After World War II, Studebaker offered two automobiles, the Champion and the Commander, with the latter targeted at those who wanted a more upscale automobile. The first series would have a production run from 1947-49, which included the seller’s ’49 Commander Regal DeLuxe convertible. Just 1,702 copies of that body style would be built even though pent-up demand for new cars was high then, making this a rare find today. Off the road since 1964 and stored indoors, this drop-top project is available here on Barn Finds Classifieds. The asking price is $7,500 and you’ll have to come to Deerfield, New Hampshire for the pick-up.
Studebaker tried to be the first automaker to offer a post-war car, but Kaiser-Frazer sort of beat them to the punch by a few months. But that was in terms of display prototypes whereas Studebaker had new ’47 models in their showrooms by the Summer of 1946. Raymond Loewy and his firm did the design work and would go on to help Studebaker with several cars into the 1960s, including the Avanti. 1947-49 models would be changed little from year to year, with updates to grilles and such being the main items.
As the story goes, the seller’s parents bought this drop-top second-hand sometime after 1949 and kept it running until 1964. It was parked with some sort of an engine issue at what may be 131,000 miles. It was always kept out of the elements but moved from barn to shed more than once. The Studebaker wears 58 years of dust, dirt, and grime but doesn’t look as though any furry dwellers the car shared space with did any noticeable damage.
Under the hood should be a flathead six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 226 cubic inches and a horsepower output of 94. It’s doubtful the car could be easily coaxed to start, but no mention is made as to whether the engine is stuck after all this time. The body is perceived to be straight and has never required any bodywork (at least until now), but the black paint, white convertible top. and likely the interior will need a complete restoration.
The seller may be able to find the title, but it’s currently MIA amongst all his father’s paperwork. This is a car you’re not likely to see very often in any condition. After all, if only 10% have survived after 73 years, that could equate to maybe just a couple of hundred left. This car just stares back at you, asking “please save me.”
I really like the looks of these. Looks like it might have some good bones, though hard to tell.
For what it’s worth, Hagerty suggests a value of around $40K for a good condition car.
I wonder what it would take to get this one in minimally acceptable (drive-able) condition.
Good luck with the sale.
Hagerty values way over inflated. Yet they get away with it. Studebaker was a once proud company, but paid employees too much, had bad management and when it finally got Sherwood Egbert, he made great business moves to save the company, but he died too young. James Nance the idiot running Packard didn’t help either when the two companies on death row combined.
Restomod +LS +new frame+Brakes,suspension
One of a kind for sure but for me it cant be stock , i would fall asleep driving this jalopy
I nascar , i dont drive …
‘think I’d wanna replace the front clip with a 1950/51…
Wouldn’t work; completely different design `50-`51. Fenders won’t match to the doors, etc. Want a `51 cvt.? Better off finding one.
//;-(
The doors are the same from 47-52. The front clip does not meet at the doors. I have seen a 50 clip on a 49.
The doors are the same from 47-52. The front clip does not meet the doors. I have seen a 50 clip on a 49.
The ’50 front will fit ’47 thru ’49. The ’51 – ’52 will not.
//;-)
The 1950 bullet-nose front will fit right on— but only from a Commander. The Champion nose won’t. None of the ‘51 front parts will interchange.
I’m not familiar with these cars but this one has nice body lines. I’m generally a purist but this would make a nice restomod.
A 49 has the 245 engine. Virgil Exner was on Loewy’s staff and designed this.
The Commander’s engin was 226cid until 1950. Then it was changed to the 245. There is much difference betwixt them. Early Commanders still used babbited rods and main journals of the 245 was considerably larger than the 226. We had a 50 Studebaker that Dad bought new. It had the 226. So just a couple years later, Commander cars were 232 V-8. Studebaker kept the 245 for Trucks, large and pickups until 1960. This engine didn’t have speed but the torque was unreal. Books list the torque, but I disagree with their stated figures. Having driven many miles in quite a few Studebaker trucks, from 1/2 ton up to 2 ton. The saying goes. That a Studebaker truck and an International truck of the same size went not a mud hole. The Stude truck came out towing the International.
I was actually born in the back seat of a 1949 Champion, delivered by my grandmother. So obviously I like this one, too. Not many left. Good to see someone’s trying to keep this one out of the crusher. GLWTS
….I guess that means the backseat will have to be reupholstered….
Actually, Rodney, I remember it vividly. :-) My grandmother had the foresight to have put a shower curtain and two old towels down for my mom to lie on. It cleaned up nicely. Otherwise, you would be right, it would have been messy. LoL
The Zimmerman (formerly Automobile Driving Museum) in El Segundo CA, next to LAX, has one in museum quality condition which they drive on some Sundays to give visitors a ride around the block. It is an amazingly well built car, in terms of fit and finish, compared with a “low priced three” of the time.
Keep in mind that the Studebaker engines of the time did not go 100,000 miles without a rebuild, my father’s ’50, same engine, went only 40,000 miles and 4 years before it was toast. With some attention this would be a handsome car, gutless, but handsome.
