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Esval's '53 Studeba...
 
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[Closed] Esval's '53 Studebaker Manta Ray [PIC]

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Rich Sufficool
(@rich-sufficool)
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Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 17606
Topic starter  

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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(@jack-dodds)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 39685
 

Oh my....it looks like a 50 Stude that ingested too many growth hormones.



   
David Knight
(@david-knight)
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Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 6430
 

That car is pure gone, man, gone! And what a beautiful replica!


David Knight
Richmond, Virginia. USA


   
(@whodeytink)
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Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 8370
 

Too bizarre for me but it looks like Esval did a good job on it.



   
John Merritt
(@jcarnutz)
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Joined: 30 years ago
Posts: 18684
 

That is certainly different. I think I like it.


John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA


   
(@Don Anderson)
Joined: 1 second ago
Posts: 0
 

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.



   
Graeme Ogg
(@graeme-ogg)
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Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 4100
 

I think it was designed to turn heads, not corners.


Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.


   
Paul Rouffa
(@paul-rouffa)
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Joined: 30 years ago
Posts: 2160
 

Autocult makes a top-down version in gold. Wonder how they compare?



   
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