Best of Show; 1953 Studebaker Commander Starliner Coupe; Red & White

Year of Release: N/K

Studillac: Bond is a bit patronising towards Felix Leiter's car in the novel Diamonds Are Forever, he sees a Studebaker Starliner as geeky and left field, not a serious car like his Bentley. Leiter has to put him right, he is driving a custom black Studebaker Starliner convertible (shown here in red and white with a hardtop) with a Cadillac engine, plus special transmission, brakes and rear axle. The combination of the aerodynamic Raymond Loewy-designed body with the powerful Cadillac engine made it into a remarkable sports car. Studillacs were not fictional, but actually built by a Long Island, NY company called Bill Frick Motors from 1953 Studebaker Starliner bodies. I wonder if the Corvorado in Live and Let Die is a nod to the Studillac?

This Best of Show was sourced in July 2020 from a private collection