Today on what it’s like… confession this is my favorite truck of all time. Studebaker J5 express aka coupe express, technically not a real truck, but just gorgeous Enjoy =)
Thanks for what you do. I'm 63 years old and thoroughly enjoy watching your shows. Nice to see a younger person with so much passion for historic motor cars.
Thank you so much =) This is all I ever wanted to do and having the opportunity to do it is incredible. I remember somebody asking me 10 years ago. What is my dream job and I told them automotive journalist but I would want to do it with Classic Cars and their follow up question was why are you at this job and it was because I couldn’t make it work then… youtube was around but wasn’t tech savvy
37 Studebaker coupe express 48 Hudson Big Boy IMO The front grille treatment on all three years are very reminiscent of Ford's designs during the 30s. While all three look nice. I like the 37 the best. As you know Jay from my past comments, I've always been a fan of Studebakers. With my grandfather owning a 28 and also my uncle owning a Hawk. That one's a real beauty and I love that color.
For WYR, it’s both the ‘37 and ‘39 Studebaker, and the Terraplane because of that interesting grille. Have to say, it’s a great so-called truck. Great color. Kind of elegant-looking to be utilitarian. Especially how that grille tapers to the back. Is it safe to say this is sort of an equivalent to ‘59 Chevy El Camino?
I failed to mention the 38 had two versions of headlight. There was the round lights, and then there was the one Studebaker made that are weird shaped. Sweet choice
Awesome choices I’ve never seen either 38 or 39 in the wind ive reviewed hudson big boy that’s close 2nd to this truck because one could get 3/4 ton.. both these trucks look different in the wild.. Hudson big boy is also on the short truck list
Before the Ranchero and El Camino. In the early 70's I built a huge Loafing Shed/building for a dairy farm in Washington State and besides the huge timber framed 1880's 3-story barn on the farm, they had a 37' Studebaker Express Coupe still in service. I have been looking for one ever since, but that was the only one I have ever seen in the past 50-years. Hudson had a similar model.
Beautiful trucks!!! Beau-ti-ful😁………. Not a nary one, that's a homely pickup. Can't tell you're from, the Midwest (and of British descent, probably). Key words/wording; 'Gander', 'Shoot' (as in, expression), 'Toot-a-loo'. And, speaking of this………. You should of let your daughter, say some toot-a-loo's, in the very near future. One thing; who laughed like 'Muttly Dog' (the cartoon legend), at the very end🤭⁉️
14K for a pickup in 2024? Can you imagine the run on them? They couldn't build them fast enuff! I absolutely love how the pointed grille swoops up into the hoodline... that is so beautifully executed! I would love to see a review of a '37 car. Beautiful lines! The window/vent window design is very interesting. Although it was power, it reminds me of the Lincoln power vent window design from the mid-70's onward. The dash is a thing of simple beauty. But what the hell is that radio??? Never saw anything like that before! This has got to be one of my all time favorite designs from this era... '38/'39, not so much 🙂 WYR: 1) '37!!!! 2) '37 Studebaker!
All cars were similar to trucks: front engine, rear wheel drive, high ground clearance, body on frame, engine separate from fenders, fenders hold the head lights, suspension based on leaf springs. The only one difference between cars and trucks is maybe frame, engine strength, otherwise to me all the cars from the brass era untill Hudson brought a unibody car in 1952 are cars based on truck structure. All cars during brass era are horseless carriages as their historic plates says. One can see the heritage of vehicles built from 1920 until 1959 into all commercial trucks in North America especially 18 wheelers and above.
Beg to differ. That IS a real truck. If a Ford Ranchero can be a truck, this one can too. Nice resto job on this unit and the gauges look awesome. Too bad they went with white walls, tho. Would love to drive a Dictator, btw. 😎 WYR 1. '39 2. '36 Stude
Don't need more time as the '37 Studdie stands way out front / 2nd scenario i would take the Terraplane except for the truck bed, so '36 Studdie is my 2nd round winner, let us know when that day arrives J, that you become the caretaker of a '37 Studdie. . . :>/
Ford Australia in 1934 built what was called the coupe utility which was a 1934 ford sedan front cab with the tray moulded into the cab . The cab and tray were 1 piece . This is said to be the first production vehicle of this type . In Australia we just call then utes .
Yikes! Those headlights are so close together! If your going to be driving that thing at night better expect people are going to be pulling out in front of you, thinking your farther away.
I myself like the 38 and 39 styling better. The 38 Studebaker seems to have round headlights only on the cheaper models. The expensive models have a non-round light, which looks amazing, but I suspect that less light was produced.
Those non-round, kinda rectangular headlamps were a thing with Studes, Plymouths and a few other makes in the late 30's as well as wedge/jewel-shaped ones from Ford & Lincoln in the same era. Then came Washington DC interfering with our lives and mandating only round sealed beams for 1940 & beyond for the next 36 model years.
On the whole I think the shift to sealed beam lights was a good move - they just worked enormously better than what had gone before. But yes, the stylists had things less their own way. In terms of wacky headlights, 39 Dodge and Plymouth we've seen on your shows, and we've now mentioned 38 Studes. I hope you can find the remaining zenith of wacky headlights sometime - the 38 Graham and the 39 Willys.
