1/13/24 – Added Art Slack’s 1941 Dodge
The Hopewell Valley not only has fine historic buildings, but also antique cars that go well with the historic feel. You can see these cars in local parades and events, including Cruise Night in Hopewell Borough.
Here’s a wonderful photo of a 1941 Studebaker taxi at the Pennington train station, courtesy of Mark Krisanda. The image looks historic, but the photo actually was taken just last year.
The photo of the 1935 LaSalle Touring Sedan at the Hopewell Train Station is similarly timeless looking, but again was taken last year, courtesy of Roger Labaw.
Both Krisanda and Labaw exhibit these antique cars at various events. The Studebaker is black with the yellow sides and hood to match the “Taxi” lettering on the side. The LaSalle is black with red trim and the big whitewall tires.
1941 Studebaker Champion Taxi
Studebaker was founded in 1852 as a coachbuilder, manufacturing wagons, buggies, carriages and harnesses. In 1902, Studebaker entered the automotive business with electric vehicles, and in 1904 with gasoline vehicles. The company struggled in the early 1950s and was merged with Packard in 1956. It finally closed its automotive business in 1969.
The Studebaker Champion was produced from the 1939 model year until 1958. It was one of Studebaker’s best-selling models because of its low price, durable engine, and styling. Its lower weight and good fuel economy also made it particularly popular during World War II gas rationing.
The Champion’s curvy “ponton” styling with integrated fenders was created by industrial designer Raymond Loewy, also known for the Shell, Exxon, TWA, and former BP logos, the Lucky Strike package, and the redesign of Coca-Cola vending machines and bottle.
- See the Studebaker Champion on Wikipedia
1935 LaSalle 5019 4-Door Touring Sedan
The LaSalle brand of luxury automobiles was sold from 1927 through 1940. It was manufactured and sold by the General Motors Cadillac division. It was shorter and priced lower, positioned as astep down from Cadillac (and a step up from Buick).
The LaSalle was the inspiration of GM styling chief Harley Earl. The mid-30s LaSalle was the height of art deco design and styling with lavish interior and exterior details. Cadillac built 8,653 LaSalles for 1935; once again exceeding sales of the more expensive Cadillac.
This car had two spare tires in fender wells, a 6-tube Cadillac radio, a clock, an extra sun visor, a Banjo steering wheel, and also had a factory-installed steam heater (which was unsuccessful). This car cost about $1700 in 1935.
- See the LaSalle on Wikipedia
1941 Dodge Custom Luxury Liner
Another contribution – this is Art Slack’s 1941 Dodge Custom Luxury Liner taken in 2022 in front of St Alphonsus church in Hopewell, courtesy of Anne Slack Kenyon.
Brothers Horace and John Dodge founded the Dodge Brothers Company machine shop in 1900, and supplied parts and assemblies to Detroit automakers, including the entire chassis for the original Ford Model A. They began building complete automobiles under the “Dodge Brothers” brand in 1914. The company was eventually sold to the new Chrysler Corporation in 1928, where the Dodge brand was positioned as a step down from Chrysler, along with DeSoto and Plymouth.
The Dodge Luxury Liner was a series of cars introduced for the 1939 model year. The Luxury Liner was created to celebrate Dodge’s 25th anniversary, and was available in Deluxe or Custom trim levels. Production lasted until 1941, when the model split into the Dodge Deluxe and Dodge Custom.
- See Dodge on Wikipedia
- See the Dodge Luxury Liner on Classic.com
We welcome other historic images and materials to share from around the Hopewell Valley.
More on Hopewell Railroads
Two railroads were built in the 1870s to connect Philadelphia and New York by travelling up from the Delaware River, through Pennington and Hopewell, and then north towards New York. The Mercer and Somerset opened in 1874, but was shut down in 1880. The Delaware and Bound Brook opened in 1876, and is the predecessor of the line that still runs through the area.
Hopewell Valley Railroad Lines
- Post – The Railroads of the Frog War – Hopewell Valley Railroads
- Post – Hopewell Reading Line Railroad Timetable Collection – Local train service
- Post – Hopewell Railroad Research – Mercer & Somerset in Hopewell Boro
- Post – Railroad Trains and Flooded Bridges
- Post – Hopewell Valley Railroad Artifacts
- Post – The “Frog War” in Hopewell – with references
- History Brief – Hopewell Valley Railroad Lines (PDF)
Hopewell Valley Train Stations
- Post – The Hopewell and Pennington Train Stations (1876)
- Post – Railroad Stations in the National Register of Historic Places – Documents
- Post – Hopewell Railroad Sidings
- Post – Pennington Train Station Underpass
- History Brief – The Hopewell and Pennington Train Stations (PDF)
Hopewell Railroad Presentations
- Presentation / Video – Industrial Hopewell: Railroad Place – References
- Presentation / Video – Life in 1900s Hopewell With the Arrival of the Railroad – References
- Presentation / Video – Hopewell Train Stations: History and Art – References
Train Stations in Photos
- Post – Train Station Photos by Harry Abendroth
- Post – Ralph Curcio Hopewell Railroad Photos
- Post – Hopewell Train Station in 1881
- Post – Hopewell Train Station Photos – 1914 & c1940
- Post – Hopewell Trains and Stations – 1955
- Post – Images of the HOPE Switch Tower – 1950s
- Post – Hopewell & Pennington Train Stations and Buildings – 1973
Railroad Collections
- Pamphlets – Railroad Timetable Collection
Media – Railroads in Image Gallery
- Artwork Gallery – Hopewell Train Station Art Gallery
- Gallery – All Hopewell Train Images and Hopewell Train Station Images (HwRR)
- Gallery – All Pennington Train Images and Pennington Train Station Images (PnRR)
Media – Railroad Artwork
- Post – Hopewell Train Station Art Gallery
- Post – More Intriguing Hopewell Train Station Art
- Post – Hopewell Train Station Art by Jerry Cable
- Post – Hopewell Train Station Painting with Steam Engine 602
Media – Railroad Video
- Video – 1940s videos of people boarding trains at the Hopewell Train station (YouTube)
