A radical departure from Detroit’s usual bulbous post-war iron, the 1953 Studebaker Commander Starliner hardtop coupe is a low-slung European-inspired masterpiece that rewrote American automotive design.
The Muscle: Powered by Studebaker’s compact and surprisingly tough 232 ci overhead-valve V8, churning out 120 hp through a 2-barrel carb, paired with either a 3-speed manual (with optional overdrive) or the smooth-shifting Automatic Drive transmission.
The Look: Designed under Robert Bourke and Raymond Loewy, featuring a ultra-low, streamlined stance with pillarless hardtop styling, a sloped nose, minimalistic chrome grilles, and sleek rear quarter panels that looked decades ahead of its competition.
