Everybody has their likes and dislikes when it comes to particular features on classic cars, and what one enthusiast considers great styling might not be appreciated by the next person that comes along. This 1949 Studebaker Starlight coupe is a perfect example, as the present owner didn’t dig the shape of the front section as it came from the factory, so he subsequently replaced it with a bullet nose from a later Stude. The seller is upfront in stating that many won’t like this car if they’re a Studebaker perfectionist, or a purist, but it seems like a decent project for those with a unique vision. Priced at just $2,250, this one is located near Bremerton, Washington, and can be seen here on Craigslist. Our thanks go out to reader Curvette for finding this unusual Studebaker and sending in the tip!
The rear section has been modified as well, with the seller reporting that the original panels were replaced with pieces from a ’51 Studebaker. Thankfully, the lines flow better here than with some custom fabrications, and it’s a real plus that the owner confirms that this one is no rusty beater. The only corrosion mentioned is a section on the left rocker, so unless the buyer decides to revert everything outside back to stock, there shouldn’t be a tremendous amount of effort required before this one is ready to be repainted.
Unfortunately there’s no photo provided from the engine bay or any shots with the hood raised. Although the crank is reported to have turned as recently as last fall, it’s said to be stuck now, so some major mechanical work is going to be required here before this one’s ready to drive again. We do get to take a peek inside the trunk, and while some parts are blocking total visibility, the areas we do get to see appear reasonably solid. There is also a picture that shows several other components that will be included, so perhaps a few of these will be of some value in the future.
We just get this one glimpse of the interior, but the dash and instruments appear to be in good shape cosmetically, though it’s unknown whether they will still function after all these decades sitting. The floors are showing what’s hopefully just surface rust, and fingers crossed that there will be no structural issues found down below. This one’s going to need a few things, but I’m feeling that $2,250 might be a fair price to pay for this modified 1949 Studebaker Starlight. What do you think?
How can you go wrong with that price. You can go with any kind of build you like.
I couldn’t tell what the red thing was on the bullet itself without super-enlarging the photo. It’s just a red plastic propeller. But what I thought it might be is something that could make this already interesting conversion a tic more amusing: replace the propeller with one of those red “Pull to Arm” tags that are seen on fighter jet missiles.
Those propellers were all the rage in the 50’s…..
That 1950 nose and 1951 rear fit nicely, because Studebaker used the same body from 1947 through 1952; therefore, these modifications would simply bolt on. But that nose is a bit extreme on a coupe: it would work better on a sedan (jus’ SAYin’). Looks to me as though someone had a ’49 Stude’ and had access toba junkyard ’50, and decided to do something “interesting”… then ultimately lost interest decades ago. Too much storage-deterioration here: I’m out.
No mention of overdrive or the original model, Commander or Champion, the latter having the smaller six.
I went to an auction years ago to buy one of these and was going to update and turn the drive train around and drive it backwards because I think it would be cool with the back window as a windshield. Came home with a beautiful 1941 Plymouth coupe instead. I think this has promise and priced right.
’53 Starlight is maybe my favorite Stude; it’s so beautiful. This, not so much, regardless of the schnoz.
I like this Studie. Starlight Coupe with bullet nose. PERFECT! So it looks like a Studebaker all the way around! If not jammed with projects now I would be dragging the trailer to Washington. I would find a Studebaker V8 and hop it up. Maybe a 5 speed gearbox for fun.
SOUNDS like fun! Caution to the wind, Wayne; GO for it!
Where’s Howard ?
Now if you want reliability, swap in a 225 slant 6 with a Hyper Pack, mate that to a 5-speed Tremic tranny for grins and giggles. That’s what a friend of mine did in ’71, maybe ’72. He buys this ’41 Studebaker Champion sedan at a yard sale for $25 and dragged it home much to the dismay of his wife.
He’s lookin at a copy of Rod & Custom Magazine when Boom!
he sees a piece in there about a
guy building a car like that. So, he Yanks the slant 6 out of his wife’s crashed ’67 Dart sedan that
did indeed have a 4-dpeed in it, and drops them into the Stude.
And when it was all said and done, his wife had one of most
unique family cars in town! I did
help him with the swap and get it
running during the school year (’71-’72) so long as my classwork
was done and my grades were good. If they weren’t, I couldn’t tour that next summer. We got the car running and driving over
the Christmas vacation I had that
year. That was the best piece of
recycling I ever saw. Never saw them much after that. I’d like to
hope they still have the car after 55 years but I doubt it. Even if they don’t have it, it’s still a good
story to tell.