Summary:
An icon of a forgotten era of style
Faults:
My water pump died at 149,000.
Radiator sprung a leak at 154,000.
General Comments:
The car is great, and I love it.
When I first aquired it, I had to have it re-upholstered and re-painted.
Other than that, it's been a great car.
It has the original motor, which still runs like new.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 29th April, 2002
24th Dec 2003, 18:05
Studebaker's as far as I'm concerned were good quality cars at a reasonable price and they were in some aspects a little ahead of the rest of the competition.
I had ownership of a 1953 Studebaker Champion 2 door sedan back in the late 60's and even today I have fond memories of that car. It was an L head six cylinder with the three speed standard trans with the pull out sun-gear overdrive. It also had the outside acclimatizer hose that directed heat during the winter months to the occupants in the rear seats.
The slide out vent windows were a styling feature that complemented the side windows rolled up or down and gave excellent air flow throughout the interior.
The only downside to this car that I could recall is the entire height of the front fenders used to rust terribly because of what I understand to be a rubber insulator between the cowl and inside fender.
Other than that I would love to find another same model if the price was reasonable.
21st Dec 2007, 22:24
First by far with a post war car. Remember that slogan? When the '47's fist appeared at The Paul G. Hoffman Dealership in downtown Los Angeles, I dragged my grandfather down to take a look and pleaded with him to buy one. My grandparents owned a 1939 Champion which I used for all my dates in high school. I couldn;t talk him into buying one. When I reached 21, I purchased my first Stude, a brand new 1950 black 2 door Custom model. The total price was $1,742!. The Custom model offered nothing extra, but I added overdrive, fender skirts and chromed the tail light bezels which were painted black. I drove that model for 2 years. and traded it for a loaded 1950 Champion Convertible. I drove that until I married. After two children arrived, an open coupe was not the thing to have so next I bought a 1954 V8 Conestoga Station Wagon. I drove that until 1963. I was raised on Studebakers as my stepfather;s Dad owned an agency in Long Beach, Ca. During years 1936 to 1942, we must have had hundreds of different demonstrators in our driveway as my Dad, who was the salesman, would bring home a different one almost every night,
They are in my blood, I think. I just purchased a 1949 Starlight Champion Coupe which is undergoing some restoration at this time. I was really upset when the company went belly-up. They were and still are great cars.