Learning to drive on a Studebaker

In this next email, the reader is referring to the February 10th. column in which we carried a black-and-white photo showing pickups and cars on New Gower Street in the early 1950s. The portion of that picture, showing the Studebaker pickup, is given here. Mr. Sparkes,

Recently, you published in the Tely a photo of a street scene that included a late ‘40s Studebaker pickup. The picture took me back. I was taught to drive using two vehicles: the family car, a ‘48 Plymouth Club Coupe, and my dad’s ‘49 Studebaker pickup. The Studebaker had an interesting feature. In those days, the starter was separate from the ignition, so you put the key in the ignition and then pressed the starter button. In the Plymouth, the starter button was located on the dash to the left of the steering wheel, but on the Studebaker it was on the floorboard and was operated by a metal attachment to the clutch pedal. The driver pressed the clutch to the floor and the starter button was activated.

The other thing I remember about the Studebaker was the large stationary knob that my father installed on the steering wheel at about the 3 o’clock position. It was roughly the size of his palm and allowed him to turn the steering wheel with one hand in the days before power steering. When installed on souped-up cars by my contemporaries, we called these “squirreling knobs” and they allowed the young bloods to cramp the wheel quickly, breaking the rear wheels loose. I suspect that they were known by other names in other places.

Thanks to you and to the owner of the photo for the reminder.