One of the first post-war models to have been launched in the United States, the Studebaker receives its first major restyling for 1950. An innovative “bullet-nose” front end, already suggested by Raymond Loewy in 1946 but discarded in favour of Virgil Exner’s more conservative proposal, is now adopted by the car, providing it with a unique look - customers flock to Studebaker’s dealerships this year to grab one of these original cars. And that’s not all: half-way through the model year, an Automatic Drive is offered as Studebaker’s first optional automatic transmission, designed with the cooperation of Borg-Warner. So good is this gearbox that Ford itself contacts Studebaker, offering to purchase its Automatic Drive for its own automobiles - the proposal is rejected.
Studebaker Champion DeLuxe
The Champion is traditionally Studebaker’s cheapest offer, while the DeLuxe uses to be the plainest of the line, but it loses this distinction during the model year as the new Custom trim is introduced. Initially proposed with painted headlight rims, the Champion DeLuxe benefits from chromed ones during the year.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 2.8-litre, 85 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 501 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door three-passenger coupe, two-door five-passenger “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Champion Regal DeLuxe
The Champion Regal DeLuxe adds bright stainless steel mouldings around the windows, along with stainless steel rocker panels. It remains otherwise rather similar to the Champion DeLuxe and, as its cheaper sibling, receives chromed headlight rims half-way through the year.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 2.8-litre, 85 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 501 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door three-passenger coupe, two-door five-passenger “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
Studebaker Champion Custom
Introduced during the year, the Champion Custom is a simplified version of the DeLuxe, designed to compete directly with Chevrolet’s or Ford’s products. It can be easily recognized by its painted headlight and taillight rims.
● Introduction: May 1946 for this generation of Studebaker cars, early 1950 for the Champion Custom. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 2.8-litre, 85 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 501 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door three-passenger coupe, two-door five-passenger “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Commander DeLuxe
The Commander is Studebaker’s most expensive line since the President has been dropped from the company’s post-war range. The Commander DeLuxe is set on a longer wheelbase, the extra length being used to house a larger six-cylinder engine, but its bodies are the same as the Champion’s from the cowl back. Its trim is similar to that of the Champion DeLuxe.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 4.0-litre, 102 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 528 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door five-passenger “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Commander Regal DeLuxe
The Commander Regal DeLuxe combines the chassis and engine of the Commander DeLuxe with the trim of the Champion Regal DeLuxe.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 4.0-litre, 102 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 528 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door five-passenger “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
Studebaker Commander Land Cruiser
Available only as a sedan, the Land Cruiser is a plush variant of the Commander which enjoys a chassis lengthened by ten centimetres, for the benefit of the passengers’ legroom.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 4.0-litre, 102 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 538 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan.
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Click to jump to another model year of the same car: 1947 – 1948 – 1949 – 1950 – 1951 – 1952
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Studebaker Champion DeLuxe
The Champion is traditionally Studebaker’s cheapest offer, while the DeLuxe uses to be the plainest of the line, but it loses this distinction during the model year as the new Custom trim is introduced. Initially proposed with painted headlight rims, the Champion DeLuxe benefits from chromed ones during the year.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 2.8-litre, 85 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 501 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door three-passenger coupe, two-door five-passenger “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Champion Regal DeLuxe
The Champion Regal DeLuxe adds bright stainless steel mouldings around the windows, along with stainless steel rocker panels. It remains otherwise rather similar to the Champion DeLuxe and, as its cheaper sibling, receives chromed headlight rims half-way through the year.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 2.8-litre, 85 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 501 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door three-passenger coupe, two-door five-passenger “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
Studebaker Champion Custom
Introduced during the year, the Champion Custom is a simplified version of the DeLuxe, designed to compete directly with Chevrolet’s or Ford’s products. It can be easily recognized by its painted headlight and taillight rims.
● Introduction: May 1946 for this generation of Studebaker cars, early 1950 for the Champion Custom. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 2.8-litre, 85 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 501 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door three-passenger coupe, two-door five-passenger “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Commander DeLuxe
The Commander is Studebaker’s most expensive line since the President has been dropped from the company’s post-war range. The Commander DeLuxe is set on a longer wheelbase, the extra length being used to house a larger six-cylinder engine, but its bodies are the same as the Champion’s from the cowl back. Its trim is similar to that of the Champion DeLuxe.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 4.0-litre, 102 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 528 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door five-passenger “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Commander Regal DeLuxe
The Commander Regal DeLuxe combines the chassis and engine of the Commander DeLuxe with the trim of the Champion Regal DeLuxe.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 4.0-litre, 102 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 528 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door five-passenger “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
Studebaker Commander Land Cruiser
Available only as a sedan, the Land Cruiser is a plush variant of the Commander which enjoys a chassis lengthened by ten centimetres, for the benefit of the passengers’ legroom.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 4.0-litre, 102 hp, mounted at the front. A high-compression version of this engine is available. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional (from mid-year). Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 538 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan.
Any mistake you’ve just spotted? A detail to add? A suggestion? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment!
Click to jump to another model year of the same car: 1947 – 1948 – 1949 – 1950 – 1951 – 1952
Click here to return to a list of all Studebaker vehicles presented on this blog.
Click here to return to this blog’s initial post, featuring a list of all vehicles already presented.
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