Make: Studebaker

Model: champion 3 passenger business coupe

Year: 1950

Mileage: 0

Description

1950 Studebaker Champion,

Very rare 3 passenger Business Coupe.

A fabulous example of 1950’s Americana styling.  This beautiful classic was restored in the UK in 2007 and has had very little use since, recently removed from storage by County Classics.

Left hand drive.

2.8 6 cylinder engine, flat head.

6 volt positive earth electrics.

The 1950 Studebaker Champion was first seen in May 1946 as a 1947 model year, the new Champion was Studebaker’s first new post-war offering and had up to the minute styling by the talented team of Raymond Loewy and Virgil Exner, building on the success of the original 1939 Champion. In order to liven up sales, Studebaker’s Model 9G Champion for 1950 featured radical new styling features dubbed “The Next Look”, including the signature “bullet-nose” front and more pronounced rear fins. Under the skin, all Champions came with Studebaker’s sturdy 170-cid in-line six under the bonnet, developing 85 horsepower, and sat on a compact 113-inch wheelbase. New double A-arm front suspension with tubular shock absorbers mounted inside “long-travel” coil springs were a big improvement, as was the option of Automatic Drive transmission on certain 1950 Studebakers. Available in three distinct lines for 1950, including the base Custom, intermediate Deluxe and more expensive Regal Deluxe, the Champion was offered in both two and four-door sedan variations, along with a two-door coupe and a full convertible. Demand for the new model exceeded Studebaker’s expectations and the plants in South Bend, Indiana (and Southern California and in Hamilton, Ontario) were all operating at full capacity, turning out a record 343,164 cars for the 1950 model year and dealers reported packed showrooms packed with crowds all across the country.

This is the ultra, rare variant the ‘Studebaker Champion’ 3 passenger business coupe, only 1562 were manufactured for 1950.  This is the Q4 spec, known as the ‘custom’ which carried a price tag of $1,419 Dollars in 1950.

The more common 5 passenger Champion coupe had rear seats and a fully wrap around rear windshield, as opposed to the Business Coupe which featured a single window with central split, and of course the outrageously long rear trunk/deck lid which gave the Business Coupe its rather ‘From Another Planet!’ lines and looks.

This example if fitted with the 3 on-the-tree 3 speed column change manual gearbox.

Another interesting feature is the II clutch pedal starter system, the car is started by turning the ignition key on and then depressing and holding down the clutch pedal, which in turn pushes the floor mounted starter button, so together with manual choke, it does take a little time to acclimatize to its idiosyncrasies’. Once on the road the car drives beautifully.

Imported from the USA in 2007 by well-known Custom Car Guru Andy Saunders. Restoration undertaken by its former owner who owned it from 2007 until February 2020, there are lots of photographs and various bills and documentation recoding a lot of the works here in the UK.

The car was titled new in Keansburg, New Jersey August 29th 1950 to Mr Joseph Palisciano. The original certificate of title, certificate number 1708766 is in the document file. Other old USA documents point to it always being in the New Jersey area with 2 other names and address’ on file.

The earlier USA history has yet to be researched. Inside the glove box even the original data sheet is still affixed some 70 years on!

A great cruiser which runs beautifully, will be fully checked over and serviced on sale. No MOT or road tax required, inexpensive classic car insurance. Parts availability is still relatively good with plenty of USA Studebaker specialists and an excellent UK owners club.

We love it.

Be very different from the crowd with a Studebaker!