> RARE THEN, WAY RARER NOW
Eye Candy caught up with Louis Reznick in his driveway, where he was hard to miss after returning from the Toronto Fall Classic Car auction with a prize purchase.
The car: 1956 Studebaker Pinehurst, “President Series” station wagon
The owner: Louis Reznick, Toronto I spotted it on the Friday night (before the auction) and hurried straight over as soon as I saw the colours. Joe Norris blues!
I swore I’d seen it before. I frequently attend classic car auctions, and you see a lot of cars come back. I also told myself I wouldn’t buy a car this fall. But after seeing the President, I put a number in my head and the next day at the auction I got it.
(For the record, the listing describes it as “a very rare Studebaker restoration . . . Featuring a 289 V8, power steering, dual exhaust, radio and clock. This is one of 1522 wagons built in 1956 and represents a top of the line Pinehurst. With 210 horsepower, it is an excellent drive on highway. It has been featured in many books and magazines and is a trophy winner.”)
After the car came off the block, the seller came by and he started giving me the history.
For me there has to be something special about the design, and this one has many unusual details, such as the round “Studebaker President” markers on the sides of the fins. The cyclops speedometer is very rare, as is the dash special with its glove box located in the centre.
But back to the auction. I am talking to the seller. A very nice guy and clearly in love with the car.
“Do you drive it around the city,” I ask, still wondering where I’d seen it.
He seemed surprised. He knew where I had met the car before.
“You were at my house,” he said. “You came and actually drove it around the block. You were in love with it, but you said you had to think about it. For the life of me I thought you were going to buy it.”
I did, it just took me awhile. Show us your candy: Got a cool custom or vintage car? Send us a picture of you and your family with your beauty, and tell us your story. And we like photos — the more the better — of the interior, trim, wheels, emblems, what you admire. Email wheels@thestar.ca and be sure to use “Eye Candy” in the subject line.