 1933 and was engineered by the legendary Delmar G. ‘Barney’ Roos. Power was from a 337 cubic-inch straight 8-cylinder engine offering 115 horsepower. The President’s were produced in two different platforms, a 125-ihc and a 135-inch wheelbase. The Presidents captured several land speed records, some of which went unbroken for three and a half decades. 

Studebaker, founded in South Bend, Indiana in 1852, found their original success in making wheelbarrows for the California Gold Rush. In 1902, Studebaker entered the automotive business with electric vehicles. By 1904, they had switched to gasoline vehicles, all sold under the name ‘Studebaker Automobile Company. The 1930 Studebaker Eight was produced between 1929 and 1933 and was engineered by the legendary Delmar G. ‘Barney’ Roos. Power was from a 337 cubic-inch straight 8-cylinder engine offering 115 horsepower. From 8740 produced cars, only 7 had touring bodies. 1 in 1928, 4 in 1929 and 2 in 1930. Just 4 President Eights with L-style phaeton bodies are known to exist today.

The Studebaker Commander was produced for several years, representing several bodystyle changes, and first appeared in the 1920s. The company would continue to use the name until their demise in 1966. There were only a few years where the Commander did not appear in Studebaker’s line-up during that time; those were in 1936 and 1959-1963. When the name first appeared in 1927, it was Studebaker’s middle-series. As the years progress, it would move up and down market, often changing positions from year to year. The name would continue until it was dropped in 1935, only to reappear in 1937 where it served as the company’s least expensive model, taking the place of the previous Studebaker Dictator.