Note that while all the early 1930 GL and FC sales brochures show cars with the polo cap, when production started the caps were not present. The car shown below has no polo cap, but does have the tie bar emblem which makes this car an FC and not a GL.
The 1930 GL Dictator’s started production in June of 1929 and finished in May of 1930. The GL and FC Dictator’s wheelbase is increased to 115 inches and the cars were much lower by virtue of the new double-drop frames. The drum emergency brake behind the transmission is removed in favor of a cable now attached to the same cross shaft that services the four wheel brakes. The GL engine is de-stroked from 4/1/2 inches to 4 1/8, however HP increased from 67 to 68. The GL would be the last Six Dictator model built until 1934. Tell’s for the 1930 GL and FC are hood louvers, seven sets of three each and the winged radiator cap is still present. The polo cap has disappeared, the headlight tie bar emblem was eliminated from the GL’s, and some early FC’s (then on the FC’s it was resumed).
The 1930 FC Dictator’s started production in May of 1929 and finished their run in August of 1930. Design changes for the GL and FC models have already been covered in the 1930 GL section above, with the exception of the new eight cylinder FC engine. This engine was an all new design patterned after the Commander’s eight, except with a shorter stroke. It has an almost identical displacement as the GL’s six and only made two more HP at 70. In general the FC’s cost about $200.00 more then a GL. All sources agree that the FC came in all the same body styles as the GL. The upper trim name has changed from “Royal” to “Regal”.
| 1930 Model GL Dictator | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Doors | Passenger | Price GL/FC |
| Brougham | 4 | 5 | $1,295.00/$1,395.00 |
| Business Coupe | 2 | 2 | $1,135.00/$1,235.00 |
| Club Sedan | 2 | 5 | $1,095.00/$1,195.00 |
| Regal Sedan | 4 | 5 | $1,295.00/$1,395.00 |
| Regal Tourer | 4 | 5 | $1,265.00/$1,385.00 |
| Sedan | 4 | 5 | $1,195.00/$1,285.00 |
| Sport Coupe | 2 | 4 | $1,195.00/$1,285.00 |
| Tourer | 4 | 5 | $1,145.00/$1,285.00 |
All the data in the chart above is from TCCD
GL models began production in June of 1929 and finished production May of 1930. Studebaker assigned 17,000 serial numbers to this model, TCCD listed total Dictator units built at 17,561. In addition to the models listed above SCAC listed a 2 Door 5 Passenger Regal Brougham.
FC models began production in June of 1929 and finished production in August of 1930. Studebaker started the new eight engine serial numbers at FC-1 & up and the body serial numbers at 2,120,001 & up. Both engine serial numbers and body serial numbers were reassigned for 1931 Dictator’s, thus we cannot calculate production from the assigned serial numbers for FC Dictators. TCCD put FC total production at 16,359. | |||
