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The Studebaker M-series is a
Like most truck lines, the Studebaker M Series trucks could be had in any number of body styles. While only pickup beds were offered on the M5, M15, & M15A versions from the factory, combination cab and rolling chassis were sold, allowing custom truck body manufacturers to variously sell standard beds and boxes or custom fabricate them to an owners specifications.
While the M16 version used the larger ''Commander'' 226 ci. engine, through the use of a different fire wall on these cabs, all the other front sheet metal stayed the same. However, a spacer was used in the front fenders to accommodate the larger front wheel track of the M16.
The M series truck range was produced from 1939 to 1942, when civilain production was stopped due to the
data
, retrieved on March 10, 2007
pickup truck
A pickup truck or pickup is a Truck_classification#Table_of_US_GVWR_classifications, light or medium duty truck that has an enclosed cabin (truck), cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof (th ...
series designed in the late 1930s by the Studebaker Corporation
Studebaker was an American wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana, with a building at 1600 Broadway, Times Square, Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 as the Studebaker Brothers Man ...
.
Production
The M-series Studebaker trucks came in several versions both pre and post WW II. The M-5 was a 1/2 ton truck, available in a pickup configuration as well as a cab androlling chassis
A rolling chassis is the fully-assembled chassis of a motor vehicle (car, truck, bus, or other vehicle) without its coachwork, bodywork. It is equipped with running gear (engine and drivetrain) and ready for delivery to a coachbuilder to be compl ...
. The M15 was the 3/4 ton version. The M15A was the one & -ton version. The M5, M15, and M15A all came with the ''Champion'' 169 ci. engine only. The M16 1-1/2 & 2 ton versions came with the more powerful ''Commander'' 226 ci. engine. The Studebaker US6
Studebaker was an American wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana, with a building at 1600 Broadway, Times Square, Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 as the Studebaker Brothers Man ...
version was produced during the war to government specifications; using a different nose and engine configuration, in both a 4x6 & 6x6 versions of a -ton truck. In early 1945, Studebaker was given permission to produce some M Series trucks for civilian use.
Like most truck lines, the Studebaker M Series trucks could be had in any number of body styles. While only pickup beds were offered on the M5, M15, & M15A versions from the factory, combination cab and rolling chassis were sold, allowing custom truck body manufacturers to variously sell standard beds and boxes or custom fabricate them to an owners specifications.
While the M16 version used the larger ''Commander'' 226 ci. engine, through the use of a different fire wall on these cabs, all the other front sheet metal stayed the same. However, a spacer was used in the front fenders to accommodate the larger front wheel track of the M16.
The M series truck range was produced from 1939 to 1942, when civilain production was stopped due to the Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and restarted in 1945, continued until 1949. Based on the Studebaker M16, the company designed the Studebaker US6
Studebaker was an American wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana, with a building at 1600 Broadway, Times Square, Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 as the Studebaker Brothers Man ...
6x4 and 6x6 military trucks, which differed only in that they had a new engine, a new front end and all-wheel drive.
Design and specifications
The M series sported a more aerodynamic shape than most trucks of the time, with easily recognisable "wind wing" vents on the driver and passenger windows, a feature not found on any other make of American truck duringWorld War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. When Studebaker introduced the M-series pickup truck in 1941, the company used the Coupe Express name from its 1937–1939 Coupe Express coupe utility
A coupe or coupé (, ) is a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline and typically with two doors.
The term ''coupé'' was first applied to horse-drawn carriages for two passengers without rear-facing seats. It comes from the Fr ...
of in advertising for a time; no M-series trucks were ever officially designated as the Coupe Express.Studebaker trucdata
, retrieved on March 10, 2007
Footnotes
M-series truck Cars introduced in 1938 {{truck-stub Pickup trucks