Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love the absurd. The things that are so ridiculous, you just don’t see them every day. Or, any day, for that matter. In the restomod world, this can come in many forms because a lot of people are thinking outside of the proverbial box.

Studebaker has a long, proud history of manufacturing vehicles. First founded in 1852, and incorporated in 1868, the company started making things such as wagons. And believe it or not, before they made gasoline powered cars, they manufactured electric ones.

But that’s neither here nor there. Because this post is about a truck. More specifically, it’s about a 1951 Studebaker that has a major tub in the back, and some serious engine up front.

Photo Credit: gateway classic

However, this post isn’t about what you’re thinking it is. I’m not going to showcase this truck as an awesome restomod. Nor am I showcasing it as a good base car like I’ve done in the past.

Right off the bat, I’m going to say that this is an older restoration that needs some work to get it back up to par. One look at the faded and peeling wood planks in the back are testimony to this fact. Plus, when you take a look at the dated interior with a cassette deck, the obvious smacks you in the face.

Photo Credit: Gateway Classic

Personally speaking, I love vehicles with older restorations. Why? Because if you do a little homework to find one that was done right the first time, it minimizes the amount of work you have to do the second time around.

Not to mention that you could get the car for cheaper. After all, it does need work…

This Studebaker is a good example of an older resto where the majors are done and only minor stuff needs to be re-finished. This is what we’re looking for. Let’s start in the back:

The decking in the bed needs to be re-finished. Some of the boards will likely need to be replaced. But I believe that you could get away with re-finishing most of the boards if you’re on a tight budget.

Photo Credit: Gateway Classic

And if you’re not on a budget, you could do something a bit more normal – like real wheel wells and steel bed sides.

Oh, and just in case you’re wondering about what’s inside that bed box behind the cab, there is a fuel cell and a battery in there.

Moving forward, we have a decent sized 383 motor with a pair of Holley carbs and a forced induction setup. Weiand is one of the best names out there in the world of superchargers. And, I’m fairly certain that this baby makes some serious power, though no specific numbers are given.

Photo Credit: Gateway Classic

The list of options is impressive, and is a rough estimate on what you get with an aged restoration. For example, the power steering and power brakes are usually some of the first upgrades that people fix when doing a restomod. If you’ve ever driven a big ol’ truck without either of these features, you know why.

Truth be told, I’m not sure I’d pay the asking price for this truck. 20k is a little steep for most people to fork out with the amount of work that it does need to bring it up to modern. However, this is an excellent starting point for someone who does have some money, and isn’t afraid to spend a little more.

In fact, I’m comfortable saying that with some interior work, bed work and minor adjustments – you could have close to a $40,000 truck. How much would you spend? It’s hard to say based on the photos alone.

But the body does look straight, minus some paint damage (and possible rust bubbles on the driver’s side door). And if the mechanicals are in order, you might be able to spend less than 5K depending on the extent of work you do in the bed.

Photo Credit: Gateway Classic

Am I telling you to go out and buy this truck? Nope. Instead, I’m using this as a case study to show you that an older restoration could be an awesome starting point for a restomod if it was done properly the first time. However, you’ll need to do your homework first to make sure it is in good shape.

When I say “homework,” I mean that you have to get to know what bad body work looks like. That way, you can tell if you’re looking at a car that’s been excessively filled with body filler or not (if it has, it was a bad resto. You should run).

Also, are you up to par with how mechanicals work? You’ll want to hear the engine running, how it drives, how it shifts and everything else that goes into it.

Photo Credit: Gateway Classic

The above Studebaker is an excellent example of what you can find in an old restoration. If you keep your eyes peeled, you could wind up with a great deal that needs minimal work to make it awesome. The key is making sure that it was done properly, because the last thing you need is a turd that’s been hacked and Bondo filled to bits.