The Land Cruiser debuted at the World's Fair alongside the Silver Arrow, a product of Studebaker's former premium make Pierce-Arrow.

Work on both automobiles was authorized prior to the company being placed in receivership in March 1933, and Pierce being sold to investors.

The Land Cruiser was designated as a body style, and classified in the President model range (C Series) for the year.

While other manufacturers settled for re-chroming their pre-war models, the 1947 Studebaker, touted as "First by Far with a Postwar Car", had a completely new body.

The new Land Cruiser exclusively rode the company's longest wheelbase (124 in (3,100 mm)), which provided additional legroom for rear seat passengers.

It featured center-opening, rear-hinged rear suicide doors and was powered by the larger of Studebaker's two straight-6 engines.

The Land Cruiser suggested price of $2043 included a one-piece curved windshield, an electric clock and carpeting front and rear.

If you jacked up one corner of the car, to change a tire, for example, the frame flexed so much that you could either not open the door or could not close it.

As you might imagine, this problem caused many a late night conference and hasty fixes and tended to give the new model a bad name almost immediately.

The wheel covers, back-up light lenses, radio delete plate, horn button and the rear ashtray on the Starliner/Starlight coupe—all had this emblem.

The construction problems were corrected in the 1954 Land Cruiser models with heavier metal in the frames and an additional re-enforcing crossmember.

New, larger brakes were included in the package, shortening stopping distances by 37 ft (11 m) according to Motor Trend.

While it was in keeping with most other brands of the era, the large amount of chrome (demanded by the sales department) caused many people[who?]

The President Classic used the longer 120.5" wheelbase of the Hawks, and like the 1947–1950 Land Cruisers used the additional length to create a roomier rear passenger area.

Dubbed the Economiler, it was marketed for use as a taxicab, again featuring a roomier back seat area than the regular Larks.

This model was built on the longer wheelbase chassis and was a better equipped and more luxurious version of the 4-door Lark and was designed to harken back to the Studebaker Land Cruiser sedans of the late Forties and early Fifties.