Opens June 3, 2026 – July 19, 2026

 This summer, explore the Museum’s latest exhibit, Five Driven Women, which focuses on pioneering women who were among the earliest female automobile owners and drivers: explorers, socialites, philanthropists, actresses, and cultural tastemakers who used the automobile as a tool for independence and influence. All women faced gender discrimination, however, wealthy women could work around it more easily. Through five remarkable women and their vehicles, discover stories of adventure, achievement, and determination in this trailblazing exhibition that shows women were not passive passengers in automotive history, rather active participants who used technology, movement, and public presence to make headlines, set trends, and claim their space on the road.

Meet athlete Eleanora Sears and her 1912 Simplex Torpedo, socialite Maribel Schumacher and her 1928 Hudson Series O Town Car, explorer Louise Arner Boyd and her 1934 Packard Twelve, aviator Amelia Earhart and her 1937 Cord 812, and automobile enthusiast Margaret Dunning and her 1930 Packard 740. Their journeys reveal how automobiles helped women shape their own paths and how mobility became a powerful symbol of freedom and possibility. This is one exhibition you won’t want to miss!

Special thanks to The JBS Collection, The Singleton Collection, the Classic Car Club of America Museum, and LaVine Restorations for their support.

The Studebaker National Museum is located at 201 Chapin St., just west of downtown South Bend.  It is open Mon.-Sat., 10am-5pm, and Sun. Noon–5pm.  Admission is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors over 60, and $9 for youth ages 6-18.  For more information, please call the Museum at (574) 235-9714 or toll free at (888) 391-5600 or visit our website at www.studebakermuseum.org. For an additional cost, visitors can tour The History Museum, which adjoins the Studebaker National Museum.

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TOP OF THE LINE: STUDEBAKER PRESIDENT

The Golden Age: 1926-1933

In the mid-1920s Studebaker was looking to refresh its model lineup and expand its market.   A new slate of model names was introduced:  The former Standard Six was now the Dictator, the Special Six and certain Big Six models evolved into the Commander line, and Studebaker’s top-end models were rebranded as the “President.”  

The “President” name debuted in mid-1926 on several of the company’s previous model ES Big Six automobiles.  In January of 1928 Studebaker unveiled a brand-new model FA eight-cylinder President which took aim at the ever-growing luxury market  The model FA President featured an all-new 100 horsepower inline eight-cylinder courtesy of Studebaker chief engineer Delmar G. “Barney” Roos.   These so-called “big Presidents” remained in production through 1933.

The Great Depression hit automakers hard and Studebaker was no exception.  The high-end automobile market all but vanished as Americans struggled to put food on the table.  Falling sales and dwindling reserves forced Studebaker into receivership in March of 1933. Though Studebaker would survive, the big Presidents would not.  Just 635 1933 Speedway Presidents built, and Studebaker dropped the line at the end of year.

 

This information comes from our past exhibition: Top of the Line: Studebaker’s President.

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Powering Masters of the Air: Studebaker & the B17 Flying Fortress

Each B17 Flying Fortress was powered by four Wright-Cyclone R1820 radial engines.

Studebaker built over 60,000 R1820 engines at the new Chippewa Avenue plant in South Bend supplemented by additional factories in Fort Wayne and Chicago. While the basic engine assembly processes was similar to those for automobile engines, the R1820 was far more complex and required the utmost in precision and exacting tolerances. Each R1820 had over 8,000 individual parts, compared to a couple hundred for a contemporary Studebaker passenger car engine.

Upon completion, each engine was installed in a large two-story concrete test cell where it underwent a “green test.” This involved running the engine for four hours over a normal range of speeds and loads, including 5-minute full-throttle runs to simulate take-off or top speed. It was then completely torn down and inspected before being certified for final assembly and a final test run.

After final assembly, engines were shipped to Studebaker’s Pacific Plant in Vernon, California for distribution to B17 production facilities Boeing, Douglas, and Lockheed subsidiary Vega.

 

This information comes from our former exhibition Powering Masters of the Air.

