Studebaker was an early and enduring part of the American automotive industry, selling its first car in 1902 (an electric car, no less!) and continuing to produce cars until 1967. While initially aiming at the luxury market – stemming from the company’s previous business of high-end horse-drawn wagons – Studebaker found bigger success with its entry-level Light Six model in 1918, and later with the “coming or going” Champion in 1947, which became the first new American car design to appear post-WWII. The 1950s saw the debut of the Studebaker Hawk series, which had a distinctly European flair and a compelling combination of luxury and performance. The company also combined with Packard and the two manufacturers began combining model lines. The Scotsman, Lark, and Avanti models all looked to boost Studebaker’s fortunes, but they weren’t enough to compete with the Big Three’s massive budgets, and the company shuttered its doors in 1967. Over its history car collectors have come to value Studebaker for their practical engineering, quirky styling, and resourceful design.