INFO GUIDE: 1965 Studebaker Daytona 2 Door Sports Sedan

• Sports Sedans were fitted with front bucket seats, a rear bench seat and an optional centre console. The front bucket seats had ash-trays mounted on the backs. As standard, these seats did not recline, but a reclining feature was an option.
• A buttoned/tufted vinyl fabric was applied to the seats. The front bucket seats had 6 even pleats on the squab and on the seat back. The rear seats had 14 pleats across. See images for an example of the original trim pleat style.
• The vast majority of cars were fitted with black vinyl trim. We have not been able to track down 1965 interior trim colour charts, however, we have been in contact with the 1965 Sports Sedan register administrator who has confirmed several cars were factory fitted with black/white two tone vinyl trim and several cars reportedly had Tan trim. We have also cited cars appearing to have original red trim, and Blue trim. This is purely based on observation so please contact us if you are aware of additional colours and codes, or can provide quality images of examples.
• Early 1965 cars were fitted with an all-white steering wheel (the same as applied to 1964 model Hamilton built cars). At some stage in 1965, an all-black steering wheel became the standard, which continued into the 1966 series Sports Sedan.
• Door cards applied to the Sports Sedan had chrome decorative trim routed below/around the window crank, and a buttoned/tufted effect was embossed in the door cards to match the seat trim style. The Studebaker emblem was also embossed into the top of the cards. These cards were introduced in 1964 models, with the style continuing through to 1966 (subject to some modifications).
• Black carpet and cream roof lining were applied to all 1965 Sports Sedans.
• Vinyl trunk mat and spare wheel cover were applied as standard.
• Air-conditioning was optional, and consisted of an under-dash mounted system, which had printed on the front "Air Conditioned by Studebaker". Cars fitted with this system usually also had a sticker on the rear windscreen stating "Air Conditioned by Studebaker".
• Push-button Studebaker radio.
• Triple instrument cluster display (instrumentation included speed, rpm, fuel, temperature, oil and Amps).
• Pop up mirror in glove box, with cup tray built into the lid.
• The sun-visor clips on the 1965 model are white plastic (as opposed to aluminium, as applied to the 1966 model).

If you are aware of any additional features applicable to the 1965 Sports Sedan, please comment below or contact us.

We have attached images of original color charts from 1965, and provided a number of examples of these colors for the 1965 Sports Sedans (where possible). 

Please note, We are missing examples of several 1965 paint colors which may have been available on the Sports Sedan. Please get in contact with us if you have images of these colours on the Sports Sedan (or better examples than the current examples). The colors we have not cited on the 1965 Sports Sedan include Astra White, Bermuda Brown, Horizon Green and Laurentian Green. If anyone has further information on the availability of these colors or a breakdown of the production numbers, please contact us so we can improve this section.

Vinyl roof colors:

Vinyl roof colours were limited to black or white.

Vehicle identification number (VIN):

The Sports Sedans vehicle identification numbers commenced at C510001. It is important to note, however, that VIN numbers of this style were also applied to other 1965 Daytona body styles, as well as 1965 Commander models. Therefore, this number on its own does not necessarily confirm with certainty that the vehicle is a Sports Sedan. Other features as noted throughout this guide should be referenced to confirm authenticity, along with a vehicle's original build sheet, if available.

Location of chassis plate / VIN plate:

The VIN plate on 1965 and 1966 cars was spot welded (not riveted) to the inside post of the driver’s door, between the hinges. See the images for an example.

Body tag details:

The body tags provide information with respect to the year, engine type, and unique body number.

There were two body tags applied:

• Tag 1: "V-F8" = 2-door 283ci V8 Sports Sedan  /  "S-F8" = 2-door 194ci or 230ci 6-cylinder Sports Sedan.
• Tag 2: This 4 digit code is the vehicle's unique body number.

The body tags were screwed onto the vehicle's firewall just below the heater air-filter (as shown in the images).

Original order / build sheets (production order):

The most accurate way to confirm a vehicle's authenticity and original specifications is to order an original build sheet from the Studebaker National museum. You will need to provide the vehicle's serial number and model to order one of these, and the sheet will confirm all the relevant serial numbers as the car was built, the trim level, paint color, options from the factory, key codes, etc. This link will take you to the order form on the Studebaker National Museum website.

The 283CI engine fitted to the Sports Sedan will have a serial number of 805,420,001 or higher.

The serial number is located on the top front passenger side of the engine block. You will see a flat area, with the serial number punched in. The number is displayed with the "80" spaced slightly apart from the remaining serial number digits.

As the McKinnon engine plant also produced engines for other GM brands from this plant, the batches of engines allocated to Studebaker were not all consecutive, and therefore large 'gaps' in serial number data exist between one car to the next. Further, unlike other GM 283 engines, the McKinnon blocks used in Studebakers did not have a foundry code preceding the engine serial number. For example, the St Catherines McKinnon plant would usually have "K" applied prior to the serial number, but such plant ID codes appear to be absent on the Studebaker engines we have viewed. We have relied on a small sample of engine numbers to make this conclusion, so if readers have any further information, please contact us.

As noted in the preceding section, an original production order sheet will be necessary to confirm that the vehicle retains its original engine. See section 7 of this guide for further details with respect to the 283 McKinnon engines.