Studebaker Sceptre Concept: The Electric Razor–Shaped Grille That Set It Apart

Future Whisper - The automotive world has always been shaped not only by large manufacturers, but also by independent thinkers bold enough to imagine what could come next. In the early 1960s, when Detroit was caught between tradition and experimentation, one concept quietly captured that tension in metal and glass: the Studebaker Sceptre Concept. It was a car born from ambition rather than certainty, designed to point toward a future that its maker might never reach.

The 1962 Studebaker Sceptre Concept designed by Brooks Stevens and bodied by Turin Carrozzeria Sibona-Basano. (Picture from: WIKIPEDIA)

The Studebaker Sceptre emerged in 1962–1963 through the vision of Brooks Stevens, a respected industrial designer from Milwaukee whose work spanned everything from appliances to automobiles. Commissioned during Sherwood Egbert’s presidency at Studebaker, the Sceptre was intended as a forward-looking replacement for the Gran Turismo Hawk by the mid-1960s. Stevens even referred to it as a “1966 Studebaker,” highlighting how clearly it was meant to define the company’s next chapter, rather than merely refresh an existing model.

The 1962 Studebaker Sceptre Concept designed by Brooks Stevens and bodied by Turin Carrozzeria Sibona-Basano. (Picture from: MacMotorCityGarage)

What immediately set the Sceptre apart was its exterior character, especially at the front. The Studebaker Sceptre had a unique electric razor–shaped front grille that felt futuristic without being excessive, paired with an innovative Sylvania Light Bar system that replaced conventional headlamps. This illuminated strip stretched across the nose, giving the car a clean, technical expression that stood apart from the chrome-heavy styling common at the time. Its body lines were deliberate and restrained, signaling a break from the Mercedes-influenced Hawk lineage toward something more self-assured and modern.

The 1962 Studebaker Sceptre Concept designed by Brooks Stevens and bodied by Turin Carrozzeria Sibona-Basano. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)

The rear design carried the same spirit of thoughtful experimentation. A clever clamshell-style trunk opening balanced visual drama with everyday usability, while the wide C-pillars incorporated polarizing glass panels that echoed the formal roof treatment Stevens had explored on the GT Hawk and his reworked Brazilian Aero Willys. These ideas were executed by Carrozzeria Sibona-Basano, the same Turin-based coachbuilder known for bringing Virgil Exner’s stunning Mercer Cobra to life. At the back, the Sylvania Light Bar reappeared, discreetly hidden behind a full-width ruby-toned lens. Together, these elements revealed how the Sceptre blended lighting, structure, and function into a cohesive visual language rather than relying on isolated styling gestures.

The 1962 Studebaker Sceptre Concept designed by Brooks Stevens and bodied by Turin Carrozzeria Sibona-Basano. (Picture from: MacMotorCityGarage)

Inside, the Sceptre leaned heavily into a modern Italian sensibility, a result of its construction by Carrozzeria Sibona-Basano in Turin. Black and gold vinyl upholstery, experimental mylar materials, and even concepts like astronaut-style bucket seating reflected Stevens’ desire for a fully integrated interior philosophy. A thermometer-style speedometer and instruments sat in a plastic pod atop the dashboard, while the passenger side featured an expansive vanity area with a folding mirror. The large greenhouse flooded the cabin with light, reinforcing the sense of openness and optimism the car represented.

The 1962 Studebaker Sceptre Concept designed by Brooks Stevens and bodied by Turin Carrozzeria Sibona-Basano. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)

Technically and conceptually, the Sceptre was just as ambitious. Built on a Studebaker chassis for a then-remarkable $16,000, the lone prototype was envisioned as the basis for more than a coupe—it was meant to spawn a family sedan and even an eight-passenger station wagon. Stevens proposed a transverse front-wheel-drive layout using a Studebaker OHV six-cylinder engine, prioritizing cost efficiency and packaging innovation long before such ideas became mainstream in American cars.

Yet timing proved unforgiving. By the spring of 1963, Studebaker was on the brink of collapse, and factory doors closed before the Sceptre could ever reach production. While the company faded, the concept itself survived, preserved first at the Brooks Stevens Automotive Museum and now housed at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana. Today, the Studebaker Sceptre stands less as a promise fulfilled and more as a compelling “what if,” reminding modern audiences how close bold design and corporate survival sometimes come to crossing paths. *** [EKA [13012021] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MACSMOTORCITYGARAGE | CONCEPTCARZ | CARROZZIERI-ITALIANI | WIKIPEDIA ]

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