1926 to 1930

The second period started in 1926 with a line of commercial buses and continued until 1942.  Little is known, about this portion of the second period, from 1926 to 1930.  With the exception of one 1928 Erskine Panel Delivery we did not find any evidence of other survivors.  The period started in 1926 with the release of a series of intercity buses powered by the Big Six engine.  In June of 1927 the Arlington Funeral car and the Bellevue ambulances were released and we know a little about their selection and price by looking at a period ad which highlighted information about the National Funeral Directors convention of 1929 held in Cincinnati Ohio.  The ad we found has the “Studebaker National Museum’s logo and listed Studebaker’s offerings and prices for 1929.  Co-incidentally the bodies for these cars were manufactured by Superior Body Company of Lima, Ohio and marketed through Studebaker dealers.  In addition we know from numerous period photographs that a significant number of specialized vehicles hearses, ambulances, buses and delivery vehicles were sold, all using standard Studebaker six or eight car engines and specialized frames and suspension.  Note, that the Westminster Funeral cars and Samaritan Ambulances were powered by either the Commander eight or the President eight, while the Arlington Funeral car and Bellevue ambulances used either the Dictator six or the Commander six.  The ad from 1929 (left) listed DeLuxe Funeral and Ambulances on a 158 inch wheelbase and a Combination Sedan/Ambulance which were not listed in “Studebaker the Complete Story”, thus we don’t know if any of these models were actually produced as automotive advertising is notorious for listing things which actually never happened.  From Skip Lackie’s truck history, we know that it was not until the 1929 with the release of the GN truck series that a full line of commercial vehicles powered by the 68 horsepower Dictator six engine was made available.  This series ranged from Funeral/Ambulance to 2 Ton truck.