You really have to love No Reserve auctions, because these open up the possibility of securing a project car for a fairly affordable price. The owner of this 1953 Studebaker Champion Hardtop purchased the vehicle from an estate sale, with the restoration work having been commenced by the now-deceased former owner. The current owner has decided to part with what is a pretty solid old classic and has chosen to do so via a No Reserve auction. The Studebaker is located in Kingman, Arizona, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has been pretty strong, and this has pushed the price along to $3,050. The whole “No Reserve” concept must hold some attraction for the buying public because there are currently 163 people watching the listing.
The Champion’s original Salem White paint now hides under a coat of grey primer, and it isn’t clear whether any accident or rust repairs were completed before the primer was applied. The panels themselves look really good, while panel gaps are nice and consistent. What we see in this photo would appear to be the full extent of rust in the vehicle. There are spots in the front corners of the floors, and while patches have been fabricated, they haven’t been welded into place at this stage. The rear floors and the trunk look really clean, indicating that this should be a sound basis for a project. The passenger-side glass is broken and the windshield is cracked. However, a pair of spare windshields and a total of three spare rear windows are being included in the sale. The vast majority of the external trim and chrome is present, but the condition of some of these items is unknown. Still, one of the greatest attributes of the Champion is that it has attracted a strong following of enthusiasts over the years, and sourcing good secondhand parts through these people is actually very easy.
Potential owners of a 1953 Champion would face no engine choices, with the sole offering being a 170ci flathead 6-cylinder engine, producing 85hp. Transmissions were a whole different story, with buyers able to choose from a total of three. The most basic was a normal 3-speed manual, while an automatic was also available. The third transmission was a 3-speed manual with overdrive, and that’s what is fitted to this car. The owner states that apart from the air cleaner, the engine is complete. He also says that while the engine doesn’t run, it does turn freely. These were an interesting engine with a couple of little quirks that were known to lead both owners and mechanics astray. They were known to develop a knocking noise that sounded for all the world like a failing rod bearing. More often than not, this wasn’t a bearing, but the fiber timing gear letting the world know that it was heavily worn, and was only a hair’s breadth from failing. Replacing the gear is a pretty easy job. The other trap for young players was to find that an engine with a few miles on the clock was showing a drop in oil pressure. More than a few mechanics, both amateur and professional, have replaced the rings and bearings in the engine, fired the car back into life, and found absolutely no change. The valve lifters and lifter bores on these can be prone to wear, and honing the bores and fitting oversized lifters will more often than not fix the problem. Otherwise, these are a fairly rugged old engine, and while power output isn’t that flash, 138ft/lbs of torque does make them pretty flexible.
The interior of the Champion is complete, and apart from the shifter for the overdrive transmission being relocated from the column to the floor, it remains essentially unmolested. Studebaker was basically targetting the buyer on a budget with the Champion, so the car didn’t come loaded with luxury extras. The vast majority came equipped with rubber mats on the floors in both the front and rear, although if a buyer was feeling reckless, then they could choose carpet for the rear. Those mad, impetuous fools! As with the rest of the car, the Champion’s interior is going to require restoration, and I feel that there will really be no option than to either source a good secondhand interior, or to bite the bullet and purchase a complete interior trim kit. This is where things get interesting because complete kits are available that would return the interior to completely original appearance. However, there are also plenty of kits that provide some pretty nice upholstery types and colors that Studebaker would never have offered, and some even include plush cut-pile carpet as part of the package. That will ultimately come down to a matter of personal taste, but the carpet and some of the cloth upholstery options do look pretty tempting.
No Reserve auctions are a great way for a seller to attract attention, and this seller certainly has done that. This Studebaker is a wonderful old car, and it appears to be solid enough to justify a full restoration if the price remains in a realistic sort of region. These also make a great basis for a custom project, and with the right modifications, they can really be eye-catching. So, if you were to buy this 1953 Studebaker Champion, would it be for restoration, or would a custom build be on the agenda?
The hard top versions of these cars is pretty rare. Mine was the coupe with a full B pillar. This is a great core to build anything you want.
It’s a handsome car and shares a lot of styling cues to the Hawk.
The Champion has the advantage of less chrome geegaws, and does better service to the gorgeous styling.
Apart from different powerplants Studebaker could have manufactured this car unchanged for a decade if clean, simple design really mattered to folks back then.
The writer of this article seems to know quite a bit about this old flathead, sadly if I bought it, that old boat anchor would go to the scrap yard. I would upgrade to a 289 stude engine with a blower and a 5 speed…
Isn’t this the original Sunliner hardtop as distinguished from the B-pillar coupe and 2-dr sedan? Mine was a 54 B-pillar coupe and I’d want to see more of the front floor and trunk floor. The hardtops had a tendency for the doors to sag, given their weight and limited support. I always found that hard to comprehend given that the B-pillar doors had more metal. I’d swap that 6 out in a heartbeat and try to source a 289, which should bolt right up to the transmission bell housing. What a gorgeous body style, of course IMHO. Wish it were closer to me in NC.
