West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptionally straight and rust free and older restored example of this 1948 Studebaker M15A 1 1/2 Ton Pick Up Truck with it's 'Champion' 169 c.i. straight 6 cylinder engine, which is quite powerful for this truck, and its original 3 on the tree manual column shift transmission with overdrive. The truck is a very rare truck in rust free condition and which is a great candidate for an enthusiast to fully restore or simply a great daily driver as it is.
Studebaker was in the vehicle business long before anyone else, after having set up a blacksmith's shop in South Bend, IN in 1852, building two farm wagons that year. The business thrived and by 1876 they were the largest producer of horse drawn vehicles in the world! Studebaker was also a pioneer of the motor car producing both electric and gasoline powered cars in the 1900's. It was not until 1911 however that light trucks began to emerge from their South Bend factory with the Flanders 20, originally offered as a panel van and with a L head 4 cylinder engine of 155 c.i. The first pick up on general sale arrived in 1914 as the 3/4 ton Delivery Car with again a L head engine and production continued until only 1917 when it was discontinued due to low sales.
The Coupe Express of 1937 was a totally different beast from the early pick ups converted from the stylish Studebaker Dictator instead of a light truck. The Dictator (an odd name considering the times with the events in Germany, Italy & Spain) was powered by a 6 cylinder engine L head engine with 218 c.i., very powerful for the day! In 1941 the new M series line up of light trucks was born with unique front end styling. Studebaker then concentrated on heavier military trucks for the continuation of the war in Europe with the smaller M5 coming back into production for 1946 with little changes from the 1941 original. Studebaker sold over 14,000 of these popular M5's that year and continued to do so through 1947 & 1948.
The M Series Studebaker trucks came in several versions, both before and after the war. The M5 was a 1/2 ton truck, the M15 was a 3/4 ton version and the M15A, like this particular example, was a 1 1/2 ton version. All these versions came with the 'Champion' 169 c.i. engine only. There was also an M16 in both 1 1/2 and 2 tons versions, and with the 'Commander' 226 c.i. engine. There was also a Studebaker US6 version, built to government specs for WWII use and in both a 4x6 and 6x6 versions of a 2 1/2 ton truck.
These trucks were built before the war between 1939-42, and then civilian production was halted during WW11 until 1945, from when production restarted until 1949.
This particular truck's 169 c.i. 6 cylinder engine runs strong and sounds absolutely magnificent and the truck is a truly remarkable daily driver which will prove to be a very rare opportunity to own a great daily driving example of a very desirable and collectible 1948 Studebaker M15A 1 1/2 Ton Pick Up, way ahead of it's time in '48, and a very now cult classic and rare collectible, ready for any classic American truck, collector or enthusiast to enjoy or collect today!
