One of the better aspects of having fun on the job is spending time with the owners of the cars and trucks we shoot while learning the story and the history behind them. Such was the case with this ’50 Studebaker. 

While attending the Goodguys Nashville Nationals, we happened upon this stunning Studebaker. Its owner, Jeff Wingo, informed us that during his high school years this same Studebaker served as his daily driver, providing him a ride to and from school and around town. Now a fast-paced computer consultant, Wingo travels around the world, which has allowed him a better lifestyle compared to his teen years. He also has two young sons, Grant and Jack, who love their dad’s cool truck. Let’s rewind to the summer of 2000, when Wingo made the decision to resurrect the tired and worn pickup. 

Because Wingo travels around the globe he doesn’t have much opportunity to work on the classic truck— at least, as much as he would like. After a brief discussion with Greg Stalmeyer of GS Customs in Seymour, Illinois, and Joe Kern of Custom Fab & Welding, the decision to build the classic truck was made. While Wingo was traveling in style, the crew of GS began the long journey to resurrect the classic hauler into an award-winning truck.

Once Wingo delivered the truck to the expert builders at GS Customs, the teardown began. Since there are not too many aftermarket bolt-on or weld-in suspensions available for early Studebakers, it was decided that a new frame was the only way to go.  Custom Fab & Welding’s Kern began by scratch building a complete, 2×3, fully boxed frame that implemented an ’84 Corvette C4 IFS with all-new drilled rotors and Air Ride Technologies ShockWaves. The C4 also donated its IRS with 3.45 gears and Air Ride ShockWaves. This trick combination gives the Studebaker amazing handling capabilities as well as a great ride. Thanks to the Air Ride equipment, the Studebaker is now able to tuck Boyd Coddington 17×8 and 18×9 Smoothies into the vintage fenders.

Since Wingo had driven the Stude all those years with the original 102hp Flathead six, he decided it was time to retire the old engine and fit the Stude with a new crate V-8. Wingo and the crew researched all their options and finally settled on the ever-popular Ram Jet 350 from GM Performance Parts. The Ram Jet is based on the standard 350 with the exception of the trick FI system, which delivers crisp throttle response, power and reliability. This was exactly what Wingo was looking for. Since the Ram Jet came fresh from a box the internals were never touched, and for good reason: It features Vortec heads, a hydraulic roller cam and aluminum roller rockers. These parts help produce an estimated 350 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, a far cry from the original Flathead.

Since GM ships the Ram Jet looking much like an OE engine, new custom polished aluminum Street & Performance valve covers wearing the Studebaker name and a custom engine cover were made for this truck. These not only add a bit of bling beneath the hood, but also they add the perfect custom touch to this beautiful hauler. Polished brackets, pulleys and accessories were fitted to help dress up the copper engine compartment. Transferring the power to the rear wheels is a TCI 700R4 trans with trans cooler and the ever-popular and smooth-operating Lokar shifter.

The body required some serious attention and could not simply be replaced by building a new one.  Wingo had driven this car a lot before it was placed in storage for 20 years, and GS Customs knew that this would not be an overnight miracle. Stalmeyer tore the truck down to its basic parts and began the transformation. The most noticeable difference is the addition of the Jeep Liberty headlights. They look great and provide the perfect modern design to the ’50 Stude. The hood was removed, radiused and reshaped, and GS took one look at the front bumper and knew it needed a much smoother specimen. A ’92 Chevy pickup bumper received minor sectioning and small oval lights before being bolted onto the truck. 

Since the Studebaker hood appeared to be a bit high, a 1-1/4-inch chop was performed at the A-pillar to give it a subtle look. One of the most impressive aspects of the truck is the modified bed. One thing Studebaker had going for it in the late ’40s and ’50s was the design of the bed, which now looks super smooth. GS accomplished this by removing the stock tailgate and replacing it with one from a ’98 Ford. But rather than simply bolting it on, it was turned upside down and welded into place. This provided the bed with a completely smooth look. Finishing the rear is a set of custom LED turn signals at the corners of the bed. On the inside a sheet of aluminum received countless hours of grinding and sets off the bed just right. A modified version of the Studebaker logo adds the finishing touch. 

Once these sweet modifications had been completed it was time to select a body color to complement all of the work and put the Studebaker in a league of its own. Stalmeyer and Wingo decided on a copper hue with orange candy pearl, which would surely bring out the flawless bodywork. After Stalmeyer applied the copper and orange candy, the truck was rubbed out and final assembled in preparation for the upholstery.

With the paint dry, GS fabricators turned the truck over to Derek Fatheree of GS for the upholstery work. Fatheree installed a set of Chrysler 300 seats upholstered in subtle silk-?colored Ultraleather, along with beautifully sculpted door and kick panels. GS installed a custom ’51 Ford dash and center console, which gave the truck a touch of class. Classic Instruments’ all-new Tetra-series gauges look absolutely stunning housed inside the custom dash panels. A Billet Specialties wheel sits atop a tilt column, and Vintage Air climate controls heat and cool the cabin of the vintage hauler. Upon closer inspection, a small compartment in the lower jamb reveals a stunning case that holds the original Studebaker hood emblems, which remind Wingo of old memories with his classic truck.

Jeff Wingo and his wife, Amy, now have a classic hot rod hauler they can be proud of. Five years of hard work and thoughtful design went into the pickup, which turned out every bit as perfect as Wingo could ever have dreamed. So many rodders grow up and search for their first ride, only to settle for another, but Wingo can once again enjoy the classic truck that served him all those years ago. As this story was being written, we learned that Wingo’s Studebaker took home the Goodguys Truck of the Year Early Award! While congratulations are in order, we must say that we’re not a bit surprised!