Update 4/25/2018 – We just heard from Casey. The Studebaker is officially sold and will be heading off to its new owner soon. Our congratulations to both parties and we hope the new owner will keep us updated!
From 4/20/2018 – It’s not often that we find running and driving projects for this kind of money! Reader Casey C. has listed this charming 1951 Studebaker Champion with us for an asking price of only $6,000 and assures us that it “could be a daily driver with a little effort.” Casey has the car in Roswell, New Mexico (maybe aliens are involved, considering how rarely we find a car of this vintage as an affordable runner/driver?) and if you’re interested, please use the form at the bottom of this post t0 let him know and get more information!
Let’s hear from Casey about this neat car: Nice little running/driving project. Suicide doors, original radio in the trunk (disconnected). The last paint job was not done very well but most of the body is in good shape (see photos). Chrome is all there but shows pitting.
Casey was very thorough with the pictures, illustrating the bad as well as the good. Be sure and click on the thumbnails at the bottom of the post for more details.
It looks like you’ll have to replace a quarter window eventually (but see the photo below, it’s included) — but how many cars like this do you actually see on the road? Casey continues: Missing a couple trim pieces. Needs some TLC to get it to a good show quality but a great start.
Here’s some of the extra trim and parts that come with this unusual driver.
Sure, the trim is pitted somewhat, although this will clean up somewhat with some polish and elbow grease. Plus there’s a spare set of tail lights and chrome included that look much better!
I think the suicide doors are just cool. I’m wondering if the blue was an original color; I think it would look nicer than the current gray, and would contrast nicely with the interior.
Speaking of the interior, Casey tells us that the “inside has been re-done semi recently, nice upholstery job.” It certainly looks in great shape and would give you a nice place to start from if you are looking to improve this driver classic.
Under the hood is the original flathead six cylinder that displaces 169.6 cubic inches and originally made 85 horsepower and 138 lbs-ft of torque. Casey tells us that it “sounds like an airplane” and “has good power.” Attached to a three-speed manual transmission I’ll bet it feels just fine, especially since the car only weighs around 2,700 pounds.
If you’re interested in this running and driving find, contact Casey through the form below!
Location: Roswell, New Mexico
Asking Price: $6,000
Mileage: unknown
Title: Clear
You had me at “suicide doors”! This would make a nice ride that you definitely WOULD NOT see often, (if ever!) at your local Coffee & Chrome show! :-)
I’d come out of the bar and prolly get in the back seat to go.
Had a ’62 Plymouth like that.
Perhaps the next owner could build one of these?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1BxNmGauuw
Now that would wow the troops at one’s local Coffee and Chrome show!
Every time I see one of these I think of Fozzie Bear from the Muppets cruising down life’s highway.
I always liked the look of these bullet nose Studes.
Nice car.
Roswell. NM? Of course, this would be the “greys” vehicle of choice.
Wow! Looks like Casey’s got one nice
looking Stude! Just wish I had the cash to make it mine. These were great cars that ran forever sipping very little gas.
Who needs a cookie cutter enconomy car when you could be driving this! Almost bought one 30 years ago, but my wife wouldn’t have it. After doing some upgrades to the original 6, the braking
and electrical systems, I’d teach my
SIL to drive a 3 speed, and use this car
every day without worry or regrets.
Great find!
Farmers referred to the Stude’s front end as ‘a two-row corn picker.’ The comfort and durability of the car won over many farmers’ budget book keepers (wives).
Deploy some steel wool on the chrome, drop the rear 3″ and the front 2″. Wide whites wrapped around steel rims with flipper covers, then roll them Lucky’s in yer T-shirt sleeve and cruise the Blvd. !
I love old Studbusters. My Grandfather had a dark green 48 Champion but to me the 53 Studebaker 2 door hardtop was the most beautiful car of the 50’s and they made such cool hot rods and naturally Bonneville cars. During the early 60’s a large family of auto mechanics in town were all 53 Studebaker nuts and had about 1/2 dozen between them. Engines ranged from the Buick 401 to a 392 Hemi. To a 10 year old kid they were coolest, still are :)
I have 2 Champions, a ’50 Coupe and a ’51 Starlight Coupe. In my opinion this car is way overpriced for the amount of Bondo on it, and missing (hard to find parts). The upholstery isn’t original in style, and the headliner needs work or replacement (not cheap either)
But it would depend on the condition of the body. Trunk and sills look solid…but lots of Bondo…poor bodywork elsewhere…which might be from damage not rust…especially if it’s lived it’s life in New Mexico. But I see Bondo around the fender vents too…which was a prime rust spot on these.
Also, 4 door Champions are the least valuable Studebakers for that year.
A few things appear to be missing…front bumper frame covers, rear gravel shield, horn button, etc.
Hood trim pieces are included in the extra parts…but the spare grills and bullet are for a 1950.
Might make a descent project at 1/2 the price.
There is a company in Kentucky (if memory serves) that manufactures nothing but Studebaker and Packard interiors, from floor mat the headliner. And NOS is out there. Check the Studebaker Driver’s Club mag, Turning Wheels. If you can do bodywork, don’t be afraid to buy this one.
The spare bullet is for a 51. He has the bullet off a 50 installed
The 51 bullet has a plastic center while the 50 bullet was one piece chrome metal.
Had one of these a few years ago, what a cool car!!!
I currently own a restored ’51 Champion Starlight Coupe. Interestingly, it’s said that these cars took styling cues from the P-38 Lightning aircraft from WW2. Great little rides!
Surprised that there are still any out there. Check out the movie Streets of Fire. The police cars were all bullet nose Studebakers painted white and were run into, burned, wrecked, etc. Weird movie (a rock & roll fable) marred by the destruction of so many fine Studebakers.
Love these. My parents brought me home in a 50 Starlite 2 door.
Personally I wouldn’t worry about “incorrect” upholstery or four doors. The interior is in usable shape. This wouldn’t be a Barrett Jackson candidate but drive and fix as one goes.
Who cares if it’s “worth less” because it has four doors ? How many times does one see any 50-51 Studebaker ?
Better to see this out there, rolling and improving over time because someone loves it than to reject it because it’s the “wrong” body configuration.
I grew up in my father’s ’50 Champion Regal Delux, midnight blue, 4 door (with child locks on the back doors – you had to open a front door to open a back one on the same side), hill holder (so, as my mother observed, you could stay still stopped at an up hill stoplight while the guy in front of you rolled back into you), no oil filter so engine was toast at 40,000 miles, chrome pitted badly, not much of a second gear, overheated even when new on the long hills of rural NY and PA in the summer, uncle bought a ’51 with the new V8, never ran smoothly, enough to covert my father and my uncle to Chevrolets. On the other hand, the Automobile Driving Museum in LA has a ’48 or ’49 Champion convertible, the fit and finish are so much better than a comparable year Chevy or Ford.
My grandfather had 50 4 door, same color. I wonder if this has hill hold.
Car in the pictures looks like a 50 to me although all the chrome laying on the pavement is for a 51….
It looks like it has an overdrive instead of a straight 3 speed
Looking at the T shape handle just to the left of the steering column, it looks like it says OD. Wether it world or not is another story.
Are the suicide rear doors a standard of the Studebaker of this model, or an alteration?
I believe they are standard.
Suicide Type rear doors were very common on Studebakers of this era 1952 was the last year for them. With the advent of the new body style in 1953, they then were of conventional styling.