1955 Studebaker President Speedster hardtop coupe, part of the 1955 Studebaker President Speedster line of collectible cars.
1955 Studebaker President Speedster hardtop coupe

The 1955 Studebaker President Speedster was Studebaker's first step toward the sporty car, and the forerunner to the memorable Hawks. The most expensive offering in this year's revived top-line President series, this two-door hardtop featured a special interior with quilted-pattern leather and vinyl upholstery and a full complement of white-on-black instruments set into a dash with a tooled-metal appliqué.

A high-performance rendition of the Studebaker small-block V-8, now bored out to 259.2 cid, was standard on the 1955 Studebaker President Speedster. The midyear Speedsters shared the heavy, more chrome-laden "fish-lip" front-end styling adopted for '55 across the line.

All Speedsters wore two or three-tone paint jobs in garish color combinations like the unforgettable "lemon and lime" (shown above).

Pluses of the 1955 Studebaker President Speedster:

  • Rarity
  • Historical interest
  • Excellent performance
  • A driver's cockpit
  • Equipment
  • Another Studebaker Milestone car

Minuses of the 1955 Studebaker President Speedster:

  • Retrograde facelift of the clean 1953-1954 Studebaker models
  • Significant rust problems
  • Oil leaks

Production of the 1955 Studebaker President Speedster:
2,215

Specifications of the 1955 Studebaker President Speedster:
Wheelbase, inches: 120.5
Length, inches: 204.4
Weight, pounds: 3,301
Price, new: $3,253

Engines for the 1955 Studebaker President Speedster:

TypeSize
Horsepower
Years
ohv V-8 259.2 cid
185 1955

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