Starliner. Sunliner is a Ford.
Then again, Starliner is a Ford, too.
This is my favorite Studebaker of all time! Blower sticking thru hood and big meats in the back would be perfect!
Hardtops are rare-ish. This design made every other 1953 car look like a bloated toad. It would make a great base for a restomod with a completely stock interior and exterior, but a modern drivetrain, HVAC, brakes, and suspension. No tacky rims or horrible billet steering wheel, etc.
Yes a hardtop Champ……which like has been said kinda rare as most I’ve seen were Commander hardtops with the V/8….
This could be a really great restoration. My Dad always swore Studes couldn’t be rolled gues he tried a couple of times LOL
These were prone to rust in that part of the car because of the side vents that held salt an sand. They used the same body until they closed down just changing the dog house and trim. They were Silver Hawks later, I had a 2 dr
post, a 56 Power Hawk W/259, should have been set on a newer chassie.
I have a ’53 Starlight coupe with a ’62 289 Lark engine. I upgraded the car with a T5 trans out of an S10 pickup. The engine to trans needed adapters to work. Also Chevy flywheel and clutch were installed along with a hydraulic concentric clutch release. The trans crossmember had to be modified to mount the trans. I put a rear with 3.42 gears out of a 2000 Chevy Sonoma in it which in turn needed wheel spacer/adapters to use Studebaker wheels. The chassis had to be altered by modifying the Stude crossmember that held the original 2 piece drive shaft and a new one piece driveshaft had to be fabricated. Luckily the engine is very strong and the car is quick and reliable. I am soon to convert the front drums to discs. The car for sale will need alot of expensive work, ie. the interior, paint job etc. I hope whoever buys it gets it at a good price because the cost to put the car into decent condition will add up big time.
I’d leave the way it is without any of those silly hot rod mods. It even looks good with the soft finish primer.
Steven not Stefvan….Im from New York not Sweden
I’ll tell you what I did years ago a customer at dads garage bought a coupe at a police auction, rod out the side of the motor told dad put a motor in it don’t care what! so he turned to me, find a motor, fool I knew had wrecked his 57 caddy eldorado, so I bought the whole car cheap and we put the caddy v8 and tranny in the studdy it went in there like it belonged there, 2×4 and all, i drove like a scalded cat! the owner was some upset that we put a big v8 in it ,refused to pay for it and give us the car and said scrap it! dad got a ownership for it and i drove it for years, loved it!
Keep it primer gray and get a stuffed Fozzie bear for the drivers seat. Relive the Muppet Movie.
Bultaco is very close to right. Save the car; it’s the best design ever, period.
Upgrade its bones to modern and safe transport, install comfort items like Vintage Air and Heat, Disc brakes, the whole 9 yards. Do the body so the car shines. The Studebaker Owners Club is very supportive and knows where all the parts are regarding your needs. And join the Club. Spend a fortune on it. Take your time. It doesn’t matter. You are owning and driving an Icon. I would do this in a minute but I have no room and have two projects underway now.
I’m sure someone has recognized this before but the styling on this car is 10 years before it’s time. Too hip for the room.
I been keeping my eye on one near me. I looked at some parts prices and they are expensive. I can probably get it for free. The building it was in fell on it ,but I don,t think any of the body has been hurt,but it looks like the windshied has. . I find out more in a couple of weeks. I always like any old car or truck—-they were well made and HAD METAL in the with NO COMPUTER JUNK.
“any old car well made”? I was raised in my teens [60s] & loved cars & such, I didn’t like any Mopar body builds, the bodies where made like crap in the 60s & didn’t get any good style til the late 60s [belvederes, chargers, cudas & challengers] but the bodies were still crap [don’t know when Quality Control got better]. But they did run stronger/take a beating with their running gear. I know way u c so many in barns/fields all rotted out with no motor, tranny, rear end. All that stuff @ Drag Strip in Dragsters. Also paying outrageous $ 4 a VIN #–Crazy stuff
Mom
had a coupe like this in blue and white , 3 speed o/d 6cyl, I believe it was a Starlite coupe , it had a bench seat in front and fixed arm rest in back. Dad always liked the under the seat heater . Remember he did a valve job on it as I watched him preform this in his shop. rust became a problem around the front air vents and it was traded in on a 1958 Ford Ranch wagon 352 police intersecpter auto P/S now that was a different car , took my drivers license road test on that car !
It’s a weird/more advanced car 4 1953 [that era] kinda like the Edsel, most cars then were big round tubs [except 4 Tbird & Corvette], was it made 2 compete with those 2? I guess I would have 2 look @/study it more 2 love it. I imagine it looked like something from outer space then & still now
Raymond Lowey at his best, very best design, better than the Avanti
Lowey’s team did it. Credit should go to Bob Bourke.
My dream Studebaker is a 1953, or 1954, convertible. The factory made one prototype but scrapped the idea because of the weak frame. Fortunately, several were converted from coupes.
That prototype still exist in Indiana.