Photos & Story By Shaun Salehyan

 

I purchased this 1937 Studebaker Coupe Express in 2012 from a ranch in Iowa. I had been looking to buy a Coupe Express for months and couldn’t find one. I finally found this one listed in a back issue of Turning Wheels magazine from 1996. I called the number and it was the same seller from way back in ’96! He had never sold the vehicle in all those years and never advertised it again.

 

I booked the next flight to Iowa and met him to purchase the truck. He was a little apprehensive about selling it because he wanted it to go to a good home. He was adamant about me not hot rodding it, chopping, or putting a Chevy small block in it. He wanted it to remain pure and true to the Studebaker heritage.

 

Over the course of the next 7 years the car transformed from a non-running barn find, into a show quality hot-rod. The truck has recently one the 2019 La Jolla Concourse D’Elegance and 2019 Builder’s Choice Award at the Good Guys Show.

 

Here are the specifications:

• Engine: McCullough Supercharged 289 R2 (from a factory 1964 Studebaker GT Hawk).

• Transmission/Drive: T10 4 Speed with Hurst Shift. 9” Ford Rear End.

• Suspension: Air Bagged with Accuair e-Level Suspension. Heidts Mustang 2 IFS Front Clip with Custom Four  Link Rear End.

• Paint: Lexus Desert Sage Metallic (Two-Stage Glasurit by BASF).

• Wheels/Tires: Original 1936 Plymouth Artilleries with Firestone 650-16 Bias Ply Tires.

• Dashboard: 1937 Packard Gauge Cluster with Custom Switch Panel.

• Interior: Designed and Hand Crafted by Rex Copeman.

• EXTRAS: 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Custom Exhaust with Cutout, Hidden Bluetooth Stereo, Handmade Walnut Wood Bed.

 

Owner/Builder: Shaun Salehyan

Chassis Fabrication: Dave Chappelle

Metal Fab/Body/Paint: Nick Battaglia

Interior: Rex Copeman