In honour of the Ontario Chapter of the Studebaker Driver’s Club 50th anniversary, a celebration will take place outside Napanee’s Strathcona Paper Centre on Friday July 29, Saturday July 30 with a breakfast on Sunday July 31.
The car show will be on Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm following with a banquet and awards dinner in the SPC hall from 6pm to 8pm.
Studebaker started out manufacturing wagons in 1852 then converting to automobiles in 1902. The first car was electric, then gasoline combustion engine in 1904. By the 1920s Studebaker became a top automobile brand. Wagons and automobiles were manufactured in South Bend, IN.
In Canada automobiles were manufactured in Walkerville Ontario (now Windsor) until 1936 and Hamilton Ontario from 1948-1966.
In December 1963, manufacturing ceased in South Bend and moved to Hamilton. The last car came off the assembly line March 1966.
It is expected that 50 cars may be on display at the SPC.