Only ONE of these exist... 1947 Studebaker Gardner Special being prepped for the Quail Lodge Auction

Very thankful for the opportunity to bring this one of a kind 1947 Studebaker Gardner Special back to life for the Quail Lodge Auction in which it sold for $390,000 !! Proud of the whole Colberns Detailing team as we tackled this multi-day project very carefully to achieve amazing results!!
Many thanks to our client for their trust in our work.
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There were over 100,000 1947 Studebaker Champions sold………………... but only one was destined to become something truly different… THE GARDNER SPECIAL.
Colberns Detailing was tasked with protecting and correcting the paint and interior on this beautiful piece of history - a one of a kind prototype created by Vincent Gardner… transformed from a stock 1947 Champion 3-passenger coupe into the low-slung sports car and signature Studebaker Bullet nose you see before you today.
Nick and his team worked tirelessly with attention and detail to perform a decontamination wash and two step paint correction, finished off with a glass like coat of wax and interior detail.
The paint had seen many years of wear and tear… noticeable scratches, contamination, and defects found throughout the vehicle’s exterior… after thorough inspection, the team got to work meticulously bringing the paint back to what it’s creator imagined…
Vincent Gardner creation set the standard and pace for custom car culture... The cockpit, windscreen, firewall , and door hinges were all pushed 18 inches rearward, while the hood and cowl were lengthened and lowered. The custom rear deck was fabricated with a hydraulically-operated rear hinge and exhaust exiting through the center of unique round tail lamps.
Years later, the vehicle was comprehensively restored by Fran Roxas at Vintage motorsports and debuted at the 2012 Amelia Island concours d’elegance. A few months later, it took second in class at Pebble Beach, validating the expense and effort lavished on the innovative design.
Colberns left no spot untouched as they worked through the interior of the vehicle… cleaning and protecting the custom leather seats and carpet. All exterior surfaces, including both sides of the wheels were cleaned and protected!
The car is powered by Studebaker’s 169.5 cubic inch six that was fitted with a 7.7:1 finned aluminum head, twin-carburetor intake manifold and cast split exhaust manifolds.
Colbern’s Detailing is proud to have worked on such a piece of automotive history, prepping it for the Quail Lodge Auction, at which it sold for $390,000. This is truly a project to remember.
Voice over work performed by the talented Crawford Roberts: / crroberts2018