Studebaker built some hard-working trucks over the years, and they developed a reputation for being well-built workhorses.
They came to job sites or farms, worked like a pack mule and then faded away.
That’s not how it played out for this old ranch truck.
Jerry Sutherland
Dal Smilie bought this 1948 Studebaker pickup in 2008 and learned it had a long history of hard work through many owners. One of its stops was on a ranch near Mile City, Montana but it had many working roles over the years.
He wanted a Studebaker because he owned one before plus, “Everyone has a Ford or Chevy with a Harley in the back”. Dal wanted something different, so the Studebaker was a natural fit for his guidelines.
Dal knew what he wanted to do with this old workhorse, so he mapped out a plan to make the truck functional. The first thing to go was the factory Studebaker six-cylinder because Bill didn’t want to do “45-50 miles an hour on a road trip”.
Dal swapped the six-banger out for a 400-cubic-inch small block from a late 70s GM donor. He added a bulletproof 700R-4 automatic as part of the upgrade and the Studebaker became a road warrior. The Thunderbolt air cleaner is a tribute to the last small-block Chevy Studebakers–they used that name.
Studebaker guys are skeptical, but like Dal says, “It still looks like a stock Studebaker from 50 feet away”. He keeps the truck very stock-looking to honor its tradition, but the Chevy engine was a natural upgrade because, “You can find them everywhere—even in an alley”.
They call these projects purpose-built, and the equation really adds up when you factor in the trailer behind the Studebaker. Dal has driven this truck 100,000 miles and 70,000 of them were with a vintage holiday trailer in tow because this truck is a road warrior.
Dal retained the factory seat in the Studebaker, but it’s built up to a new comfort level. He also kept the factory instrument panel and upgraded the gauges. Dal said he gets asked about the panel because most people don’t know what a Studebaker panel looks like.
The truck also has power steering, power brakes and saddle tanks to handle the long runs, so Dal is ready for the road. He gets into a conversation every time he stops–one guy passed him, then stopped up the road to take some photos. The photos ended up in a Studebaker newsletter and Dal’s friend told him, “I know that guy!”.
That’s expected because the spectacle of an old truck puling an old travel trailer at freeway speeds is like a neon sign for people. Dal’s an outgoing guy so he handles the attention like he was born for it—he wouldn’t put in triple-digit mileage numbers if he couldn’t handle the spotlight.
The truck can handle it too—that’s a big part of the equation because a breakdown with a stock Studebaker power train might end a trip. Small-block Chevy parts are universal.
This truck is the opposite of a trailer queen, but Dal still calls it one because it hauls a trailer—not because it rides in one.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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