This 1953 Studebaker Starlight Coupe is a one-of-a-kind custom with a killer paint job and expertly done custom interior. Built and engineered by a life long Studebaker enthusiast, this killer custom is ready to win shows, or to be a stand out on cruise nights.
The body of this awesome car is finished in two stage base/clear PPG paint. The hood, trunk, and doors have all been shaved and filled and the car now sports a modified grill that adds to the custom look. The only chrome left on the car is the wheels, creating an incredibly sleek look.
The interior of the Starlight coupe is equipped with the dash out of a Silver Hawk that has been outfitted with modern Digital Dakota gauges. The car features very comfortable 6 way power seats and a console that have been sourced from a 1990 Thunderbird. The center console houses a custom stereo head unit and the Billet Specialties Steering wheel is mounted on a Ididit column. The Studebaker is equipped with 3-point seatbelts for the driver and lap belts for the rear passengers.
The frame for the Starlight Coupe is a modified 1962 Hawk frame with custom fabricated front clip. The front suspension is a Mustang II style clip done by Heidts, and the rear end is leaf sprung. The car has an Air Ride Technologies system underneath, Pro Shocks and Chassis engineering sway bars, and sits on 18" Boyd Coddington Junkyard Dog Chrome wheels. The tires are 215/40-18’s on the front and 235/50-18’s on the rear.
Powering this amazing custom down the road is a 1962 Corvette 327 Corvette engine that was bored .30 over. It runs an 201/256 Iskedarian cam with springs and rockers by Comp Cams. The heads are Chevy 350 iron heads with GM Performance rods and pistons. To keep things in line with killer looking engine compartment, Billet Specialties valve covers were installed to match the looks of the custom fabricated fuel injection manifold. The headers are iron ram horns and have been smoothed out and coated. The engine is mounted to a TCI 700R4 transmission with a 2100 RPM stall converter and the rear end is a 9" Currie 3.25:1 unit.
If you are looking to win some shows and do it with something nobody else is going to have, this Studebaker is as over the top as it is unique.