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A positive outcome of the merger was the addition of several new vehicles into the corporate historic vehicle collection: A 1901 Packard Model C, a 1910 Model 18 Touring Car, and the Packard Predictor show car. These vehicles remained with Studebaker through the company’s departure from automobile production in 1966, and were given to the City of South Bend later that year with the rest of the Studebaker Corporation’s collection.

The Predictor underwent restoration in the early 1990s and has appeared at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, and numerous others. The 1901 is currently undergoing restoration, and the 1910 Packard remains in unrestored condition.

ABOUT THE STUDEBAKER’S PACKARD SERIES

Studebaker’s Packards: The Corporate Collection was on display at the Museum in 2017.  This series of articles comes for the displays from that exhibition.

ADDITIONAL LINKS ON PACKARDS

America’s Packard Museum

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Other Premier Awards include:

J.M. Studebaker Award, presented to the Most Outstanding Studebaker
1930 Studebaker Dictator – Virgil & Margaret Studebaker, Troy, MO

The Standardized Quality Award: Most Outstanding Chrysler
1932 Chrysler Imperial – Ted & Mary Stahl, Chesterfield, MI

Raymond Loewy Award: Exemplary Exterior Design
1934 Packard Twelve Sport Phaeton – Pete Todo, Hobart, IN

Helen Dryden Award: Exemplary Interior Design
1920 Packard Twin Six Runabout – Timothy Heywood, Frankfort, IL

Fred & Augie Duesenberg Award: Engineering Excellence
1935 Chrysler Airflow – Raymond Jackson, Alsip, IL

Mayor’s Choice
1966 AMC Ambassador 880 – Mark Lemon, South Bend, IN

President’s Choice
1934 Studebaker Commander – John Kircher, Columbus, OH

Dave Kinney Digs This Car Award
1972 Ford Mustang Sprint – Robert Thomas, Indianapolis, IN

The Master of Ceremonies Award
1970 AMC Javelin Mark Donohue – Douglas Gehrke, Plymouth, IN

Chairman’s Choice Award
1970 AMC Javelin Trans-Am – Fritz Helmuth, Topeka, IN

Vivian & Eric LaVine/LaVine Restorations Award: Spirit of the Hobby
1951 Hudson Hornet – Larry Kennedy, Indianapolis, IN

BEST OF CLASS AWARDS: 

Class A:  Ultimate Luxury: Packard & Pierce-Arrow, 1920-1933
1931 Packard Deluxe Eight – Tom & Donna Tuls, Holland, MI

Class B: Ultimate Luxury: Packard & Pierce Arrow, 1934-1940
1937 Packard Twelve – Gene & Sally Perkins, Greenwood, IN

Class C:  Commanders & Dictators
1936 Studebaker Dictator – Terry & Marcia Frye, Verona, WI

Class D:  Walter’s Chryslers
1930 Chrysler 70 – Tim & Julia Wolfe, Sidney, OH

Class E:  The American Motors Corporation
1970 AMC Rebel Machine – Terry Weiner, Buffalo Grove, IL

Class F: Only In a Jeep
1964 Jeep Station Wagon – Tom & Trish Bishop, Westerville, OH

Class G: Stablemates: The American Pony Car
1970 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 500 – Chuck & Theresa Shelby, Lafayette, IN

Class H: Independent Thinking: Hudson & Nash
1927 Hudson Series O Roadster – Jeff & Karen Ozan, Metamora, MI

Class J:  Personal Luxury
1955 Kaiser Manhattan – Gilbert & Rosemary Chestney, Chelsea, MI

Class K: Teutonic Transportation
1958 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL – Timothy Stronger, Leesburg, IN

Class L: The Avanti at 60
1963 Studebaker Avanti – Fred Mazur, Sarver, PA

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD:

1956 Cadillac Coupe DeVille – Dr. Joseph D’Avanzo, Northville, MI

JUNIOR JUDGING AWARD:

1966 Studebaker Commander – Doug & Katie Hodak, Darien, IL

Next year’s Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm is scheduled for Saturday, July 8, 2023.  For more information, visit: www.concoursatcopshaholm.org.

