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Esval's '53 Studebaker Manta Ray [PIC]
I gather this wasn't an actual Studebaker concept car but was rather built by two guys from Whittier, California on a '51 Commander chassis. So call it a custom Commander.
This fiberglass bodied custom took the Studebaker "Bullet Nose" styling cue to absurdity. It also got on the period bandwagon that promoted pink as manly with three shades of that color employed. Only one was ever built so this is a most curious image choice for Esval.
500 of this top up model will be made. There's a numbered certificate enclosed that also has a pictorial write up on the 1:1.
BTW: the two fender scripts, if you can't read them, read "Custom Built", showing a real flair for the obvious. I was expecting it to read "Manta Ray", but macro revealed the unexpected.
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Oh my....it looks like a 50 Stude that ingested too many growth hormones.
That car is pure gone, man, gone! And what a beautiful replica!
David Knight
Richmond, Virginia. USA
Too bizarre for me but it looks like Esval did a good job on it.
That is certainly different. I think I like it.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
What I do like are the Lincoln tail lights, while I also wonder how big is the turning radius with no room for the front wheels behind all of that sheet metal? Or maybe it has a very narrow track. In a Flash Gordon movie this could be Dale Arden's personal land transportation back on earth.
I think it was designed to turn heads, not corners.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
Autocult makes a top-down version in gold. Wonder how they compare?