Studebaker, with roots in wagon-building dating back to the 1850s, had firmly established itself among top-tier American automakers by the mid-1920s, offering cars that balanced engineering excellence with accessible refinement. As the company’s flagship, the Model EP Big Six exemplified this well-earned reputation. Powered by a robust 354-cubic-inch straight-six renowned for its durability, dependability, and abundant torque, the Big Six quickly became a favorite of private owners and government agencies during an era when the automobile was transitioning from novelty to necessity. Contemporary road testers lauded Studebaker’s engine design and construction, marveling at the straight-six’s exceptional smoothness and minimal vibration. The grand seven-passenger Duplex Phaeton gracefully bridged the divide between open touring cars and fully enclosed sedans with its rigid fabric top and innovative roll-up side curtains offering enhanced weather protection while preserving the vehicle’s open, airy ambiance.

Offered from Sonny Schwartz’s Suzy Q Collection, this 1925 Model EP Big Six Duplex Phaeton boasts desirable period equipment and inimitable patina. Handsomely finished in beige with black fenders and a black Duplex roof, notable features include a Stewart Warner vacuum-feed fuel system—quite advanced for its time—lockable winged Boyce Moto-Meter radiator cap, one-piece windshield with glare-proof visor, running board kick plates, and an engraved instrument cluster comprised of a fuel gauge, oil-pressure indicator, ammeter, speedometer, odometer, and clock.

With its powerful engine and innovative roof—a feature not seen again until the pillarless hardtops of the 1950s—this Big Six Duplex Phaeton is a testament to Studebaker’s quality, innovation, and style, embodying a fascinating chapter in American motoring at the dawn of the automotive age.