We were told that there would be about 60 cars at a breakfast at the VFW lodge in Stuart.  It was about 70 miles from Boca, so I started early. I kept to the back roads.  I’m not brave enough to try I-95.  I went up Military Trail, cut over to Jog, then the Bee-Line highway.  Eventually I got on the Kanner Highway (FL 76).

When I got there, only 6 cars showed up.  Three were Studebaker trucks.

3 count them 3 Studebaker trucks out of 6 entries

On the way back I went  down Dixie for a while looking for a gas station that had pure gas.  The alcohol in regular pump gas is not good for old cars.  Fortunately I have a PureGas app on my cell phone.  It found a station for me.  I probably could have made it back without stopping.

During the trip back, my oil pressure dropped.  I wound up putting in 2 quarts.  By the end of the trip I figured that my truck get 500 mpg

of oil.

In November I went to the Florida State Studebaker Meet in Port St. Lucie.  I couldn’t take my truck, because the brakes still needed work.  Had a grand time and met a lot of interesting people.  I joined the local chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club.  There were a lot of interesting Studebakers and a Packard or two.  There were even a few 1950 1/2 ton pickups like mine.

Studebaker going in style

Yes, the one on the right is a Studebaker

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I’ve named the truck Yellow Dog Dingo because it leaves a marker every where it goes.  (If you’ve ever had a vintage car/truck, you know what I mean.)

As you can see from the picture, I’ve added a tool box to the left side.  The parts shop asked $60 for installation.  It took them 3 hours to do it.  They didn’t make any money on that one.

A neighbor helped me to re-do the brakes, new wheel cylinders and springs mostly.  We also replaced the tie rod ends and drag link.  They were so loose that he was afraid that they would fall off.

So far I’ve driven it down to Fort Lauderdale several times and it’s working great.  Still a little noisy. The exhaust is the next challenge.

I recently bought a 1950 Studebaker ½ ton pickup from a dealer in Miami.  I had air conditioning installed when I got it.

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