In the fall of 1930 Studebaker would release it’s first real truck line the S-series trucks, for the 1931 model year. This series starts with the Dictator passenger car based S-1 ½ ton and included larger trucks from 1 ½ ton to 3 ton models. The S-series seems to have started in 1930 with the release of the 1 ½ ton model “S” and continued through the 1933 model year, including the S-100, S-101, S-102 Funeral/Ambulances, the S-1 ½-ton delivery, the S-2 1-½ ton truck, S-111 & S-116 delivery, S-4 1 3/4-ton truck, S-6 2-ton truck, and the S-8 3-ton truck. The S-4 through S-8 production overlaps the later 1934 “T” truck series. A total of 7,538 S-series trucks were built between August 1930 and March 1934. The majority were built in South Bend, but a small number were built in Walkersville, Ontario CA in 1931 and 1932.
Side Bar:
I have been unable to find prices for any of the S Series Studebaker trucks, but I did find a period advertisement from 1931 which listed prices for 1 ½-ton chassis, 130 inch wheel base at $695.00 and 160 inch wheel base at $775.00. It appears these were standard as single rear wheels as the ad stated “Duel rear wheels and auxiliary springs optional at extra cost.” That same ad listed prices for the 2-ton chassis, 136 inch wheel base at $945.00, 148 inch wheel base at $895.00 and 160 inch wheel base at $945.00. The 2-ton chassis had duel rear wheels standard, but “auxiliary springs optional at extra cost.” The ad further states that cabs and standard bodies, including panel, screen, express, stake, canopy, grain, cattle and dumps were available (at extra cost but not specified.) Bumpers were also an extra cost item.
In addition the ad did price a complete ½ ton Panel or Screen at $895.001.
Year | Model | Model Description | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1931 | S-100 | Funeral/Ambulance Car 154wb | Car | ? |
1932 | S-101 | Funeral/Ambulance Car 152wb | Car | ? |
1933 | S-102 | Funeral/Ambulance Car 152wb | Car | ? |
1930/1931 | S | 1 ½ / 2-ton Truck 130/136/148/160wb | Truck | ? |
1931 | S-1 | ½-ton Delivery (Panel or Screen) 114wb | Delivery | $895.001 |
1932/1934 | S-2 | 1 ½-ton Truck 130/141/165wb | Truck | ? |
1932 | S-111 | Delivery ?wb | Delivery | ? |
1932 | S-116 | Delivery ?wb | Delivery | ? |
1932/1934 | S-4 | 1 3/4-ton Truck 130/141/165wb | Truck | ? |
1932/1934 | S-6 | 2-Ton Truck 130/141/165wb | Truck | ? |
1932/1934 | S-8 | 3-ton Truck 130/141/165wb | Truck | ? |
Model S-2 includes S-21 and S-31 Model S-6 includes S41, S-51 and S-61 Model S-8 includes S-120, S-30, S-140 and S-150 | ||||
Source: Most of the information in the above section comes from “Studebaker the Complete Story” by William A. Cannon and Fred K. Fox, Skip Lackie “Studebaker Truck History.”
Tells for S-Series Trucks: This badge (left) began to appear on the sides of the truck hoods from maybe late 1930, but for sure in 1931. It’s use seems to coincide with the introduction of the S-series trucks, but lasted until the introduction of the 1T&W-series trucks of 1935 which would used the winged badges. (circa 1931 to 1935)
These two badges replaced the former “Studebaker Wheel” front radiator shell badge used prior to the 1930 introduction of S-series trucks. The lower badge was used on export trucks as it has the “MADE IN U.S.A.” label at the top. Early in 1930 these badges were only applied to the larger trucks. Later all trucks would have these badge through 1931.
This badge was the same length, but roughly 1/2 as high as the former badges above. We are sure there was an equivalent “MADE IN U.S.A.” labeled badge for export, but we could not find a photo of it. Studebaker began using the narrow badge some time in 1932 and most likely it was used until the end of the S-series truck production in March of 1934.