tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post6651609342408479455..comments2024-03-07T08:20:06.839-08:00Comments on Along For The Ride: The Mercedes-Studebaker connection...John Straubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10841429963939217535noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-40927685585028536842018-12-26T14:19:52.954-08:002018-12-26T14:19:52.954-08:00Thanks, Frank!
JohnThanks, Frank!<br /><br />JohnJohn Straubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10841429963939217535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-20884630055046059272018-12-26T11:15:27.123-08:002018-12-26T11:15:27.123-08:00John: This history has always fascinated me, and I...John: This history has always fascinated me, and I recall seeing it in a local dealership in about 1960. Did you know that Karl Kiekhafer--of Mercury outboard and Chrysler 300 NASCAR racing--tried to become the US distributor for Mercedes-Benz? If you can find his book, Iron Fist, it's a great read.Frank Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06278792724983242426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-69361847960359616072017-01-11T20:23:21.822-08:002017-01-11T20:23:21.822-08:00I drove a Lark for a couple of months while keepin...I drove a Lark for a couple of months while keeping it for a friend. I was so impressed with the handling. Years later I chance to drive a friends Mercedes sedan. I was amazed at how similar the two cars were.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-57722807931798665022016-09-21T11:48:59.914-07:002016-09-21T11:48:59.914-07:00Early on in the Studebaker - Mercedes relationship...Early on in the Studebaker - Mercedes relationship, Studebaker workers were sent to Germany to instruct assembly people (presumably assembly line folks) on what to do to make their cars suitable for the American market. My guess they didn't have to worry about the high end models, but concentrated this effort on the 190 series and such. I have always thought this was rather humorous since Studebaker bodies were not known for their quality coming from the factory. I say this as an owner of two Studebakers.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16083931958731678375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-53749139927707378452014-09-07T19:57:01.137-07:002014-09-07T19:57:01.137-07:00Yes, based on Hawk dimensions, it was a very attra...Yes, based on Hawk dimensions, it was a very attractive car. Today Studebaker of South Bend could easily produce such a Mercedes, but in the 50's Mercedes protected its turf to the death. Too bad Studebaker ( and Packard ) did not pay closer attention while in this with Mercedes. Mercedes has mixed it up with Chrysler as well, and left them for dead. Thankfully there was Fiat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-63366424970120514802013-06-24T20:57:58.374-07:002013-06-24T20:57:58.374-07:00I saw an article with pictures about 15-20 years a...I saw an article with pictures about 15-20 years ago about a Mercedes SL looking prototype that Studebaker had made from a Hawk. It was done by some Mattel toy designer, Bob something(?), on the QT unofficially commissioned by Studebaker. Two of them, actually. When Mercedes found out, they warned Studebaker to cease and desist. They survive today somewhere in California, in the hands of the dead designer's family, last I know. I can't find any reference on line of this.Don Evanchicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-26503656252788794062013-04-26T19:08:18.073-07:002013-04-26T19:08:18.073-07:00Kenneth, that's very cool info!Kenneth, that's very cool info!<br />John Straubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10841429963939217535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-52389976957865867082013-04-26T17:04:00.392-07:002013-04-26T17:04:00.392-07:00The picture of the 2 men in the showroom are my Fa...The picture of the 2 men in the showroom are my Father & Grandfather. The photo was taken by the local paper, to showcase them now selling Mercedes-Benz.<br /><br />My father, Gilbert R. Jones is behind the wheel of a new 190SL, which was a lot cheaper than a 300SL. However, they did sell both models. The dealership was my Grandfather's, Stewart I. Jones. Stewart Jones Motors was located @ 925-5th Ave No. St. Petersburg Fl.<br /><br />It is true Studebaker started them selling Mercedes. Both lines sold well and the City seemed to able to support high-end models, within the brands. They sold a bunch of Studebaker Golden Hawks too. For being a 'Ma & Pa' organization, they were quite successful.<br /><br />My Grandfather retired & sold the business in 1973. They still were a Mercedes Dealer, at the time of the sale. They sold Studebakers until their production ceased in 1966. So Mercedes bought them more time, than had they just been a Studebaker Dealer.<br /><br />FYI: The building no longer stands, as it burned to the ground in the late 70's.<br /><br />Kenneth S. Jonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-69053612788092250962013-03-23T15:33:23.296-07:002013-03-23T15:33:23.296-07:00That's cool Hugo. I've never seen that one...That's cool Hugo. I've never seen that one.John Straubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10841429963939217535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-81071281671657432702013-03-23T15:26:59.318-07:002013-03-23T15:26:59.318-07:00Here is another in Ann Arbor, Michigan:
http://ww...Here is another in Ann Arbor, Michigan:<br /><br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/70251312@N00/8250507441/Hugo90http://www.flickr.com/photos/hugo90/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-78701083193744749852013-03-20T10:06:21.178-07:002013-03-20T10:06:21.178-07:00Thanks Bob...Thanks Bob...John Straubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10841429963939217535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-36168737152040333002013-03-20T10:05:59.126-07:002013-03-20T10:05:59.126-07:00You got that right John...
You got that right John...<br />John Straubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10841429963939217535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-66029894329896367692013-03-20T09:21:27.354-07:002013-03-20T09:21:27.354-07:00John go to link below, the money from this project...John go to link below, the money from this project helped Porsche a lot financially a the time:<br /><br />http://www.studebaker-info.org/studeporsche/stude-porsche08.htmlBobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13338669129699431279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-58792525551803182482013-03-20T08:14:16.240-07:002013-03-20T08:14:16.240-07:00John,
the photos of the ladies in house dresses w...John,<br /><br />the photos of the ladies in house dresses working on 300 SLs sre priceless.<br /><br />Not only are these shots a real testimonial to the work ethic of the German people ( those scenes after all depict life in devastated post-war Germany ) but they also put the lie to a lot of the mythical and highly emotional BS one reads so often about the superiority of fabled German quality............one did what was necessary to survive and moved on.<br /><br />Thanks for this very entertaining blog.<br /><br />JZGJohn Z. Goriupnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703163705690654281.post-14792533646471328692013-03-20T06:45:21.894-07:002013-03-20T06:45:21.894-07:00I got confused again. That Lark Wagon sure looks a...I got confused again. That Lark Wagon sure looks a lot like that hideous Bentley SUV that they showed last year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com