1934 Studebaker Dicator

A car can only be original once. That’s what makes Don Armacost’s 1934 Studebaker Dictator so special.

 This four-door sedan, with 31,449 miles, is in such good shape that it is like a window to yesterday. At some time in the past, the fenders were repainted, the bumpers rechromed and the gas tank was cleaned and an electric fuel pump installed. Otherwise, this Dictator is just as it was 72 years ago.

 Studebaker used the Dictator name from 1927 to 1937, according to Wikipedia, to imply that this model would dictate the standard that other automakers would follow.

 Robert S. Armacost was a Studebaker dealer from 1926 to 1956. His grandsons Don and David are avid admirers of cars in general and Studebakers in particular, and they have a sizable collection of cars, mostly Studebakers, that is owned by their company, Peterson Manufacturing, in Grandview.

 Peterson also has a small restoration company, Studebaker Specialists, whose four employees, Brian Neher, John McCall, Brian Veal and Christopher Mather, maintain and restore the company’s collection.

 When the Armacosts acquired the Dictator for their museum in 2005, it needed serious cleaning and polishing. The guys at Studebaker Specialists were able, through patient and careful work, to restore most of the dark blue paint’s luster, and they did some minor touch-up on the wheels’ pinstriping.

 The Armacost crew removed the engine head, scraped the pistons and performed a valve job. All parts were repainted in factory colors. The old wiring was replaced with new so the car wouldn’t catch fire, and new windshield glass took the place of the original, which was delaminating. 

 John McCall made a new front rubber floor mat. The plastic steering wheel was so dirty it looked black, but hours of tedious cleaning restored it to its original look. The upholstery and carpet are incredibly nice considering their age.

 The exhaust system was removed and an exact replica was fabricated. All of the exhaust hangers and brackets are original. 

 Studebaker built 45,851 Dictators from September 1933 to October 1934. This was one was number 2,875.

 In last September’s Studebaker international meet in Omaha, Armacost’s Studebaker garnered a first place award with 384 out of 400 points. That’s not bad for an old girl in her original dress.