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Topic starter
10/07/2025 11:15 am
This was the only directive given to staffer Bob Bourke from French born Raymond Loewy. The result was this bullet nose design that debuted in 1950. It turned out to be Studebaker's best year with sales of 343,000 cars. For 1951, the top of the line Commander V8 was made shorter and lighter and offered a 120 HP OHV V8 3 years ahead of the majors. Unfortunately, the government demanded production be cut in half because of the Korean War. This V8 Commander was quite the speedster for its time with its 3 speed manual with overdrive or a freshly developed 2 speed automatic. It offered both performance and economy winning the Mobil Economy Run with 26 mpg. Standard on the Commander was an electric wiper system that was vastly superior to the vacuum operated systems elsewhere available. Unable to recuperate the development costs because of government production restrictions, it marked the slow decline of cash strapped Studebaker that despite their innovative and cost saving designs, they went extinct by the early 1960s. This 1951 Commander model by Highway 61 is finished in Maui Blue.
10/07/2025 11:31 am
That straight-on view is absolute perfection.
10/07/2025 1:09 pm
This was a great choice for HW61 - a real surprise so many years ago. A must have replica for every '50's fan; this Stude was well done at the time and STILL presents very well today! Nice pics Rich. I've considered converting one to a convertible.... it wouldn't take much. 🤔 🤔
Topic starter
10/07/2025 2:20 pm
@chris If you feel inspired, go for it. Although I'm not sure if that would make the top ten in your list of potential projects.
Topic starter
10/07/2025 2:22 pm
@paul-rouffa First, the model must be 'perfection' and then, with any luck, I can photograph it as such.
10/07/2025 3:44 pm
What a great-looking Studebaker and superb Highway 61 1/18 diecast replica of it. I have this same color H61 Studebaker and I believe it was the first Highway 61 model I bought. It is a real favorite and I believe it's list price back in those days, was an expensive $49.99 ! 
11/07/2025 7:23 am
Fabulous pictures and writeup Rich. This model has always been a high light in my collection with its functional front fender vents. Love the bullet nosed 50 and 51 Studes.
11/07/2025 10:18 pm
It was considered rather expensive back then, but look at the amazing details in the photographs Rich took. It is all relative but basically the only real criteria is whether you like and enjoy it.
Steve Jacobs and Christopher Moroni reacted
12/07/2025 9:59 am
@100ford2003 Like Mike said, 23-25 years ago "$49.99" was considered a bit expensive. I remember contemplating paying that for a 1/18 Kyosho 1947 Tucker as I drooled over it at the hobby shop. I bought it but thought, "Wow, I'm in the big leagues now!" 😉 😉
Around that same time - give or take, I saw Autoart's Grand Wagoner for $68.99 and thought, "You gotta be kidding me, that's nuts!" ...but eventually bought that too.
Today of course, any "decent" 1/18, falls in the $115 - $220 range. "High-end" stuff is $220 - $25,000!" 😬 😬
- Remember Kay-Bee Toys red-slashed 1/18 models for $9.99 - $14.99? They used to have WALLS full of that stuff! 😉 😀
12/07/2025 10:04 am
90% of my model collection was almost "free". On the Sundays in Long Beach & at the LA County Fairgrounds when there were car swap meets they also had a "toy and collectibles" section. Randy offered me a chance to work for him. I was good at it..lol.. because of my passion for models. I'd help set up and break down everything. I was able to pick out the models I wanted and took them instead of cash. We both made out A-Ok.
Steve
michaeldetorrice and Christopher Moroni reacted
12/07/2025 10:11 am
@100ford2003 Like Mike said, 23-25 years ago "$49.99" was considered a bit expensive. I remember contemplating paying that for a 1/18 Kyosho 1947 Tucker as I drooled over it at the hobby shop. I bought it but thought, "Wow, I'm in the big leagues now!" 😉 😉
Around that same time - give or take, I saw Autoart's Grand Wagoner for $68.99 and thought, "You gotta be kidding me, that's nuts!" ...but eventually bought that too.
Today of course, any "decent" 1/18, falls in the $115 - $220 range. "High-end" stuff is $220 - $25,000!" 😬 😬
- Remember Kay-Bee Toys red-slashed 1/18 models for $9.99 - $14.99? They used to have WALLS full of that stuff! 😉 😀
Hell yes I remember KB. There were a few in SoCal but my favorite was their outlet store at the Citadel Outlets in Commerce. Be sure to read my reply to Mike. If I remember correctly Randy at wholesale would pay $30 or $35 maybe for that Jeep Grand wagoneer so there was quite a bit of leeway when we were selling at the swaps. And with Randy the more models you bought at one time the bigger your discount was. We were always packed especially at the LA county swap meet. Those are some of the best years that I've ever had. Randy was more of an antique book collector and seller how he got into selling model cars I don't exactly remember the story but he was very happy that I was there too assist him because I was such a darn good salesman.
Christopher Moroni reacted
12/07/2025 10:31 am
Never went into a KB store that I didn't come out with bags filled with model cars. That's when 18 scale was at it's peak in popularity.
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