March 18, 1933 – Studebaker goes bankrupt

In 1920, under the presidency of Albert Erskine, Studebaker finally fully committed to the auto industry after building its last horse drawn wagon. Though it had been building cars for about two decades, the company had a 60 year history of wagon building

. Throughout the 1920s Erskine led Studebaker through the acquisition of luxury automaker Pierce-Arrow and the launch of two short lived, more affordable automobile lines, Erskine and Rockne.

Following the stock market crash of October 1929, Studebaker fell into a tailspin. The money troubles mounted, leading Studebaker to the company going into receivership on this day in 1933. The financial crisis resulted in Erskine being ousted from his role as president. Riddled with personal debt and numerous health problems, the newly unemployed Erskine killed himself on July 1, 1933 with a bullet to the heart. 

New management at Studebaker quickly dropped the Rockne brand and sold Pierce-Arrow in order to stabilize the parent brand. In January 1935, the new Studebaker Corporation incorporated. Studebaker’s doors remained open until March 1966 when the company closed after 114 years in business.