Granatelli Studebaker E40 Bonneville Hauler
Almost Famous is Cameron Crowe’s semi-auto-biographical film about a teenage journalist who lands a writing gig with Rolling Stone magazine and tours with an up-and-coming rock band and their fetching groupies. The boyish Crowe character travels alongside his musical heroes, falls in love with Penny Lane (played by Kate Hudson), but throughout it all, remains very much almost famous.
This month’s Hidden Treasure catalogs the almost famous history of a vehicle that never actually turned a wheel in competition. Our subject automobile did, however, play an important role during a legendary land speed record assault at the Bonneville Salt Flats. In August of 1962, over a 12-hour period, racing superstar Andy Granatelli set 29 American stock car records driving a Studebaker Avanti, powered by an ultra-rare supercharged R-3 engine. The record-breaking speeds included both standing and flying starts and distances ranging from one to 10 miles and kilometers. According to period advertisements by the Studebaker Corporation, the top speed attained during the record-setting runs was 178.5 mph.
The record-breaking achievements of Studebaker and the Avanti have been well-chronicled many times over, but the very special hauler that supported the astonishing efforts has received little to no attention. That support vehicle was the 1962 Studebaker E40 (Model 7E40A), and chassis #E40 4883 was built with the singular purpose of assisting Granatelli’s team during its attack on the salt. The truck was ordered by Studebaker’s Transportation Department (order #9523) with a 131-inch wheelbase, a Studebaker 289 V8 engine (#6E 5309), and a C4 cab and body. It was painted Apache Red (code 6255), fit with a 1236A trim package and rolled on 8.25×20 tires at all four corners. Special Options included a 40-amp HD generator, HD brake equipment, brake booster omit, and 125-gallon saddle tanks. The final assembly date was April 13, 1962, precisely four months before the record-setting 12 hours.
I had been vaguely aware of this vehicle from a historical standpoint but had no idea of its whereabouts, or whether it still existed at all, until I received a recent phone call from Myron Vernis of Akron, Ohio. I know of no one who has the automotive collecting disorder worse than Vernis and I mean that in the most complimentary way. He is fearless and passionate about engine-driven machinery, regardless of the displacement or number of wheels, so I was not the least bit surprised to learn that he had found and purchased this historic support truck.
Vernis said, “I’m a huge fan of industrial designers like Brooks Stevens and Raymond Loewy who also did a significant amount of independent car design. Several years ago, after a very long search, I was able to acquire Brooks Stevens’ 1960 Trailmobile ‘Ecurie Excalibur’ trailer. Unfortunately, the 1960 Ford C600 semi-tractor, which originally pulled the historic trailer, had fallen victim to the elements several years before. My plan was to acquire a similar vehicle to restore to the original truck’s configuration. After a couple years of dead ends, a friend called with an interesting find. Knowing that I’m also a Studebaker buff, my friend was excited to let me know that the semi-tractor the Granatellis had used to haul the original land speed record Avantis and GT Hawks to Bonneville was not only available, but it was local. I quickly decided that having a non-matching but period correct tow vehicle with its own level of importance in automotive history was superior to any replica I could build. So I arranged to inspect it the next day and after very quick negotiations, meaning the seller wouldn’t budge, I bought the ex-Bonneville tow truck.”
According to Vernis, the truck was in very solid original condition with possibly one repaint since new. The original engine had been replaced while still under Granatelli ownership. Vernis continued, “The truck is now powered by a normally aspirated Studebaker 289, but with quite a few R-3 bits. It is totally functional and as pictured in the original 1963 photos from Bonneville except for the missing Studebaker signage on the doors. My plan is replicate those markings but leave the rest of the truck in its cosmetic survivor condition. In my view, the look of the red truck pulling the white and blue Stevens race trailer will be a true representation of both those vehicles’ importance in American automotive history.”
Vernis may not live the life of a rock band member, but he has a large group of people who follow his collection, and I suppose one might call us his “groupies.” Now in his early 60s, car collecting continues to be a major part of his life which keeps Vernis engaged, energetic and, to a certain extent, boyish, just like Crowe’s character. Is Vernis almost famous or famous-famous in the car world? He might just be the latter. And if you ask me, his wife Kim is every bit as beguiling as Kate Hudson.
