259 2-barrel
1955–1964 family era180 hp / 260 lb-ft representative late-1950s
High-volume Studebaker V8 workhorse
Studebaker 259 V8 enginePhoto: CZmarlin (Christopher Ziemnowicz) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Studebaker · Studebaker OHV V8
Studebaker 259 V8
The enlarged 1955 Sweepstakes V8 that became Studebaker's durable mid-displacement workhorse.
259.2
Cubic inches
The 259 kept the new 3.5625-inch bore while restoring the original 3.25-inch stroke, creating the displacement Studebaker relied on for years in passenger cars and trucks.
Key variants
All variants259 2-barrel259 four-barrel/dual-exhaust
Displacement
259.2 ci
Bore
3.5625"
Stroke
3.25"
Years
1955–1964 family era
Key Takeaway
The 259 retained the 3.5625-inch bore introduced with the 224 but restored stroke to 3.25 inches. The result was a durable middle-displacement V8 with strong parts commonality and enough torque for cars, trucks, and later performance development.
Technical Specifications
- Compression
- Varied by year; roughly 7.5:1–8.8:1 in common production forms
- Horsepower
- 162 hp early two-barrel; 180 hp two-barrel and 195 hp four-barrel in later documented specifications
- Torque
- 260 lb-ft in documented 1956–1962 specifications
- Architecture
- 90-degree OHV V8
- Block
- Cast iron
- Cylinder heads
- Cast iron
- Valvetrain
- Pushrod OHV
- Aspiration
- Naturally aspirated
- Fuel delivery
- Two-barrel or four-barrel carburetion
- Firing order
- 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
The 259 retained the 3.5625-inch bore introduced with the 224 but restored stroke to 3.25 inches. The result was a durable middle-displacement V8 with strong parts commonality and enough torque for cars, trucks, and later performance development.
Internal Specifications
Variant-specific values are labeled. Engine families that span multiple years or RPOs can have different heads, cams, induction and rotating parts, so the exact code/year always takes priority.
Identification & Output
- Engine codes / RPO
- V = 259 passenger-car engine serial prefix after the 1955 transition; verify stamped engine number and date because replacement/rebuilt engines may not retain original markings
- Casting numbers
- 536452 (verified short-snout 259 crankshaft forging reference), 1556997 (verified long-snout 259 crankshaft forging reference), 1554641 is associated with later full-flow Studebaker V8 blocks but is not displacement-specific by itself
- Power rating
- Period brake horsepower / SAE gross-era rating
- Horsepower RPM
- 180 hp @ 4500 rpm two-barrel; 195 hp @ 4500 rpm with four-barrel and dual exhaust in representative late-1950s specification
- Torque RPM
- 260 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm in representative 1957–1958 specification
Rotating Assembly
- Rod length
- 6.6255 in
- Main journal
- 2.4995–2.5000 in
- Rod journal
- Approximately 2.000 in
Operating Specs
- Production notes
- The 259 combined the 3.5625-inch bore introduced for 1955 with the original 3.25-inch 232 stroke. It became Studebaker’s mainstream V8 and remained available into the 1964 era.
Compatibility Notes
- After 1955, a V-prefix passenger-car engine serial generally identifies a 259, while P normally identifies a 289; always verify stroke because decades of rebuilds can change internal displacement.
- Early bypass-oil-filter and later full-flow blocks, short- versus long-snout crankshafts, and accessory/front-drive parts vary by year.
Notable Applications
Studebaker CommanderStudebaker PresidentStudebaker HawkStudebaker trucksExport Studebaker models
Strengths
- Durable five-main-bearing architecture
- Broad production run
- Good street torque
- Strong interchange with 289 family
Weaknesses / Watch-outs
- Factory heads have modest port/valve size by modern standards
- Studebaker-specific aftermarket is smaller than Big Three equivalents
Common Upgrades
- Four-barrel intake
- Dual exhaust
- Camshaft and ignition upgrades
Racing History & Legacy
The 259 was not the principal Avanti/Bonneville engine, but it established the later 3.5625-inch-bore V8 architecture and rotating-component family from which Studebaker developed the 289 performance engines.
The 259 was Studebaker's dependable V8 workhorse and the direct foundation for the longer-stroke 289.
References & Image Credit
Engine image: CZmarlin (Christopher Ziemnowicz) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Studebaker service bulletin — 259 specifications
factory service bulletin
Studebaker Drivers Club — 1956 Commander specs
club reference
Studebaker Drivers Club — Studebaker V8 engine history
club technical history
Studebaker Drivers Club — 1957–1958 Commander 259 specifications
club period spec
Studebaker Drivers Club — V8 identification and serial-prefix guidance
club identification reference
Studebaker Drivers Club — V8 crankshaft forging-number reference
club technical reference
Key Factory / Build Variants
259 four-barrel/dual-exhaust
late 1950s–1960s195 hp representative
Higher-output production option
Engineering Notes Worth Knowing
01
259.2 cu in / 4.2 L with 3.5625 x 3.25-inch bore and stroke.
02
Cast-iron 90-degree OHV V8.
03
Two- and four-barrel carburetion depending application.
04
Documented torque: about 260 lb-ft in common late-1950s/early-1960s specifications.
History · context · related reading
The Story Behind Studebaker 259 V8
The 259 became Studebaker's dependable V8 workhorse. It had enough torque for everyday use, broad application across cars and trucks, and the right architecture to evolve directly into the longer-stroke 289.
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