The year’s main event at Studebaker is the celebration of its first century in the transportation business - the Studebaker brothers have started constructing covered wagons as far back as in 1852, the oldest company of its type in America. On the centennial cars, Raymond Loewy’s original bullet-nose front end is discarded in favour of a plainer horizontal grille, split into two halves by a centre “V” - unknown from the public, this will assure the transition to Studebaker’s all-new 1953 models, which will receive a similar face. The rear part of the cars remain unchanged. Unwilling to wait for its new generation of cars to compete on this lucrative and rapidly growing market, Studebaker also unveils a new hardtop coupe based on its convertible.
Studebaker Champion Custom
The Champion Custom is a simplified version of Studebaker’s cheapest line, designed to compete directly with Chevrolet’s or Ford’s products. This year, all three-passenger business coupes are discontinued.
● 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. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 502 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Champion DeLuxe
The DeLuxe again retains its status as the Champion’s intermediate trim line.
● 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. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 502 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Champion Regal
The Champion Regal receives stainless steel rocker panels, but otherwise remains rather similar to the DeLuxe. Exclusive to this trim are a convertible and a new Starliner hardtop coupe.
● 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. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 502 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door “Starliner” hardtop coupe, two-door convertible coupe.
Studebaker Commander Regal
The Commander is Studebaker’s most expensive line since the President has been dropped from the company’s post-war range. The Regal is the Commander’s standard trim since last year.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 3.8-litre, 120 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 502 cm. Top speed: 145 kph. Range: two-door “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Commander State
The Commander State adds more chrome to the plainer Regal trim. Convertible and hardtop coupes are also exclusive to this trim.
● Introduction: May 1946 for this generation of Studebaker cars, 1951 for the Commander State. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 3.8-litre, 120 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 502 cm. Top speed: 145 kph. Range: two-door “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door “Starliner” hardtop coupe, 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 V-8, 3.8-litre, 120 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 512 cm. Top speed: 145 kph. 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 Custom
The Champion Custom is a simplified version of Studebaker’s cheapest line, designed to compete directly with Chevrolet’s or Ford’s products. This year, all three-passenger business coupes are discontinued.
● 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. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 502 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Champion DeLuxe
The DeLuxe again retains its status as the Champion’s intermediate trim line.
● 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. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 502 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Champion Regal
The Champion Regal receives stainless steel rocker panels, but otherwise remains rather similar to the DeLuxe. Exclusive to this trim are a convertible and a new Starliner hardtop coupe.
● 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. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 502 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door “Starliner” hardtop coupe, two-door convertible coupe.
Studebaker Commander Regal
The Commander is Studebaker’s most expensive line since the President has been dropped from the company’s post-war range. The Regal is the Commander’s standard trim since last year.
● Introduction: May 1946. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 3.8-litre, 120 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 502 cm. Top speed: 145 kph. Range: two-door “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.
Studebaker Commander State
The Commander State adds more chrome to the plainer Regal trim. Convertible and hardtop coupes are also exclusive to this trim.
● Introduction: May 1946 for this generation of Studebaker cars, 1951 for the Commander State. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 3.8-litre, 120 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 502 cm. Top speed: 145 kph. Range: two-door “Starlight” coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door “Starliner” hardtop coupe, 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 V-8, 3.8-litre, 120 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Length: 512 cm. Top speed: 145 kph. 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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