ROCKNE

Rockne Motors Corp. (1932-1933)

Detroit, Michigan

This is a Rockne radiator emblem (1932)      mjs
Size: 52mm high 21mm wide    MM: D L Auld

Studebaker had tried to break into the low-priced end of the automobile market with the Erskine but this failed in 1930 (see Studebaker). The Rockne was Studebaker's second attempt at this market and was a six-cylinder car, initially offered in two engine sizes and a wide range of body styles.

The Rockne was introduced in February 1932 and was competitively priced. But at the same time Ford introduced its new V-8 at an even lower price. The Rockne could not compete with Ford and the Rockne plant was closed down a year later after 23,201 units had been built.

Emblems

The first Rockne carried a red and blue enamel radiator emblem, see example shown above. There was a similar emblem for export models of the Rockne, see example shown below, although this "Made in U.S.A." Rockne radiator emblem was also used on some domestic models:

This is an export version of a Rockne radiator emblem (1932)     mjs
Size: 52mm high 21mm wide    MM: Fox

The Rockne radiator emblem was changed in late 1932 to a white, blue and red enamel radiator emblem, which included the familiar Studebaker "wheel" design, possibly because Studebaker had already decided to abandon the Rockne as a seperate marque, see example shown below:

This is a Rockne radiator emblem (late 1932)    mjs
Size: 52mm high 26mm wide   MM: Unknown 

The Rockne radiator emblem shown above was used for a short time and is scarce. It was replaced by the more common pale blue, blue and red enamel version, see example below:

This is a Rockne radiator emblem (1933)     mjs
Size: 52mm high 26mm wide   MM: Unknown