1941-1942 Studebaker Commander and President Selected Specifications
The Commander and President marked a return to greatness for Studebaker, which had been in serious financial trouble in the 1930s. These models could have gone on to be very successful, if World War II hadn't halted auto production for four years. Here selected specifications for the 1941-1942 Studebaker Commander and President.
 The luxurious 1942 models were built with
comfort -- and ample passenger room -- in mind. |
1941 Studebaker Commander (119-inch wheelbase)
| Weight (lbs.)
|
Price (new)
|
Number built
|
|
| Custom Sedan Coupe
|
3,160
|
$990
|
2,350
|
| Custom Cruising Sedan
|
3,210
|
$1,010
|
14,901
|
| Custom Land Cruiser
|
3,230
|
$1,055
|
5,288
|
| Delux-Tone Cruising Sedan
|
3,225
|
$1,075
|
3,759
|
| Delux-Tone Land Cruiser
|
3,245
|
$1,120
|
4,428
|
| Skyway Sedan
Coupe |
3,200
|
$1,080
|
2,845
|
| Skyway Cruising Sedan
|
3,240
|
$1,100
|
3,924
|
| Skyway Land Cruiser
|
3,260
|
$1,130
|
4,582
|
| Total
|
42,077*
|
1941 Studebaker President (124.5-inch wheelbase)
| Weight (lbs.)
|
Price (new)
|
Number built
|
|
| Custom Cruising Sedan
|
3,450
|
$1,140
|
1,367
|
| Custom Land Cruiser
|
3,475
|
$1,185
|
903
|
| Delux-Tone Cruising Sedan
|
3,475
|
$1,205
|
923
|
| Delux-Tone Land Cruiser
|
3,500
|
$1,250
|
1,622
|
| Skyway Sedan Coupe
|
3,440
|
$1,210
|
477
|
| Skyway Cruising Sedan
|
3,500
|
$1,230
|
538
|
| Skyway Land Cruiser
|
3,520
|
$1,260
|
1,251
|
| Total
|
7,081*
|
1942 Studebaker Commander (119-inch wheelbase)
| Weight (lbs.)
|
Price (new)
|
Number built
|
|
| Custom Sedan Coupe
|
3,195
|
$1,025
|
1,207
|
| Custom Cruising Sedan
|
3,265
|
$1,045
|
3,003
|
| Custom Land Cruiser
|
3,290
|
$1,080
|
1,300
|
| Deluxstyle Sedan Coupe
|
3,210
|
$1,070
|
1,001
|
| Deluxstyle Criusing Sedan
|
3,280
|
$1,090
|
1,856
|
| Deluxstyle Land Cruiser
|
3,305
|
$1,125
|
1,404
|
| Skyway Sedan Coupe
|
3,240
|
$1,105
|
1,855
|
| Skyway Cruising Sedan
|
3,300
|
$1,125
|
3,202
|
| Skyway Land Cruiser
|
3,315
|
$1,160
|
2,704
|
| Total
|
17,532*
|
1942 Studebaker President (124.5-inch wheelbase)
| Weight (lbs.)
|
Price (new)
|
Number built
|
|
| Custom Sedan Coupe
|
3,440
|
$1,141
|
47
|
| Custom Cruising Sedan
|
3,485
|
$1,161
|
126
|
| Custom Land Cruiser
|
3,510
|
$1,196
|
84
|
| Deluxstyle Sedan Coupe
|
3,455
|
$1,186
|
89
|
| Deluxstyle Criusing Sedan
|
3,500
|
$1,206
|
286
|
| Deluxstyle Land Cruiser
|
3,515
|
$1,241
|
367
|
| Skyway Sedan Coupe
|
3,470
|
$1,221
|
469
|
| Skyway Cruising Sedan
|
3,540
|
$1,241
|
841
|
| Skyway Land Cruiser
|
3,540
|
$1,276
|
1,212
|
| Total
|
3,521* |
1941-42 Studebaker Commander and President: Selected Specifications
General
| Commander
|
President
|
|
| Wheelbase (inches)
|
119
|
124.5
|
| Overall length (inches)
|
205.75 (1941),
210.25 (1942) |
211.25 (1941),
215.75 (1942) |
| Overall height (inches)
|
67.5
|
68
|
| Tread, front/rear (inches)
|
58.25/60.31
|
58.13/60.31
|
| Ground clearance (inches)
|
7.83
|
7.83
|
| Fuel tank (gallons)
|
18
|
18
|
| Construction layout
|
front-engine, rear-wheel drive
|
front-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Type
|
body on frame
|
body on frame |
| Frame
|
double-drop steel with partial box-section side rails, straight X-member
|
double-drop steel with partial box-section side rails, straight X-member |
| Body material
|
steel
|
steel
|
Engine
| Commander
|
President
|
|
| Type
|
inline L-head six-cylinder
|
inline L-head eight-cylinder
|
| Material
|
cast-iron block and head
|
cast-iron block and head
|
| Bore and stroke (inches)
|
3.31x4.38
|
3.06x4.25
|
| Displacement (cubic inches)
|
226.2
|
250.4
|
| Horsepower @ rpm
|
96 @ 3,600
|
117 @ 3,800
|
| Torque @ rpm
|
176 @ 1,600
|
200 @ 2,400
|
| Compression ratio | 6.5:1
|
6.5:1
|
| Main bearings
|
4
|
9
|
| Carburetor
|
2-barrel Stromberg downdraft
|
2-barrel Stromberg downdraft |
| Valve lifters
|
mechanical
|
mechanical
|
| Electrical system
|
6-volt, positive ground
|
6-volt, positive ground
|
| Clutch type
|
single dry plate
|
single dry plate
|
| Clutch actuation
|
mechanical, foot pedal
|
mechanical, foot pedal
|
Driveline
| Commander
|
President
|
|
| Transmission
|
3-speed manual*, synchromesh on second and third gears, column-mounted shifter
|
3-speed manual*, synchromesh on second and third gears, column-mounted shifter |
| Differential
|
hypoid, semifloating with Hotchkiss drive
|
hypoid, semifloating with Hotchkiss drive |
| Final-drive ratio
|
4.55:1*
|
4.55:1*
|
* Standard. Transmission options included overdrive and, for 1942, Turbo-matic three-speed semiautomatic. The final-drive ratio with overdrive was 3.48:1.
Suspension
| Front
|
independent, planar, with transverse leaf spring enclosed
in grease-packed metal cover, Houdaille lever shock absorbers |
| Spring leaves
|
17 (Commander); 19 (President)
|
| Rear
|
solid axle, 8-leaf semielliptic springs enclosed in
grease-packed metal cover, Houdaille lever shock absorbers |
Steering and Brakes
| Commander
|
President
|
|
| Steering type
|
symmetrical direct-action linkage with variable-ratio gear
|
symmetrical direct-action linkage with variable-ratio gear |
| Ratio (feet)
|
25.5:1 to 33:1
|
25.5:1 to 33:1
|
| Turning circle
|
43
|
46.5
|
| Brake type
|
4-wheel hydraulic, cast-iron drums
|
4-wheel hydraulic, cast-iron drums |
| Drum diameter (inches)
|
11
|
11
|
| Total swept area (square inches)
|
150
|
169
|
Tires and Wheels
| Commander
|
President
|
|
| Tire size
|
6.25x16
|
7.00x16 (1941),
7.00x15 (1942) |
| Wheels
|
steel disc
|
steel disc
|
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