Uncomfortable Stude!

[mfg]

During Bill Carroll’s road test of a 1964 R3 powered Stude Daytona convertible in January of 1964, he complained of being somewhat uncomfortable driving the car…..

What was the source of Mr. Carroll’s complaint?

[Nelson]

Front suspension seemed to bottom out.

Edited September 30 by Nelson

[mfg]

17 minutes ago, Nelson said:

Front suspension seemed to bottom out.

Perhaps… but not answer I was looking for…

Allow me to ‘tweak’ question…..

“Interior driving comfort”

[Nelson]

It’s been awhile since I read the article but maybe the pedal position.

 

[Nelson]

If you have any questions about the car I have access to it. It’s in my garage…haha🙂🙂

[lschuc]

22 minutes ago, Nelson said:

If you have any questions about the car I have access to it. It’s in my garage…haha🙂🙂

 

 

Is that real Bonneville salt on the garage on the garage floor under the car??? 

[Nelson]

That’s funny! If it was available I’d have it there but that is snow from last winter. Maybe next time I’m in Salt Lake City I should get a bucket of it just to throw down on the floor when displaying the car to give the display more atmosphere.😁😁

[mfg]

Just an awesome historic vehicle!!!

And YES Nels….. Mr Carroll felt the pedals were too far to the left of steering column for his comfort….… May I ask… do you notice that as you drive your Daytona?

[Nelson]

You know, I think when ever they road tested a Stude or maybe any make, they had to find something to nitpick. I’ve never noticed that problem but I don’t where size fourteen shoes either.

Thanks for the compliment on the car. I feel thankful and lucky to actually own it and able to restore it.

Edited September 30 by Nelson

[mfg]

3 hours ago, Nelson said:

You know, I think when ever they road tested a Stude or maybe any make, they had to find something to nitpick. I’ve never noticed that problem but I don’t where size fourteen shoes either.

Thanks for the compliment on the car. I feel thankful and lucky to actually own it and able to restore it.

Yes… I’ve driven a few stick shift Lark types with suspended pedals and haven’t ever felt the clutch/brake pedals were in an awkward position….

I believe the driver’s height, weight, and seat position have a lot to do with this issue…….Also, period Studebaker steering wheels, on models other than the Avanti, were somewhat large in diameter.

[Gunslinger]

I think the large diameter steering wheels were a throwback to an earlier era where most cars did not have power steering...the larger diameter steering wheel provided less felt resistance to turning...plus manual steering ratios were much different.  A smaller steering wheel such as the norm today would have required more turns lock-to-lock for manually powered steering.  

Companies such as Studebaker which had to watch every tenth of a penny stayed with the old standard larger wheel for cost reasons...regardless of whether power steering was ordered for a particular car.  

Look at trucks and buses of the day...particularly rear engined buses.  They had huge diameter steering wheels to provide less overall effort for the drivers without power assist.

[Nelson]

I agree. Studebaker steering wheels, at least the later ones, were oval to give more belly room but still had leverage at each side.

[Footer]

I’m 6’5” with size 14 feet and in 73 I drove my 64 Daytona R1 4spd from Spokane to Portland and back in one day, over 600 miles, and I don’t remember any issue with the pedal placement. And, there were four of us in the car!  Wish I knew what happened to that car. Mike

[mfg]

7 hours ago, Footer said:

I’m 6’5” with size 14 feet and in 73 I drove my 64 Daytona R1 4spd from Spokane to Portland and back in one day, over 600 miles, and I don’t remember any issue with the pedal placement. And, there were four of us in the car!  Wish I knew what happened to that car. Mike

I’m convinced… pedal location is FINE!!