author
Studebaker Corporation
From a frontier blacksmith shop to one of America’s best-known vehicle makers, this company’s story traces a remarkable leap through the wagon age, the early automobile boom, and the bold design years of the 1950s and 1960s.
1 Audiobook
Your 1952 Champion Owner's Guide
by Studebaker Corporation
About the author
Studebaker began in South Bend, Indiana, in 1852, when members of the Studebaker family opened a blacksmith and wagon business. The company grew into a major manufacturer of wagons, carriages, and buggies before moving into automobiles in the early 20th century, building a reputation for quality craftsmanship and a willingness to experiment with new technology.
Over time, the business became one of the best-known independent American automakers. Its lineup ranged from practical family cars to striking later models such as the Starliner, Hawk, Lark, and Avanti, and its history also includes military production and a long connection to industrial life in South Bend.
Although automobile production ended in the 1960s, Studebaker remains an important name in American manufacturing history. Museums and archives in South Bend have helped preserve the company’s vehicles, records, and legacy, which still attract car enthusiasts, historians, and readers interested in how a family enterprise became a national brand.