Don't know what happened but I didn't get the last 3 notifications. I reset that and hope it works now. I totally agree with Jay- this truck (or "Ute" as the Aussies call them) is beautiful in every way. The art-deco styling influence shows in the details including the thin bumperettes. The slim curved laid-back grille looks better than upright ones, and I love how the grille bars sweep over the fenders back to the cab with the sharp thin point of the visual hood deck blending right in. The covered sidemount is a nice touch with the baby moon/ beauty ring wheel trim perfect. Even as nice as the 39 looks for it's year, the 37 just outclasses them all. The only downside I can see is that maintaining the distributor points looks like something only a gymnast could do and I'm too old to flex like that anymore. So WYR one is clinched with this 37 Coupe Express. It would have taken the second round but since I already have one from the first choice, I'll have the 48 Hudson Big Boy to go along with it. Choosing which one to drive each day would be tough! The Terraplanes are neat in their own way but a funky in styling though not in a bad way. Like the Aussies I'm a huge fan of Utes for light-duty truck use which is all that most people need and I do wish they'd come back to the US market again.
There was a guy that used to go to Hershey that had a Hudson Ute. He wasn’t there last year. I was really hoping to cover that I haven’t seen one before or since… Thank you so much for sharing all the information and insight. Great choices.
Studebaker had some very unique vehicles and this is certainly one of them. In my dreams several of the minor car builders would still be in business. Thanks for featuring the Coupe Express.
I think it’s funny that Studebaker made the most gorgeous truck of all times and they also made the most hideous truck of all times just a few years later..
These go for good money when they come up for sale.. Hudson big boys go for big money too That’s why I was super shocked to see one at that affordable of a price generally in that condition people want like 15-20 grand
37 ! 38 Dash, one of the coolest "trucks" and it and the Terreplane/Hudson rarely get remembered or mentioned. 37 Coupe Express 37 Terreplane oh wow, song way too easy and I was way too slow...
Cool vehicle. That was an unbelievable price. You can't even get a Chinese POC for $13,943 these days unless it's one of those stupid toy things. I'd choose the 1937 Studebaker Coupe Express and the 1934 Terraplane Pickup.
I totally agree that’s one of the major reasons why I chose to buy a 52 Chevy truck. They don’t make trucks anymore so many people get mad when I say that but they don’t they make overpriced lifted car like vehicles that resemble trucks but they’re not really trucks… I forgot to mention the payload capacity of the Studebaker express was 1000 pounds payload
wyr 1937 wyr 1936 Stude I agree with you ,these are absolutely fantastic. This I would really like to own. Such style they look like they were done by Chip Foose. Thx Jay
I think I saw a warning in the 1939 Studebaker owner's manual about putting overwattage bulbs in the headlights and/or playing games/chicken with high beaming oncoming traffic or deliberately aiming the headlights improperly and mentioning that authorities of the day were considering further restrictions on the candlepower/wattage allowed for the headlight in view of the public agitation over the aggressive headlight "wars" that were apparently going on at the time -- things come around again -- the current controversy over the blinding new tech headlights and aftermarket conversions to LED lighting that don't conform to legal standards I did try a Sylvania LED backup light bulb but it makes less light than the OEM plain lightbulb ! (I think backup lights should provide some useful illumination for the driver to see where they are going rather than just providing an indication to other drivers that the vehicle is backing/preparing to back)
Sweet choices I totally want to own one of these one day it’s on the shortlist of trucks that I would love to own but there’s other cars that I would love to have before this truck Chrysler air flows pretty high up on the list
Sweet choices great write in that’s one I’d love to find super tall order it’s like trying to find a stock Henry J or stock 1940 Willy’s car that is real and not a hot rod..
Thanks once again jay for sharing another great video, I agree with you on the 37 it is the best looking of the bunch both inside and out. I’ve loved vehicles all my life and truly look forward for your videos. I’m a retired truck driver (teamster) as I said I love vehicles and your channel lets me enjoy a wide variety have you heard of the lemay auto museum in Tacoma Washington ? I think you would enjoy it and it would be well worth the trip for you
That museum is it the one that has like 3500 cars I just found out about it. I would love to go there. I’ve never been to Washington state I’ve only been to the West Coast one time I was 16 years old. I really want to go but I don’t think it’s going to be this year. Some things that I’m really planning on doing this year I would love to go to motor Munster up in the Greenfield Village in the summer There is a Hudson national meet in Erie Pennsylvania. Definitely going to that. I want to go to the Auburn cord and Dusenberg shindig in August I’m going to try to go to Rhode Island in June there is an event up there Definitely going back to the Greenfield Village for the old car show in September Hershey in October As well as I’m sure they’ll be local shows peppered in there This truck is my favorite truck of all time there usually a guy at Hershey that has one but he wasn’t there last year. It was Brandon pretty good in the morning so I don’t fault him for not going. I made these episodes because I think there’s people out there like me that wants to buy stuff like this. Don’t get me wrong. I love museums but a lot of times the museums just have the car shown and they never leave. Gilmore and Canton they drive all of their stuff which I really admire
That’s a really beautiful pickup truck Jay! I can’t get over how inexpensive it was and you don’t realize it until adjusted for inflation. Keep up the great job with your videos!