That’s not surprising. The 245
Commander flathead six had a
LONG 4.75-inch stroke. Piston rings
will get toasted early, unless you have
overdrive, or stay below 50 mph.
“Not Many Left”
There weren’t too many to begin with!
Before the Eisenhower era, there were neither roads nor any real desire to make fast, open road cruisers like even a low-priced junker today will do. We need to step outside our modern paradigm to appreciate cars built for around-town driving, dirt roads, or narrow concrete ribbons. Life is very different at 45mph. It is an acquired taste that I never understood until I bought a Model T flatbed. Now my fast cars just sit in the shop while I go enjoy life at a slower speed.
I ride my bike and get a view and a workout simultaneously without having another vehicle to maintain
The bike is pretty much maintenance free !
Burger X 2. Before the interstates, most of us never expected to go more than 55 mph. The roads, tires, and brakes, as well as the engines were maxed to their comfortable and/or safe limits at that speed. My dad took our ’37 DeSoto up to 60 once. Wow, that was a thrill!
Charlie is right about the Studey engines. We had a ’48 Champion Starlite coupe. “Snazzy” car in the popular slang of the time. We loved it, but by 45,000 miles we were hearing death rattles from the main bearings.
People older than myself often make comments about how old engines just did not have the life in them that new engines do. Being somewhat geared to manufacturing and mechanical practices, I question why this is such a general observance. Years ago I bought a 50’s Buick wagon with 495,000 miles on it. It was pristine, and came with a “encyclopedia set” size pile of maintenance records, detailing ball joint changes and other fairly deep type work. But it never got an engine rebuild. What it DID get was faithful oil changes and other maintenance its whole life. Ironically, driving it home, it tossed TWO rods and required a major. This is where I sat down and read the whole maintenance history. Another odd thing, was the valve covers on the old nailhead refused to release. I put a little heat to them, and discovered they were glued in place by solid blocks of wax build up. When the cover was removed, it looked like one was still there ! The original owner was a rep for Colt, and drove the wheels off the car, but never considered getting a newer model. He used Pennzoil 30w religiously. Full of lovely paraffin to plug the engine with wax !
After reading all the comments, maybe this car hasn’t rolled the speedometer as I thought it probably had.
I’ll tell you what, that’s a cool car… and an actual barn find! If I wasn’t on the other side of the country I’d be looking seriously at this rag-top Stude.
I like the looks of these better than the bullet nose versions. I’m to deep into my current project or I might go after this one.
God Bless America
A couple of thoughts come to mind. I remember when oil-changes were recommended every 1,000 miles.
OTOH, fuels in those days contained sulfur, some of which would end up in the crankcase and combined with condensation, the result was sulfuric acid in the oil – with predictable dangers. So, I frequently wonder how much the vastly-improved longevity of modern engines is due to the elimination of sulfur in our fuels.
Certainly, the days of 1,000-mile oil-change intervals are long gone. While a lot of us still change oil every 3,000 miles, the recommendations for most new cars in the past 20-30 years have been more like 6,000-7,500 miles. My daughter’s new Mini – back in 2001 required oil changes only every 10,000 miles!
I remember back in the ‘40s and ‘50s, most cars with over 80,000 miles on them were considered pretty-well used up, and anything over 100,000 miles was the stuff of legends. We joked about cars that had “done the ton”, or “rolled over”. My, how times change…
Claudio,
‘ Just saw your comment. Believe me, you have my profound respect and admiration. What’s more, your bike doesn’t put out any emissions! But – I’m not about to give up my reliance on my cars at age 82 – especially in these Michigan winters where I live.
Ahaha
Dont give me too much credit
I only do it when the weather is convenient!
I don’t do it because of emissions
I do it because it is relaxing ,
You do get a different view
Like when boating
And the heart loves it too
My girlfriend and i enjoy our rides on our tandem bike , its cheesy but we just dont care
Congratulations on your age
Always enjoy reading comments from car guys with experience
We may not love the same cars but we are nevertheless bound by the same passion
Hope to read you and the others for many more years
Yolo
I’m a fair-weather bicyclist, too. 15-speed with front/rear suspension. Very relaxing and I’ve got a cargo trailer to attach for grocery runs when gas gets too much to justify driving my truck (I’m dreading that day but fear it’s looming on the horizon). As far as the Stude is concerned, the price seems a little ambitious especially with a title issue.
Hey Claudio,
Whew, when I read your first post in this thread, I thought you were one of “them”. I’m glad you’re not… so we can be friends!☺️
Yeah, i get it !
I love biking
No, i dont wear the tighties or shoes
Tshirt , shorts ,sandals and a smile
But i go to the track to watch my friends 1/4 mile
Love burnouts , 2 seater topless cars
But i cant throw paper in the garbage !
I recycle but realise that whatever i do as an individual is instantly negated by corporate !
I stop for pedestrians and cyclists
I dont care for many models of cars but wish to share with any car owner
And i nascar , i dont drive but i am always willing to let someone merge in …
Yolo