Pink 1955 Studebaker Commander Regal Is a Stunning Low-Mileage Survivor

Even though it's nearly 70 years old as of 2024, this Studebaker has soldiered on through the decades in almost pristine condition. The white-over-pink paint job is pretty much flawless, while the three-tone interior looks like it hasn't been touched since new. How's that even possible? Well, it's one of those rigs that has been pampered for decades and spent most of its life in a garage.

The Commander is now with its second owner, who purchased the car in 2012. And according to him, the original owner was a lady who rarely drove it between 1955 and 2001. Come 2024, the Studebaker has only 38,337 miles (61,697 km) on the odometer, which is an average of 556 miles (895 km) per year since it left the assembly line.

Now, the owner doesn't mention if all the paint and upholstery is factory-original. I'm guessing the paint got a few touch-ups over the years because it's almost impossible to keep it shiny for decades, but that's still mighty impressive.

What's going on under the hood, you ask? Well, the survivor status also applied to the engine bay, which still houses the original, numbers-matching V8 powerplant. Aside from the battery, everything else appears to be factory-correct.

If you're unfamiliar with the Commander, it was one of Studebaker's longest-running nameplates. The name was first used in 1927 on the car that replaced the mid-range Special Six. In 1928, three units powered by inline-six engines broke the 15,000-mile speed record established by the much more expensive Auburn Speedster. Additionally, the cars set new records up to 25,000 miles.

The Commander remained in production until 1935, when Studebaker dropped the name. However, it was reinstated in 1937 as a replacement for the Dictator. Following World War 2, the Commander replaced the President and gained an extended wheelbase version called the Land Cruiser.

In 1947, the Commander was among the first cars redesigned after WW2. Raymond Loewy reshaped it alongside the Champion, making it one of the most distinctive and futuristic vehicles of its era. Discontinued again at the end of the 1958 model year, the Commander returned in 1964 as part of the Lark lineup. It went into the history books for good in 1966 when Studebaker halted automobile production.

This four-door Regal is part of the 1953-1955 lineup, which saw Studebakers sport a more aerodynamic design. The 1955 version is actually a one-year-only rig styling-wise due to the wrap-around chrome grille with the "fish mouth" opening in the center. The Regal in the name stands for the range-topping trim with extra chrome.

Studebaker produced 58,788 Commanders in 1955, which accounted for 50% of the total production. This Regal four-door sedan is one of 9,985 units built with this body style and trim. And it's probably one of fewer than 100 examples that still run and drive today. Check it out in the video below.