The Erskine was an American automobile brand produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana from 1927 to 1930. The brand was named for Albert Russell Erskine (1871–1933) who was the president of the Studebaker Corporation at the time. Studebakers Lazy S logo designed by Raymond Loewy was used from the 1950s until 1966 Studebaker was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer that was incorporated on February 16, 1852. ... South Bends downtown, with Notre Dame in the upper right. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

During his term as Studebaker’s President, Erskine encouraged Studebaker engineers to develop advanced engines. As a result Studebaker began to amass not only numerous racing wins, but also began to claim more of the upper priced market. This left Studebaker without an entry level automobile in the United States, and Erskine, who had always been fascinated by smaller European vehicles saw market potential in a short wheel based, compact car, especially if it could expand Studebaker's presence in the European market.

When introduced in time for the 1927 model year, the car was named after its creator, and marketed as "The Little Aristocrat". To make the Erskine affordable, Studebaker fitted the cars with a six-cylinder Continental engines rather then the more advanced Studebaker units and priced the cars at $995. Body design was by Ray Dietrich; the design proved to be quite a head-turner, and received numerous accolades from the British and French press. Initially, sales demand was promising. However, within a year Ford introduced its Model A and priced it at $525 dollars, undercutting the Erskine by $470. 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Continental engines were used in various American cars from independent automobile manufacturers during the early 1900s and into the 1920s. ... Ford may mean a number of things: A ford is a river crossing. ... The Model A was the designation of two cars made by Ford Motor Company. ...

To remedy this, Studebaker marketing suggested that the Erskine become a larger car, which when implemented grew the wheelbase from 108" to 114". The Erskine was no longer small, and became more like its Studebaker brethren. Ultimately, the Erskine was absorbed into Studebaker by May 1930, just in time for the 1931 introduction of its ill-fated sister marque, the Rockne brand automobile. The Rockne was an American automobile brand produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana from 1931 - 1933. ...

To his credit, Albert Erskine successfully strengthened Studebaker’s core automobile business and helped to guide the corporation toward technical advancements that eventually would help the company through the first few years of the depression.

However Erskine also encouraged the payment of stockholder dividends from Studebaker’s capital reserves as the depression deepened; this inflated the value of the stock, and eventually weakened the company. In addition to the two failed marques he created (Rockne and Erskine), Erskine also had purchased luxury car maker Pierce-Arrow during the high rolling 1920s, which had to be sold off to investors as a means of improving cash flow. 1919 Pierce-Arrow advertisement The Pierce-Arrow was a Buffalo, New York (United States) based manufacturing company from 1901 to 1938. ... Sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or primarily in North America and in Australia as the Roaring Twenties . In Europe it is sometimes refered to as the Golden Twenties. ...

Rather than lose control of Studebaker, Albert R. Erskine committed suicide in 1933 on the grounds of Studebaker’s proving grounds (now Bendix Woods Park) outside of South Bend, Indiana. South Bends downtown, with Notre Dame in the upper right. ...

Production Totals (model year) for Erskine

• 1927, 24,893 units
• 1928, 22,275 units
• 1929, 25,565 units
• 1930, 22,371 units

Online Resources

• From Horses to Horsepower, Studebaker Moves a Nation, The Smithsonian Institute

References

• Maloney, James H. (1994). Studebaker Cars, Crestline Books. ISBN 087938-884-6.

• Kimes, Beverly R., Editor. Clark, Henry A. (1996). The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1945, Kraus Publications. ISBN 0-87341-428-4.