PROFILE OF THE SOC-UK COMMITTEE

PAUL ECCLES - PRESIDENT

Paul Eccles on left with Ricardo Adonas from Chile with Paul's Packard Hawk in background

Paul's 1966 Daytona with Best Studebaker Award at ROG

Our Club President gained an early love for cars, as his father was in the motor trade.  One particular car that his father owned, was a late 1930s Studebaker which left quite an impression.  Paul and his wife Elaine live in Bolton, Lancs.  Starting with a 1962 GT Hawk, he then purchased a 1963 Avanti.  On a visit to Miami, he stayed at a hotel in the ‘Art Deco’ area where for a number of years, a 1958 Packard hard-top was parked outside as an advertisement.  It couldn’t be missed as its colour was lavender with a white top.  There were only a few hundred made and the one Paul obtained was in a ‘dirty’ kind of gold colour.  He determined to have his in the same colour and set about having it re-painted, while he coloured the interior to match!  Paul’s latest addition to his ‘flock’ is a 1966 Daytona, one of the last Studebaker’s built at the plant in Hamilton, Ontario Canada before auto production ended.  Paul will use this car while on the Suffolk Tour.

REX BURR - MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY/TREASURER

Rex Burr with Gerald Tucker from Florida USA

1958 Silver Hawk owned by Rex Burr

Rex lives close to Norwich with his wife Ann.  He worked for Lotus Cars as an engineer before retirement. Starting with a mid-fifties Ford, he then acquired a 1957 Studebaker Classic sedan.  As that needed some work, he decided that he needed to become a Studebaker driver sooner rather than later, so purchased a lovely 1958 Silver Hawk.

ARTHUR MELROSE - VICE PRESIDENT/TECHNICAL GURU

Arthur Melrose and Pat Donlan at the ROG in 2002 

The year 2002 was the 150th anniversary of Studebaker.  A huge celebration was held in Studebaker’s home town of South Bend Indiana.  Not content just to be there as a dozen of us were, Pat shipped his 1962 GT Hawk to Baltimore, drove it from there all the way across country to California, before calling in at the Studebaker Meet, on his way back! 

1960 Hawk owned by Arthur Melrose

Arthur lives with his wife Eileen in Hampshire.  He came to Studebaker much earlier than the rest of us.  While still a young man, he had two different late 1940’s Studebakers.  In more recent years, he has spent ten years restoring a 1960 Hawk.  The wait seemed endless but now he has a car to be proud of and displays it at every opportunity at many shows each year.

MIKE SANDY - EDITOR OF "THE STUDE EXAMINER"

Mike Sandy - Editor at home

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1962 Lark owned by Mike Sandy - still under restoration

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Mike Sandy lives in retirement near Torrevieja, Costa Blanca Spain with his wife Diana.  He has had a ‘hot spot’ for Studebaker 60 years, ever since he first saw an advert in a magazine for the dramatic post war, ‘wrap around’ rear window coupe.  First gaining experience with a 1956 Sky Hawk, he now has a 1962 Cruiser and a 1962 GT Hawk.  All three of the cars were assembled in the Belgium plant of ‘D’leteren-Freres. Studebaker used this old (since 1805) company for 30 years.  He hopes to have the Cruiser ready after an engine transplant, for it to take part in the Suffolk Tour in July.