I use this calculator.. the inflation we are dealing with hasn’t caught up yet I total agree, could say so much more but lol www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1937?amount=5
Good Morning Jay! Sign me up too, buddy! I would probably buy TWO at that price! Shows the complete lack of value in modern autos and trucks!! Most companies would want at LEAST 30k for a stripper version!! I am not going to diaagree that this is probably the best looking truck ever! WYR#1 EASILY 1937 Coupe Express! #2 is one that I would like all of them! I admire the Hudson/Terraplane vehicles very much also. We'll go with the Truck with fender skirts! 1934 TERRAPLANE!
Automotive companies sell trucks for ridiculous prices because they know that people buy those trucks at ridiculous prices.. The price will only come down if people stop by, but it takes everybody. Consumer has a lot to do with prices… But it is very sickening. How much things cost now versus how things were back then we don’t need inflation we need deflation and it sucks. He’ll never go back to the way that it was. Great choices
But Jay, Ford was the first to the Car-Based Truck market in 1925! They had their One Ton Truck since 1917, but farmers were still buying the regular 5-passenger touring cars, and cutting off the backseat to affix their own beds. Finally, in 1925, Ford introduced the "Roadster Pickup", which rode on the exact same chassis as the regular Model T, making it the first "Car-Based" Pickup Truck. It was basically just a standard Model T Runabout, but with a bed instead of a trunk between the rear fenders! I feel like not enough people know about this historical factoid. 😅
I guess that could be considered the first the beds are tiny on those ( might be able to get two cases of beer in back) no fender skirts the roadster trucks are super cool though
@@What.its.like. I mean, if I lived in 1925, I'd probably be ecstatic to have two cases of beer; what with Prohibition and all -- heck, I'd be ecstatic to have two cases of beer right now 😆 Jokes aside, it was popular enough for Ford to continue producing pickups! And, as always, great video!! Your stuff is always enjoyable to watch 😊
Have I got an interesting car you probably never heard of, but it may be a little new for you!? Have you ever heard of the Tropica EV built by Renaissance Car in 1995; or its successor the Z1 [for Zebra] by Xebra Motors? If you were a fan of the Nash Bridges TV series, Catlyn Cross [the female detective played by Yasmine Bleeth] Drove the powder blue (to match her eyes) Z1 in the 4th and 5th season.
@@What.its.like. 16 Tropica's were completed with two additional almost completed that have since been finished. Not counting the two crash test cars and the one prototype. There are also three Frame only with no body panels. Making a total of 24. You can find some information here .. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Tropica
The 1937 (J5) may be the best looking, but the 1938 (K5) and the 1939 (L5) had more leg room in the cab for comfort! Also, that switch under the clutch pedal is not for high beams, it is a Studebaker safety feature, the starter switch which only works when you depress the clutch all the way. Always out of gear when started.
I want one lol… but there is a car that I want more a Chrysler airflow but after being in a desoto one I’ll take which ever 36-37 is my favorite period of Design love those they are just so different
I was hoping to see him last year, but he didn’t go. It was raining pretty good and then it cleared up. It was like it never rained at all you know. Typical Pennsylvania weather.
I agree the '37 model was the best looking of the bunch. The '38 isn't bad either. WYR for me would be the '37 in the first one and Studebaker in the second. Overall this is your best video so far. Well done.
Thank you so much glad you dig this episode. I can’t wait to see where we’re going to be at by the end of the year keep improving with each one it seems.
Was Ford a year early compared to Dodge and Studebaker at fairing the headlight space inside of the fender? Also two styles of headlight placement on different Ford models of the same year? those headlights I believe had replaceable bulbs inside similar to how most cars are today instead of the "sealed beam" that appeared sometime well before 1950 and persisted at least in most vehicles into the 1980s modern cars' plastic headlights are horrible -- would rather have the sealed beam or at least a proper glass lens
I totally agree with the comment about headlights being horrible now I’ve never seen lights like that on classic cars they don’t get that bad As far as your Ford comment, I will have to look
@@What.its.like. The good old days headlight lenses of course were glass -- the modern plastic is what appears to turn into chalk after a few years -- of course the glass can get broken by a rock but otherwise essentially lasts forever without degrading -- you would think that the plastic could be replaced cheaply but no -- replacements cost hundreds of $ although there are "headlight restoration kits" from such as Sylvania which I plan to try
@@What.its.like. a low budget Hudson channel YT just bought one in the deep south that looks like absolute Swiss cheese (Howard Hudson) channel. I say good luck in restoring that, a herculean task. Vintage Airstream owners will pay anything for a Hudson truck. You would flip your lid at a Texan Vintage Airstream show people make a Hollywood movie set setting arround each trailer for a period correct look.
