Stunning Studebakers: A Rolling Tribute To Innovation At The Savoy Automobile Museum

It’s easy to forget that America once had a vibrant array of independent automakers—companies that dared to dream beyond Detroit. Among them, Studebaker stood apart. Now, thanks to the Savoy Automobile Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, enthusiasts and curious visitors alike can experience the story of this uniquely American marque in the temporary exhibit Stunning Studebakers, on display through August 3, 2025.

The exhibit isn’t just a collection of beautifully preserved vehicles—it’s a walk through a century of innovation, resilience, and design evolution. The timeline begins with the 1927 Studebaker President Limousine, an opulent testament to the company’s early ambition to rival the best of Packard and Cadillac. It continues through wartime survival, mid-century experimentation, and culminates in the radical 1963 Avanti—a fiberglass-bodied GT car that looked like it had driven straight out of the Jet Age.

A Wagon Maker’s Dream

Before it was making aerodynamic coupes and family sedans, Studebaker was the largest wagon manufacturer in the world. Founded in 1852 by Henry and Clement Studebaker as a blacksmith and wagon shop, the company supplied the U.S. Army and pioneers heading westward. Unlike many of its 19th-century contemporaries, Studebaker managed the leap to motor vehicles, producing its first electric cars as early as 1902 before pivoting to gasoline engines in 1904.

The Savoy Automobile Museum features Studebaker models from all generations of the company.

Design-Forward and Underrated

By the 1930s, Studebaker had become a design-forward company, hiring industrial design legend Raymond Loewy—a move that would produce some of the brand’s most iconic shapes. Among those on display is the 1950 Studebaker Champion Convertible, featuring Loewy’s now-famous bullet-nose grille—a design so distinctive it split public opinion at the time but has aged into a classic.

The 1954 Commander Starliner Custom, on loan from Justin Cole, is a rare sight. Its low-slung profile and wraparound rear glass were ahead of their time. Nearby, the 1957 Golden Hawk blends performance and luxury with its supercharged V8 and sweeping tailfins, showing Studebaker’s bold attempt to carve out a space between the Thunderbird and the Corvette.

Savoy Automobile Museum: Americana, Preserved

Of particular interest to historians is the 1933 Studebaker Rockne Model 10, a car named after legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne. The vehicle was part of a failed attempt to create an entry-level sub-brand during the Great Depression, but it remains a symbol of Studebaker’s willingness to take risks.

Then there’s the Coupe Express pickup from 1937—a pre-war car-truck hybrid that predates the El Camino and Ranchero by decades. Styled like a sedan but with a usable truck bed, it’s a reminder that Studebaker was always a few steps ahead, even if the market wasn’t ready for it.

The Avanti: A Swan Song in Fiberglass

By the early 1960s, Studebaker was in trouble. Sales were slipping, competition was fierce, and the company was struggling to find its place in a rapidly changing market. The response was the Avanti—a car that still looks futuristic today. With its clean, grille-less nose, fastback rear, and advanced safety features, the 1963 Avanti represented Studebaker’s last, best hope to reinvent itself. It didn’t save the company, but it did leave behind a legacy that remains legendary in design circles.

More Than Just a Car Show

The Savoy Automobile Museum’s Stunning Studebakers exhibit isn’t just a lineup of steel and chrome; it’s an homage to a company that dared to innovate, even as the odds stacked against it. Thanks to generous loans from the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana, and private collectors, this exhibit brings rare and historically significant models together under one roof—many of which are seldom seen outside of Indiana.

Whether you’re an automotive historian, a design enthusiast, or someone who simply loves a good underdog story, the Savoy’s tribute to Studebaker is worth the trip. It’s a rare chance to see a slice of American ingenuity, preserved and proudly on display.

Visiting The Savoy Automobile Museum:

Stunning Studebakers
Savoy Automobile Museum – Cartersville, Georgia
Now through August 3, 2025
Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Visit savoymuseum.org for more info