“Studebaker’s low-swung new 1949 Champion has that distinctive look you want – clean, smooth-flowing body lines . . . massive wraparound bumpers . . . exciting new colors.” That’s the opening line of a 1949 Studebaker brochure and this 1949 Studebaker Champion can be found here on eBay in one of my favorite cities on the globe: Rapid City, South Dakota. The seller has an unmet opening bid price of $2,900 listed and no reserve after that.
As one of the first all-new line of cars after WWII if not the very first, the third-generation Studebakers were made from 1947 through 1952 and were available in two-door, four-door, and two-door convertible models in Deluxe and Regal Deluxe trim levels. This grille is the last one before the very distinctive and famous – or infamous depending on if you’re a fan or not – bullet-nose Studebaker grille. I prefer the ’47 through ’49 grilles such as on this car, but that’s just me. The seller says this car is perfect for cruising around town in style and I have to agree.
A split windshield and split rear window is pretty unusual to see today and, sadly, cars from this era are showing up less and less at car shows as restomods from the 1960s and 70s are taking over with most collectors. The folks who owned these cars, or rode in them as kids, are getting older and selling their vehicles and retiring from the hobby. Not all of them, of course, but anyone who has gone to a car show over the last two decades will have noticed a huge shift from older restored cars to rat rods and restomods, maybe due to the influx of TV (fake) reality shows. What’s inside that trunk? Here’s a photo.
The exterior looks great on this car, despite the faded paint. I don’t even see a door ding on this beautifully designed exterior, other than an unusual spot next to the trunk on the left side. Studebaker was proud of the front and rear wraparound bumpers, but I wonder how many folks would rather see smaller ones in their place. The interior appears to be a work in progress. The seats have been recovered and the seller shows two big rolls of extra fabric on the rear seat. The dash is beautiful with its woodgrain. A clock would have been available for the center spot on the dash. The steering wheel could use some help and the floors in the front, since this was a Deluxe, would have had rubber flooring rather than carpet.
The engine should be Studebaker’s 169.6-cu.in. L-head inline-six with 80 horsepower and 134 lb-ft of torque. It sends power through a three-speed manual to the rear wheels and the seller says that it could use some help with the underhood wiring. This sure looks like a fun weekend project car. Drive and enjoy while you keep tinkering with it. Any thoughts on this Studebaker Champion?
All new indeed for ’49. By comparison, the ’48 Stude can be seen in the background of the 2nd photo!
Ha!
Need a ‘sarcasm’ font.
Yeah one horse power lol
“A bear in his natural habitat: a Studebaker.” So says Fozzie the Bear in The Muppet Movie while driving a 1951 Studebaker Commander borrowed from a hibernating uncle.
Im sorry, but I just couldnt resist. I love this generation of Studebakers, and the Muppet movie came out when I was in Grade School. Ill have to admit, I think I started liking them when I was 8 years old
Rover acquired a Studebaker Champion to help with their P4 development . Many features of the cyclops model are near identical.
A 1949 Studebaker ? That’s a rare one ! I recall back in ’61 seeing some of these still on the road. I didn’t give it much thought as there were a lot of late forties and mostly cars from the fifties . Studebakers were very reliable vehicles and ( unlike today’s cars ) , easy to work on ! A lot of those old Studebakers were scrapped years ago making any existing examples more rare ..Happy Motoring !
My dad owned a 1948 Studebaker Champion. I rememebr riding in the front when I was about 7 or 8 year old which would have been 1957-58 (no seat belts nor children’s seats back then). It was green and probably was attractive in its day. All I remember is it shaking and shimmeing because of a bad front end. Shortly thereafter he junked it and bought a 1952 Buick Special which was a beautiful used vehicle. Sad to think that this once great nameplate became srap.
I came home after birth in 1952 riding in a 1950 Studebaker Champion convert, black, red interior, and a white top. I still have the original small glass back window from when my dad replaced the top.
First car 1950 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe.My dad paid $50.00 for a running driving car.Three speed w/overdrive. Burned a quart of oil about every 200 miles. I was 15 years old at the time, graduated from a 1957 Cushman Road King scooter. Later trader Stued in on 1958 Rambler classic, three non a tree aftermarket AC.
Does anyone else recognize the GTO in the background of picture #15? It’s the 455 HO GTO highlighted on this site a few weeks ago.
Steve R
Auction update: this one ended early because there was an error in the listing. Will it be back or was it sold?
Looks just like the one Vice Grip Garage got running on You Tube, very interesting and was parked with low mileage by an older gentleman who had to quit driving. Check it out
Speaking of Rapid City, there’s a classic car lot just south of town on Highway 79, well worth checking out, I drool every time drive by.