he Studebaker Brothers started building automobiles in 1902. Their first automobiles
were electric, although they quickly moved into gasoline powered vehicles. 
Production increased during 1913, and by 1915 there were more than 45,000 cars sold annually. 
The type and numbers of cars increased through the years, and in 1928, Studebaker acquired Pierce-Arrow. 
By 1933, Studebaker had gone into temporary receivership, and bounced back in 1934.
In 1939, they produced a new car that was a true economy model - the Champion.
During the war, Studebaker produced trucks and radial engines for aircraft. After the war, they rushed back into automobile production, with Raymond Loewy's famous styling.
The most famous Loewy 1953 coupes and hardtops were totally unique to the american scene. 
These cars were designed by Robert Bourke while he was working at the Loewy Studios.
The year of 1954 Packard bought Studebaker.
The Lark was introduced in 1959 and provided a compact car that was also roomy.
That last blast from Studebaker was the Avanti that was introduced in 1963.
In 1964, Studebaker production moved to Canada. The last year that Studebaker was produced was 1966, although the Avanti continued to be built by an independent in South Bend, Indiana.

An interesting footnote sent to me by Robert Dowling ,one of my visitors.
Packard bought the ailing Studebaker Corp. The Packard stock holders got the short end of the deal. 
Upper management thought they could ride on the (former) prestige of Packard and have Studebaker compete with Chevrolet. It didn't work and in two years the Studebaker-Packard Corp. was facing insolvency. 
Creditors demanded they get rid of one of the two manufacturing plants.
Unfortunately they chose to keep the Studebaker plant in South Bend Ind. and dump the Packard plant in
Detroit. Management soon realized their plan was failing, but it was to late. The South Bend plant was not designed to handle cars as wide as the old Packards as was the old Detroit plant, so they couldn't go back and start production of big wide cars again. I've seen design plans for the "new Packards". If you've seen a late 50's early 60's Lincoln Continental (the one with the slanted head lights) or the infamous Edsel that was what they
looked like. When I first saw them I thought it they were for Ford products.
Think about it! If you take the front of an Edsel an replace the "Horse collar" with a little grill shaped like a Clipper grill, you've got the Idea! I can't remember if Ford bought the plans or the design team went over
to Ford after Packard folded. After the dismal sales of "Packardbakers" (Those Studebakers with the funny looking add-ons) they dropped the Packard name.
In 64 they dropped the name completely and moved production to Canada.
They still make trucks for the Canadian military.
 

"The 1990 Avanti 4-Door is a very unique model in
that it was built only one year - less than 90 units were completed and sold.  I own #78.
Attached is a picture of my car.  I drive it daily and it ALWAYS gets people to start talking."