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The Concours at Copshaholm’s Chief Judge is renowned automotive scholar and historian Matt Short. Judging will be French Traditional. The awards ceremony will be narrated by noted automotive raconteur, Bill Rothermel. Special guest at this year’s Concours will be automotive journalist and historian Dave Kinney.  Kinney is the founder and publisher of the Hagerty Price Guide as well as a senior member of the American Society of Appraisers. The Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm is co-presented by The JBS Collection & LaVine Restorations and will be held Saturday, July 9, 2022, at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana. The show field opens to the public at 10am and closes at 4pm. The Pass In Review and Awards ceremony begins at 2:30pm.  For more information, visit www.concoursatcopshaholm.org.

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The first and last Studebaker Avantis produced will be on display at the 2022 Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Studebaker Avanti’s debut. Avanti chassis #1001 is will be exhibited by LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington. The last Studebaker Avanti chassis #5643 will be exhibited courtesy of the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum of Cleveland, Ohio. This will be the first time these two cars have ever been displayed together. Both cars were sold into private hands when new, before becoming part of the Museums’ respective collections.

Avanti #1001’s original owner, Mr. Goldfarb, will also be on hand at the Concours at Copshaholm.

About the Concours

The Concours at Copshaholm’s Chief Judge is renowned automotive scholar and historian Matt Short. Judging will be French Traditional. The awards ceremony will be narrated by noted automotive raconteur, Bill Rothermel. Special guest at this year’s Concours will be automotive journalist and historian Dave Kinney.  Kinney is the founder and publisher of the Hagerty Price Guide as well as a senior member of the American Society of Appraisers. The Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm is co-presented by The JBS Collection & LaVine Restorations and will be held Saturday, July 9, 2022, at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana. The show field opens to the public at 10am and closes at 4pm. The Pass In Review and Awards ceremony begins at 2:30pm.  For more information, visit www.concoursatcopshaholm.org.

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SOUTH BEND, IN – The Studebaker National Museum announces vehicle applications are now open for the fourth annual Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm, co-presented by The JBS Collection & LaVine Restorations. This exclusive gathering celebrates automotive design, engineering and culture and will be held Saturday, July 9, 2022, in South Bend, Indiana. The Concours will open to the public at 10am and will close at 4pm. The Pass In Review and Awards ceremony will begin at 2:30pm.

This year’s featured marque is Chrysler. Other class highlights will include German cars, American “pony cars,” Jeeps, and Hudson and Nash automobiles. The 2022 Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm will also celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Avanti and recognize personal luxury automobiles from the 50s to the 80s. Full Classic® Packard, Pierce-Arrow, and Peerless automobiles will be featured as well as Studebaker Commanders and Dictators and American Motors-branded products.

Awards will be presented in all classes, as well as Best of Show and other special awards of distinction. The Concours at Copshaholm’s Chief Judge is renowned automotive scholar and historian Matt Short. Judging will be French Traditional. The awards ceremony will be narrated by automotive raconteur, Bill Rothermel. Special guest at this year’s Concours will be noted Avanti historian, Dave Kinney.

To submit your car for application, visit: www.concoursatcopshaholm.org/vehicleapplication/.  The full class list is shown below. The submission deadline is March 18, 2022, and owners will be notified of the Selection Committee’s decision by April 11, 2022.

• The American Motors Corporation – 1958 and later American Motors Corporation and Rambler-branded automobiles
• The Avanti at 60 – Studebaker and post-Studebaker Avantis (Note: 35-year rule will be waived for this class)
• Commanders & Dictators – Studebaker Commanders and Dictators of all years
• Independent Thinking: Hudson & Nash – Hudson and Nash automobiles of all years
• Only In A Jeep – Jeep-branded vehicles of all years
• Personal Luxury – Two-door “personal luxury” vehicles from the 1950s through the 1980s
• Stablemates: The American Pony Car – Mustangs, Cougars, Camaros, Firebirds, Javelins and Challengers
• Teutonic Transportation – German automobiles of all years
• Ultimate Luxury: Packard, Pierce-Arrow and Peerless – Full Classic® Packard, Pierce-Arrow and Peerless automobiles
• Walter’s Chryslers – Chrysler-branded automobiles from 1924-1942

For more information, visit: www.concoursatcopshaholm.org.

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