Diego’s AutoHunter Picks

As the announcer for the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race, I’m familiar with Studebaker products since the Studebaker Drivers Club started to hit the event en masse over 20 years ago. As such, it’s nice to have an example of this South Bend brand for this week’s AutoHunter Picks.

And the others? A Ford, Chevy truck, and a Harley. Can it get any more American than that? Which one would you pick?

1973 Chevrolet K20 Custom Fleetside
If you look through this truck’s auction images, you can see how this vehicle was ordered by a servicemember through the General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation. Another document shows a Military Sales order form, and a third shows a different type of Military Sales Order form. The fourth form shows a Statement of Origin. This is all good stuff for a sales channel most of us know little about.

Sometimes these orders were for domestic pick-up, other times they were for export to a base. This 1973 Chevrolet K20 Custom Fleetside appears to be an honest truck with only one owner. Currently it has a Goodwrench 350 crate engine that replaced the original 350 four-barrel, so horsepower is likely better than stock. The four-speed is icing on the cake for this clean 4X4.

2010 Harley-Davidson Street Glide
I have been riding motorcycles for a year, and I was intent on riding a bike that was anything other than a Harley-Davidson. The way I see it, I cannot afford a Ferrari, so why not aspire to own the Ferrari of bikes? So, maybe a Ducati is in my future, but I’m quite content with Kawasaki while I do my best to learn how much riding is different from driving.

In another six months, I’ll have put more miles on my bike than the 4,308 that’s on this 2010 Harley-Davidson Street Glide. I’m surprised to learn that V-Twins are twin-cam V4s, as I have had the impression Harleys were antiquated. With dual saddle bags, dual front disc brakes, GPS, and a performance chip (really, they have those for motorcycles?), my interest is piqued by this bike from Wisconsin.

1940 Ford Deluxe Business Coupe
What is it with 1940 Fords anyway? They look so good, from the face they show to the world, to the double chevron taillights out back. I tend to gravitate more to the 1939s as I love those teardrop headlights, but sealed beams (per 1940 mandate) are safer for today’s driving conditions. And a Business Coupe? Nice proportions plus nifty jump seats give it novelty beyond most cars.

This 1940 Ford Deluxe Business Coupe features a 221 “Flathead” V8 with a three-speed manual on the column, so no surprise here. The generator has been updated to an alternator, which is attractive to those who want to drive it on the street instead of staring at it in the garage. Edelbrock finned aluminum heads give the Blue Oval underhood style. Magnifico!

1960 Studebaker Lark VIII Wagon
For the longest time, I did not understand the Studebaker Lark VI and VIII. What’s with this Roman numeral stuff? And then it clicked – this was the number of cylinders! Complicated or clever and different? After all, none of the Detroit compacts that debuted for 1960 offered a V8, so the Stude (along with Rambler) was a standout.

This 1960 Studebaker Lark VIII two-door wagon is a fine example how the Indiana brand was surviving in a Big Three world. This one originally came with a 259 V8 but now is powered by a bored-over 350 small-block backed by a 700R4 four-speed automatic. The cabin has been furnished with updated seats and fabric so your sore body won’t have to worry about cruising in discomfort.