This months feature is to help celebrate the introduction of pick-up trucks to the site. This month will showcase a year model of truck " 1958-59 Studebaker pick-up" I hope everyone enjoys it.

With the success of the Scotsman car, Studebaker officials believed that there could likewise be an untapped market for a low-priced, basic pickup truck as well. To serve this market, the basic pickup was given a restyling of its own, going back to the 1949-53 style of grille and front-end sheetmetal, with a few modifications. If the Scotsman car was austere, the truck was positively barren. Most trucks in the 1950's came standard with one taillamp, one sun visor, one windshield wiper, and one arm rest -- all on the driver's side. The Scotsman followed this philosophy with one exception: There was no arm rest. Such frugality would extend outside as well. Most trucks had little chrome in those years, but the Scotsman had none. Simple plaid decals with the Studebaker name graced the hood, dashboard and tailgate.

Stripping the basic truck to an even more basic level did allow Studebaker to advertise the lowest-priced pickup in the U.S.. in 1958; it cost less than $1,500 to drive home a standard Scotsman pickup. Although the general auto and truck market was down in 1958, Studebaker's little rig sold reasonably well; in fact, if it were not for the Scotsman pickups, Studebaker's truck division, which had a bad year, would have shown positively frightening results. The Scotsman truck, unlike its car namesake, would continue in 1959, exchanging its plaid decal nameplates for chromed "S" and "Studebaker" emblems. An inexpensive "Deluxe Equipment Group" enabled buyers to fit their Scotsman's with the same grille and front sheetmetal as the regular Studebaker trucks. Two new models were added as well, although these were comprised simply of additional engines from which to choose. Again, the pickups sold well, outselling the standard "Deluxe" line of trucks handily. As you can see from the picture's below  the deluxe truck was a much more dressed up truck than the Scotsman, the deluxe had a different grill, stainless trim and chrome insert in the hood as well as two tone paint.

The Scotsman was replaced for the 1960 model year by the Studebaker Champ pickup, which was based on the truck chassis with a cab derived from the contemporary Lark four-door sedan.

1958  Studebaker Transtar Deluxe

 

1958  Studebaker Transtar Deluxe

 

1958  Studebaker Transtar Deluxe-Dash

 

1958  Studebaker Transtar Deluxe-Engine
* note: engine is not in factory configuration.

 

 1958 Studebaker Scotsman ad.

 

1959 Studebaker Scotsman                               Matthew Burnette-owner

 

1959 Studebaker Scotsman                               Matthew Burnette-owner

 

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