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Topic starter
28/12/2025 2:25 pm
Here's the result of two design engineers from North American Aviation when they decide to put their concepts on four wheels. It began with a slightly modified 1951 Studebaker V8 Commander chassis and fabricated this mostly fiberglass body and keeping the Starlight coupe 3 piece wraparound rear glazing. The bullet nose was cast over a wooden buck. It debuted in 1952, a year ahead of the Corvette and with its sporty 3 seat configuration attracted a lot of national attention. They briefly considered using a Cadillac V8 and going into limited production, but it never happened. It wound up on a used car lot and a collector traded a VW and a Crosley for it. It sat in that collector's 120 car collection until his death and when the collection was liquidated, it was bought by Don Lacer of Junction City, Kansas where it was fully restored and painted pink from the original gold. The 232 Studebaker V8 was relaced with a dual-quad Cadillac V8. It was made functional enough to be shown at auto shows and exhibitions that included a 3rd place finish at Pebble Beach.
Model by Esval:
28/12/2025 2:59 pm
Very cool. This model had been on my list for a while; I recently added it to my collection.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
28/12/2025 4:32 pm
I've been 'looking at it' for a while, as usual your pics have tipped me over to buy mode, thanks Rich
28/12/2025 5:13 pm
I have seen nothing quite like it. It does have a slight Studebaker touch still.
Geno reacted
28/12/2025 5:44 pm
A very unusual and cool-looking dreamcar ! The front has a bit of the GM showcar LeSabre about it.
28/12/2025 6:01 pm
Of all things, it made it into a Walmart commercial this year.
28/12/2025 8:44 pm
"Are those Lincoln taillights?"
As someone who once owned two 1954 Lincolns - which used the same taillights from '52-'54 - I can answer your question. "Yes." Not only did the Studebaker Manta Ray use Lincoln taillights, but it also featured a cut-down Lincoln steering wheel....... with bicycle handle-bar grips? 😬 😬
This post was modified 4 months ago by Christopher Moroni
28/12/2025 8:50 pm
@paul-rouffa Makes perfect sense.... didn't some parts of the Studebaker Manta Ray come from Walmart? 😲 🙄 😯
Topic starter
28/12/2025 10:20 pm
Topic starter
28/12/2025 10:25 pm
@chris A bit early for Walmart. Perhaps F. W. Woolworth's Five & Dime store. Actually the dash looks like off the shelf aircraft parts... which would make sense, I guess.
28/12/2025 10:29 pm
29/12/2025 9:00 am
Everyone was getting in on the act back in the early 1950s!
https://www.maronline.org.uk/zis-112-cyclops-a-soviet-sportscar/
29/12/2025 9:45 am
@karl Wow! I've never seen this before - who knew? Thanks for the info.; the fact there's a model of it is just as wild! Oh, those crazy Russians! 😜 😳 🤪
