Studebaker Coupe Express
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The Studebaker Coupe Express was a pickup truck manufactured by the Studebaker Corporation in South Bend, Indiana from 1937 to 1940. Contrary to the approach taken by the competition, the Coupe Express combined the styling of a car with a large truck chassis.
The Coupe Express emerged from the Studebaker Dictator , from which the frame, drive technology and snout were adopted. However, a new press was required to manufacture the rear part of the cab. The result was an all-steel structure for the pickup. This model was offered as a chassis with a cab, which also included the rear fenders. The end user (such as plumbing or storage companies) could then take care of the rear superstructure.
The truck was driven by the larger of the Studebaker six-cylinder with side-mounted valves via a three-speed gearbox. Studebaker offered a three-speed transmission with overdrive from BorgWarner as an option . Other features for an extra charge were a radio, a heater, a rear window made of wired glass and flashing lights. There were three different versions of the wheels: with pressed steel rims, with pressed steel rims and "artillery spokes" and with spokes.
About 3000 pieces of the 1937 model were produced.
In 1938 the driver's cab was revised and adapted to the modernized car styling, which led to a somewhat longer loading area. Around 1000 copies were built in 1938.
Another revision followed in 1939, taking into account the annual design changes at Studebaker. The Coupe Express was discontinued at the end of 1939 and there was no successor in 1940.
In 1941 Studebaker introduced the M series . The name Coupe Express was used in advertising for a while, but no model in the M series was ever officially called that.