Giant 1931 Studebaker Convertible reduced to ashes:
Wild Flowers it stood on a prominent knoll along State Rte 2 at the Studebaker Proving Ground for six years.
The car had served its purpose admirably as a three dimensional advertising tool that had gained national and even international notoriety. By 1936 however it had become a bit outdated as a symbol of the forward looking company and the ravages of time had taken its toll on its wooden construction.
With only a small contingent of members of the Studebaker Fire company, some engineering department staff and a few members of Studebaker photographic looking on pretty 22-year old Miss Jessie Meyer (427 West Jefferson Blvd Mishawaka) used a swab to coat the car in a flammable liquid and then applied a torch to it.
It took but a few minutes for the car to be completely consumed by the flames and it burned to the ground. Fortunately two wheels and hub caps and the tail light were saved, the hub caps now being on display at the Studebaker National Museum. The two huge Firestone rubber tires that were saved were still at the PG until salvaged for the war effort in 1942.
Giant 1931 Studebaker Convertible reduced to ashes:
Wild Flowers it stood on a prominent knoll along State Rte 2 at the Studebaker Proving Ground for six years.
The car had served its purpose admirably as a three dimensional advertising tool that had gained national and even international notoriety. By 1936 however it had become a bit outdated as a symbol of the forward looking company and the ravages of time had taken its toll on its wooden construction.
With only a small contingent of members of the Studebaker Fire company, some engineering department staff and a few members of Studebaker photographic looking on pretty 22-year old Miss Jessie Meyer (427 West Jefferson Blvd Mishawaka) used a swab to coat the car in a flammable liquid and then applied a torch to it.
It took but a few minutes for the car to be completely consumed by the flames and it burned to the ground. Fortunately two wheels and hub caps and the tail light were saved, the hub caps now being on display at the Studebaker National Museum. The two huge Firestone rubber tires that were saved were still at the PG until salvaged for the war effort in 1942.