Car Spot: 58 Studebaker President Starlight Hardtop

Making the most with limited dollars

I love the story of an underdog. You regular followers know about the special place I have in my heart for all things American Motors. The same holds true for Studebaker. With limited funds, they did a remarkable job doing battle with GM, Ford, and Chrysler just like AMC and this week’s spot, a 58 Studebaker President Starlight Hardtop is a prime example.

For 1958 Studebaker fielded the second oldest body in the U.S. auto industry aside from the revived Rambler American. It had a limited styling budget to update its ’58 models and devoted most of its resources to a new body style, the Starlight Hardtop. Other highlights included “quad” headlights and larger tail fins. These new features did not improve sales, as 1958 Studebaker hit rock bottom and was the poorest-selling full model year since the Great Depression.

The Starlight Hardtop was Studebaker’s top-of-the-line model in 1958. Studebaker called it ‘a star of the first magnitude in the constellation of Studebaker-Packard automobiles. The hardtop body style featured frameless windows and no pillar, which mimics a convertible with the top up. MSRP when new was $2,695 ($30,657 in 2025). With a four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, the ‘Sweepstakes 289’ V8 engine was rated at an impressive 225 horsepower. The President name, with roots back to 1926, was discontinued after the 1958 model year when Studebaker began focusing on the compact Studebaker Lark. Just 1,171 Starlight Hardtop Coupes were manufactured, the last coming off the line on January 7, 1958, in South Bend, Indiana.

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It was just five years later, after an unsuccessful 1954 merger with Packard, the South Bend plant ceased automobile production on December 20, 1963, and the last Studebaker automobile rolled off the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, assembly line on March 17, 1966, leaving AMC to do battle with the Big Three.

The car is a good place to start for collectors since it won’t cost a lot to get into the game. One in good condition with average specifications can be bought for around $14,000 to $26,000.

Thanks for stopping by and reading about this week’s spot along with some of its history. Come back next Sunday for another one of my finds. Have a great rest of your weekend and a great week.