Rare vehicle acquired by Studebaker National Museum for their collection

By: Spencer Beehler

Posted: Dec 14, 2022 7:43 PM EDT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --Recently the Studebaker National Museum acquired the Bonnie Doon Special, which is a Studebaker-powered Midget race car.

Sponsored by the Bonnie Doon Ice Cream Company, the car was built in 1948 by W.c. "Barney" Barnum of Mishawaka, Indiana.

The car was campaigned extensively in the AAA Midget racing series from the late 1940s to the early 1950s, both locally and nationally, with its best finish being in 1953 with driver Rex Easton in third place in the season-end rankings.

Midget racing roots trace to the mid-1930s as an exciting and affordable motorsport series, as Studebaker's Champion engine debuted in 1939 as a popular midget powerplant, because of its ruggedness, compact design and high-RPM abilities.

the new special piece of local history will be on display starting this holiday season.

Located at 201 Chapin St., west of downtown South Bend, the Studebaker National Museum is open Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5:00 p.m.

Admissions are $11 for adults, $9.50 for seniors over 60, and $7 for youth ages 6-18.

For more information, you can call the Museum at (574)235-9715 or toll free at (888)391-5600 or visit www.studebakermuseum.org.