Neil Thompson, California (acquired from the above in 1962)
George Callaway, El Mirage, California (acquired from the above in 2012)
Current Owner (acquired from the above)
Chassis: G1216591
The SCTA’s “World’s Fastest Coupe” in 1966
Bonneville Legend Covered in Many Period Publications
Retaining 1970 Livery with Traces of Earlier Finishes
SCTA Timing Tags (1965–1972) Still Affixed; Recent Mechanical Rebuild
Accompanied by a Wealth of Books, Publications, and Memorabilia
359 CID Chrysler Firepower Hemi V-8 Engine
Enderle Fuel Injection
GMC 6-71 Supercharger
4-Speed Muncie Manual Gearbox
Rear Hydraulic Drum Brakes and Parachute
Front Independent Suspension
Rear Swing Axle with Halibrand Quick Change and Torsion Bars
The story of this Bonneville speed legend begins in 1956, when land-speed racer Belmont Sanchez plucked a sleek 1953 Studebaker Coupe from his family’s Californian used car lot and reworked it into one of the – if not the first – 1953 Studebaker Competition Coupes. Sanchez and his radical Studebaker were well known among the California racing fraternity and the car was successfully campaigned at Bonneville with numerous partners and drivers. Neil Thompson joined the Sanchez team in 1957 and became sole owner in 1962. In 1958, the Studebaker was the first car of its type to exceed 200 mph with Gary Cagle driving. Continuously developed, the Studebaker’s winning streak continued until 1963, when Thompson crashed at 242 mph due to a blown tire.
Thompson built a new racer with another 1953 Studebaker bodyshell and retained the chassis, scatter shield, LaSalle transmission, Sanchez-devised cooling system, both doors and deck lid (still showing hints of the original yellow paint from the 1960s), belly pan, steering column, steering wheel, and roll bar. A new innovation – the hinged and removable rear quarter panels – enabled quick rear-tire changes. Thompson and his reborn racer returned to Bonneville in 1965 and went on to dominate several SCTA classifications and set new speed records through 1972 on nitro-methane only.
Proof of the team’s effectiveness includes its 265.131 mph performance at Bonneville in 1966, when Thompson ran the car in both A/ and C/Competition Coupe classes and emerged as the fastest coupe that year. Further recognition came when the Studebaker was the cover car for the official Bonneville event program in 1967. Coverage in the November 1968 edition of Rod & Custom and the November 1970 issue of Hot Rod magazine reinforced for posterity the extraordinary performance of Thompson’s Studebaker. By 1970, Neil installed the sleek C3 Corvette tilt nose and the coupe was repainted. The paint, though now faded, remains essentially as photographed for a feature in the February 1971 issue of Hi-Performance Cars magazine.
The famous Studebaker remained with Neil Thompson, a lifetime Bonneville “200 MPH Club” member and former SCTA secretary, until his eventual passing in 2012. Already placed into storage during the early 2000s with friend George Callaway, the Studebaker was eventually acquired by the persistent consignor after much communication with Mr. Callaway.
Accompanying this fabulous piece of American land-speed racing history, is a wonderful trove of memorabilia and artifacts, including the eight SCTA timing tags accumulated by Mr. Thompson with the car from 1965 to 1972. An extensive mechanical rebuild was performed under the current ownership, featuring the original 354 cid Chrysler Firepower Hemi V-8 (bored to 359 cid), GMC 6-71 supercharger, and Enderle “Barn Door” fuel-injection system.
Other highlights include the Muncie four-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension, rear swing axles, and a Halibrand “quick-change” rear axle located by torsion bars. A Chrysler Slant Six racing engine from Mr. Thompson’s ownership is also included.
With a wealth of period magazines, books, photographs, and Bonneville event programs that chronicle the career of “The World’s Fastest Coupe,” this 1953 Studebaker represents a veritable treasure trove of American motor sports history and endless innovation.
