It’s a miracle that anything survives the arduous torture of land-speed racing, and this 1953 Studebaker nearly didn’t. A Bonneville legend, and a bona fide star in its day, this piece of history is now being offered for sale.
The car’s story begins in 1956, when Belmont Sanchez, a noted land speed racer whose family owned a used car lot in California, plucked it from the dealership. The 1953 Studebaker Coupe was modified for racing and found immediate and lasting success.
Over the years, it was driven by a number of drivers and became the first car of its type to hit 200 mph (322 km/h) in 1958 with Cary Cagle at the wheel. Sadly, in 1963, Neil Thompson crashed the car at 242 mph (389 km/h) due to a blown tire.
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Fortunately, Thompson survived and decided to rebuild using the same chassis, scatter shield, LaSalle transmission, Sanchez-built cooling system, doors, deck lid, belly pan, and more. However, he used a new 1953 Studebaker body shell and added hinged and removable rear quarter panels, a new innovation that made changing tires faster.
By 1966, it was back on the salt flats and became the fastest coupe that year, reaching a top speed of 265.131 mph (426.687 km/h). The Studebaker kept racing through the ’60s, and in 1970 it received a C3 Corvette tilt nose and a new paint job.
Although the paint is faded, that’s more or less how this car presents today, just like it looked when it was photographed for the 1971 issue of Hi-Performance Cars magazine. The car was also featured in Rod & Custom, and Hot Rod magazine, in the era, helping to cement it as a legend of the flats.
The car remained with Neil Thompson until 2012 when he passed away. It was then acquired by George Callaway, and then by its current owner, who recommissioned it. Today, it features its original 354 ci Chrysler Firepower Hemi V8 (bored to 359 cubic inches), a GMC 6-71 supercharger, and an Enderle “Barn Door” fuel injection system. It also has a Muncie four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension, rear swing axles, and a Chrysler Slant Six racing engine is also included in the sale.
Offered for sale by Gooding & Company at its August 18 and 19 Pebble Beach Auction, estimates suggest that the hammer will come down between $250,000 and $350,000.
