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HomePick of the DayPick of the Day: 1952 Studebaker custom ramp truck, toy hauler

Pick of the Day: 1952 Studebaker custom ramp truck, toy hauler

The workhorse looks like an authentic transporter loaded with vintage appeal

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For those who want to arrive at the race track or car show in vintage style, the Pick of the Day is a custom-built 1952 Studebaker 1½ ton ramp truck configured with ample space and power for transporting that special vehicle.

This interesting-looking workhorse was created with the body of Studebaker’s attractive 2R-series truck designed by Bob Bourke, fitted to an extra-long chassis with a hydraulic tilting ramp bed.  

truck

The Denver, Colorado, dealer advertising the Studebaker on ClassicCars.com describes it as a “rare classic hauler, ramp truck” with nice paint and chrome on a rust-free body.  Power is provided by a rebuilt 454 V8 linked with an Allison 540 4-speed automatic transmission, and with power steering and brakes.

The truck has been fitted with a heavy-duty suspension with air bags and an on-board compressor. With large chrome truck wheels up front, it has new tires, the seller says, along with power steering and brakes. 

truck
No, the GTO is not included

Although the description with the ad is brief, the photos show that gear boxes are fitted to the sides of the bed.  The entire truck looks fresh and well-finished, and the engine bay and interior are very clean.

The cab looks inviting with a “new tasteful interior with original rebuilt seat,” the seller says.

The automatic transmission is engaged on the left of the steering column

The ad lacks information about the history or builder of this good-looking transporter, but the large gallery of photos shows what appears to be a professionally built custom truck in great condition. The dashboard and interior retain the factory look, although with an aftermarket steering wheel.

Some of the photos show the Studebaker in action, including some with a ‘60s Pontiac GTO being carried.  

The thing I really like about this ramp-truck build is how authentic it looks, the creator resisting a custom paint scheme or other extraneous additions that would have taken away from its purposeful appearance.  The vintage truck body looks well-integrated with the ramp, and it seems to be a useful piece of equipment as well as a vintage statement all its own.

The asking price for this ramp truck seems reasonable at $27,000.

To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day

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Bob Golfen
Bob Golfen
Bob Golfen is a longtime automotive writer and editor, focusing on new vehicles, collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. He is the former automotive writer and editor for The Arizona Republic and SPEED.com, the website for the SPEED motorsports channel. He has written free-lance articles for a number of publications, including Autoweek, The New York Times and Barrett-Jackson auction catalogs. A collector car enthusiast with a wide range of knowledge about the old cars that we all love and desire, Bob enjoys tinkering with archaic machinery. His current obsession is a 1962 Porsche 356 Super coupe.

3 COMMENTS

  1. The truck looks like a bargin for those in need. If it does have a hydraulic tilting bed ram a picture or better a video would have been nice…

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