[Closed] BRK Studebaker Dictator

Looks good! My hat is off to BRK for doing a largely forgotten 1:1 with a most unpopular name (and I don't mean "Studebaker.")

Here's a favorite:
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And another version from another era:
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The Dictator name had nothing to do with Hitler, Mussolini, etc.

It tied in with a Studebaker slogan about dictating styling leadership or something of that sort.

Right, but by 1937, the name denoted something very different and was dropped!

Forgive an old retired history teacher, but here's the story in a nutshell. When in 1926 Studebaker first used the term "Dictator" for a series, The name was intended to connote that the model "dictated the standard" that other automobile makes would be obliged to follow. That agrees with Dick's viewpoint. The only political dictator known to many Americans was Italy's Mussolini, who was popular with tourists because he made the trains run on time. But with the rise of Hitler in the early and mid 30's, the popular viewpoint changed. Studebaker changed the Dictator models that were exported into Britain and several other countries into "Directors." And in 1937 the company dropped the Dictator term completely and revived the name "Commander" for the series.

Funny how a name can add luster to a car, and it seems the reverse can also happen. For instance, can most of us name a Stutz series other than the Bearcat? And then there was the Edsel . . .

My first car was a 1937 Dictator four door sedan which

I bought in 1953 for $25.00.

WoW!!!

How about these for other Stutz models, Black Hawk,

Monte Carlo, Biarritz, DV-32, and the DV-16 which is rumoured to be a future Neo release?

EDSEL top of line Citation & Corsair 2 Largest (Mercury) & 2 on Ford frame/body was Ranger, & Pacer