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Studebaker designer and Excalibur founder Brooks Stevens and his automotive paradise

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Created on June 4, 1980

Text:

Halwart Schrader

Photos:

Chrysler Group

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Jeep

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Archiv

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Chrysler Group

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Jeep

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Archiv

26

Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk (1962) - Clear edges in the design without appearing clunky.

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Brooks Stevens in his study

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Studebaker Lark Convertible (1959) - as the Lark VIII, the first "compact" with an eight-cylinder engine

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Studebaker Lark Convertible (1962) - The Lark and its derivatives are among Studebaker's best-selling models.

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Studebaker Lark Wagonaire (1963) - Many aspects spoke in favor of buying a Wagonaire. These included the generous amount of space and the professionally finished bodywork.

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Studebaker Lark Wagonaire (1963) - The roof over the cargo area could be pushed forward for unlimited loading height

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Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk (1962) - elegant coupé with a radiator grille reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz

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Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk (1963) - new angular roof pavilion modeled on the Ford Thunderbird

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Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk (1962) - The interiors designed by Brooks Stevens gave the Studebaker a European look.

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Jeep Jeepster (1967) - Brooks made sure that the Jeep became more and more a pure everyday car - today called an SUV.

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Jeep Jeepster (1948) - Brooks was inspired by the Army Jeeps when he designed the Jeepster.

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Willys Wagoneer (1963) - the six-cylinder engine delivers 142 hp, the transmission is automatic

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Willys Wagoneer (1963) - large loading area thanks to overall expansive dimensions, the rear window can be lowered from the outside

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Jeep Wagoneer (1963)

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Jeep Wagoneer (1966)

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Jeep Wagoneer Station Wagon (1968)

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Jeep Wagoneer (1967) - It was originally designed by Brooks and was known for having very few changes throughout its construction.

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Jeep Super Wagoneer Station Wagon (1966)

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Jeep Wagoneer (1970) - from Kaiser, with four-wheel drive, solid and functional, but CHF 27,000 expensive - Geneva Motor Show 1970

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Kaiser-Jeep Wagoneer Koeng (1969) - all-terrain ambulance - Geneva Motor Show 1969

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Jeep Wagoneer (1969)

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Excalibur SSK (1968) - very similar to the original Mercedes Benz SSK from the front

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Excalibur SS (1965) - René Dreyfus in front of his restaurant in 1965

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Excalibur SS (1965) - interesting mix of old and new, even on the outside

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Excalibur SS (1965) - the rear has a unique design

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Excalibur SSK (1968) - modeled on the Mercedes Benz SSK

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Excalibur SS (1965) - Olaf Baron Fersen at the wheel of the Mercedes SS replica

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Excalibur SS (1965) - blend of old and new in the interior

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Excalibur SS (1965) - there is even an emergency roof

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Excalibur SS (1965) - disc brakes and of course no rigid front axle

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Excalibur SS (1965) - Side Pipers on the SS replica

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Summary

Brooks Stevens is regarded as the inventor of the replica and also had great success with his Excalibur. He is one of the creators of "European" lines in American automobile construction, such as the Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk. He turned the Jeep into a civilian tourer and thus the first SUV. This article from 1980 tells the success story of Brooks Stevens and shows some of his creations in pictures and sales literature.

This article contains the following chapters

Cars, office supplies and interiors
Great commitment to Studebaker
Sales crisis as a harbinger of a rift
Family business as a pioneer
Successes in motorsport
Lovers and connoisseurs

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

He is regarded as the inventor of the replica and was probably more successful with his Excalibur than anyone else in the industry. He is one of the creators of "European" lines in American automobile construction, turned the Jeep into a civilian tourer and amassed a collection of historic vehicles that is one of the most interesting in the United States. Brooks Stevens is mentioned in the same breath as Gordon Buehrig, Virgil Exner and Raymond Loewy - he is one of the great personalities in American automobile design. An automobile obsessive - that's what a French journalist called him after an interview. It's true: Brooks Stevens, the agile man in his mid-sixties, still only knows one subject: the car. As one of the most famous designers in the United States, he has been responsible for more than fifty car models that have been launched on the market over the last four decades. The veteran collector, who lives in Fox Point, Milwaukee - he has his own museum in Mequon - and creator of the Excalibur started out quite prosaically in 1937. With the design of the superstructure for an Allis-Chalmers farm tractor. Unfortunately, Stevens does not own such a tractor.

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