Sadly, it appears that the “consumer reaction studies” that were undertaken did not result in this prototype going into production. Frankly, by the summer of 1965 Studebaker had more pressing matters to consider, since production in South Bend had already been shut down, and only the Canadian plant was still producing cars. I wonder what happened to the prototype?
Just like what was done with pickups. It seems that it was an accessory offered by a vendor for your station wagon.
Wow, I have never seen this one before. I can imagine how popular that 3 ft x 30 inch “aperture” between car and camper would be with the Mrs. 🙂
But on second thought, that would fit right in with today’s “tiny house” movement, and how much more efficient is it to combine it with your car?
“I wonder what happened to the prototype?” Let’s get DougD to start checking the woods near the Hamilton, Ontario Studebaker plant. Maybe the later stuff got dumped there like they did outside of South Bend.
Neat-looking, especially the ‘flying bridge’ on the front. I’m guessing the survey said it was impractical compared to a trailer.
Watch out, Junior, the first step is a doozie… I mean a Stoodie!
This reminds me of a Top Gear stunt. That sleeping section over the car roof looks to be about two feet tall. That seems to limit the post-campfire activities with that fetching brunette at the door. “Bumpin’ in the coffin, honey?”
In typical Studebaker fashion, it figures that one of the few, legitimate reasons for the sliding roof Wagonaire would never make it past the prototype stage.
I wonder if there was anything like it conceived for the similar GMC Envoy XUV which had an identical rear sliding roof. Just like the Wagonaire, the XUV sold poorly, and only lasted three years from 2003-05. At least GM had a good reason for trying it, though, considering that the somewhat similar Chevy Avalanche had been selling quite well.
Those rear sliding roofs are one of those ideas that look really good on paper, but in actual execution, it becomes very apparent that their actual utility is quite limited, and definitely not worth the cost and complexity.
The boys in Dearborn toyed with this idea as well.
Well, not quite the same as this, but my Dad owned a “Camp O’Tel” back in the 1960’s (I think probably from 1967 to 1973) which mounted in the raingutter channels on top of your car (we had a wagon, which was probably the most popular “host” vehicle. It had a ladder and a “gangplank” to get you up and into the tent, which unfolded from a metal box, and extended a bit over the edge of the car and supposedly slept 4 people (well, 2 comfortably, but 2 others with scant headroom). It had a “kitchen/picnic table” that also mounted up there while driving, which you would pull down and unfold the legs and 2 shelves (it had a small gas stove, and some wash bins for doing dishes mounted in the middle of it). On the sides were 2 water tanks, about 10 gallons I think, and also a cabana tent which had a gravity shower (cold water only) and a toilet (the bag type, very crude). It even had a crank down arrangement where it would store the unit on the ceiling of your garage and crank it down to align with your car rain gutter when you planned to use it. Probably more neat than practical, we used it on our ’65 F85 wagon and ’69 Country Squire. Not sure what happened to it, we later bought a “normal” pop-top trailer camper and stopped using it, my Dad may have given it away to a friend.
Saab had a camper package offering that was called the Toppola.
There’s also the Prius-based “Relax Cabin”
[https://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/AY0F3248.jpg]
My first thought was that this was the inspiration for the Toppola, or at least a spiritual ancestor.
My uncle, who had 6 Ford wagons in 20 years might have loved that camper/tent….accessory. Studebaker should have tried a Coleman tie-in, lighter and more compact with the ability to fold it out of sight.
1) This is a DOA, pie-in-the-sky-type prototype as tooling for the sliding roof never moved to Hamilton after the South Bend shut-down in December ’63.
2) Records and interviews published over the years in the SDC magazine pretty clearly indicate that Studebaker never intended to continue long-term production of the cars once they moved production to Hamilton — this despite the fact that with a bit more advertising, the Hamilton plant actually could make money on a relatively few number of cars.
3) Oh Boy! A Lark Wagonnaire PRE-LOADED with a 1000 pounds of dead weight! (At least Studebakers still rode on 15-inch wheels!) Don’t bring the family along when you go!!!! And how’d they transfer that load to the frame? Brooks Steven’s ’64 body isn’t known for rigidity, strength, or assembly quality. (Maybe this was from a secret project to move his car body onto the discontinued truck frame! The Champ II!)
3) Hope Dick Qiunn doesn’t mind this use of his scan!
(Do I seem to be in a slightly sour mood today? Sorry!)
The Wagonaire was offered right until the end of Canadian production in 1966.
I cannot imagine how anyone thought this was a good idea considering the existence of teardrop trailers. Popups might not have existed yet but teardrops predated WW2.
As long as you don’t have to negotiate any corners!
I saw this abomination while travelling through Brenner (town on Austro-Italian border). This looks like a couple of roly polies (Latin: Armadillidium vulgare) copulating…
Also reminiscent of the Hornet hatchback tent. Little more practical though.
I sure wouldn’t want to drive it with those tiny mirrors.