Meguiar’s Top 5 West Coast d’Elegance Finalist of 2026: Marv Struiksma’s 1951 Studebaker Starlight Built by Deluxe Hot Rods
It’s not how you start but how you finish. You regularly hear a version of that motivational message from parents, coaches, and workplace supervisors. Marv Struiksma’s 1951 Studebaker Starlight coupe’s journey from backyard restomod to its current condition as a standout custom proves the wisdom of that advice.
“We had to fix everything,” says Mike Bach of Deluxe Hot Rods. His team’s task was to turn an ugly-duckling hulk into a stunning showstopper, which is no easy feat considering the scarcity of Studebakers. Off-the-shelf parts were not an option, so nearly every aspect of this reimagined ride had to be custom designed and built.
The heavily redesigned body sits on a one-off frame by the Deluxe Hot Rods team that utilizes an A-arm front suspension and a triangulated four-link rear suspension. Deluxe built all the CNC-machined components, which were shot-peened, brushed and polished, then coated in custom mixes of Cerekote. TBM brake calipers are used on the disc brakes and mounted behind custom-machined 18-inch billet wheels wrapped in Nitto rubber.
Power comes from a 750-horsepower 426c.i. LS3 V8 from Redline Performance. A custom Hillborn-based induction system feeds the fuel mix through Frankenstein M311 heads. The exhaust system includes custom 3D-printed headers and one-off 2.5-inch stainless pipes and mufflers with integral cutoff valves. The engine was beautifully detailed using a variety of custom finishes, plating, and one-off parts.
Seventy-five percent of the car’s sheet metal was custom made using wood bucks to reshape the body’s appearance. Taillights from a ’57 Oldsmobile were integrated into the custom rear quarters, while Buick headlight bezels were integrated into the front fenders and reworked to include turn signals. Custom billet bumpers fit both ends while the iconic Studebaker bullet was reworked. One-piece door glass was installed while the original four-piece rear glass was converted and flush fit to the body, as was the windshield. The Deluxe team even made the entire center section of the roof removable. Basically, nothing escaped the custom touch. The reworked metal was covered in custom BASF Black Cherry paint.
Deluxe worked with Gabe’s Street Rod Custom Interiors to completely rework the interior. A custom dash is filled with custom gauges and a custom bezel that maintain the car’s vintage style. The Recaro seats as well as other interior components are covered in tasteful two-tone leather. All interior panels (doors, kick panels, rear quarter panels, headliner, console and other pieces) were built from carbon fiber by Deluxe.
Making an old Studebaker look this good was a challenge, Mike says, but years of work paid off with this stunning custom. Would he do anything differently if he could start over? Yes, he joked, he wouldn’t start with a ’51 Studebaker!
Photos: Michael Christensen, Damon Lee
