Wednesday, April 18, 2012

1955 Studebaker Full-Sizes

The President is back! Absent since 1942, this prestigious Studebaker returns as the most luxurious model on offer. All of its variants use a long-wheelbase chassis, pushing the Land Cruiser into retirement. On all cars, a new grille in one massive block replaces the double-unit used for the last two years. Other noticeable are the adoption of a new V-8 engine, the introduction of power brakes as an option, an the disappearance of the names “Starliner” and “Starlight” to designate the coupe and hardtop versions.

Many modifications are brought to the cars during the year, from then on dubbed “Ultra Vista” models. Starting on New Year, a “Wide-View” wraparound windshield replaces the conventional one on all sedans and wagons - caring for their sporty silhouettes, Studebaker’s engineers don’t fit them to the coupes, which nonetheless receive a new two-tone treatment. The expensive President Speedster coupe is an addition to the range. Other mid-year improvements include the adoption of the President’s V-8 on all Commander, and the availability of both air conditioning on all V-8-powered cars, and power seats on all models.

Quite disturbing is the internal study made at Studebaker, that demonstrates that the company’s workers are the best paid in the industry, but are far from the most productive. Thanks to this generous policy, Studebaker had never had a strike, even during the dark years of the Depression, but it is computed that selling 282,000 cars per year is necessary just to avoid recording losses - in 1954, only 82,000 automobiles have been produced. Trying to get its workers to agree to work extra time for the same salary, Studebaker’s management only succeed in igniting a labour conflict - the company’s disastrous first strike lingers thirty-six days, until March 1955.


Studebaker Champion Custom
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● Introduction: 1952. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 2.8-litre, 101 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. Servo optional. Length: 514 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan.


Studebaker Champion Deluxe
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● Introduction: 1952. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 2.8-litre, 101 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. Servo optional. Length: 502 cm (wagon), 514 cm (sedans), 519 cm (coupe). Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door coupe, two-door “Conestoga” station wagon.


Studebaker Champion Regal
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● Introduction: 1952. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 2.8-litre, 101 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. Servo optional. Length: 502 cm (wagon), 514 cm (sedans), 519 cm (coupes). Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan, two-door coupe, two-door hardtop coupe, two-door “Conestoga” station wagon.


Studebaker Commander Custom
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● Introduction: 1952. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 3.7-litre, 140 hp, mounted at the front (up to mid-year). From mid-year: V-8, 4.2-litre, 162 hp. Optional engines: V-8, 3.7-litre, 160 hp (up to mid-year); and V-8, 4.2-litre, 182 hp (from mid-year). 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. Servo optional. Length: 502 cm (wagon), 514 cm (sedans), 519 cm (coupe). Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan.


Studebaker Commander Deluxe
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● Introduction: 1952. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 3.7-litre, 140 hp, mounted at the front (up to mid-year). From mid-year: V-8, 4.2-litre, 162 hp. Optional engines: V-8, 3.7-litre, 160 hp (up to mid-year); and V-8, 4.2-litre, 182 hp (from mid-year). 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. Servo optional. Length: 502 cm (wagon), 514 cm (sedans), 519 cm (coupe). Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door coupe, two-door “Conestoga” station wagon.


Studebaker Commander Regal
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● Introduction: 1952. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 3.7-litre, 140 hp, mounted at the front (up to mid-year). From mid-year: V-8, 4.2-litre, 162 hp. Optional engines: V-8, 3.7-litre, 160 hp (up to mid-year); and V-8, 4.2-litre, 182 hp (from mid-year). 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. Servo optional. Length: 502 cm (wagon), 514 cm (sedan), 519 cm (coupes). Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan, two-door coupe, two-door hardtop coupe, two-door “Conestoga” station wagon.


Studebaker President Deluxe
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● Introduction: 1952 for this generation of Studebaker, 1954 for the President. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.2-litre, 175 hp, mounted at the front (up to mid-year). From mid-year: V-8, 4.2-litre, 185 hp. 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. Servo optional. Length: 524 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan.


Studebaker President State
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● Introduction: 1952 for this generation of Studebaker, 1954 for the President. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.2-litre, 175 hp, mounted at the front (up to mid-year). From mid-year: V-8, 4.2-litre, 185 hp. 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. Servo optional. Length: 519 cm (coupes), 524 cm (sedan). Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan, two-door coupe, two-door hardtop coupe.


Studebaker President Speedster
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● Introduction: 1952 for this generation of Studebaker, January 1955 for the President Speedster. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.2-litre, 185 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. Servo optional. Length: 519 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door hardtop coupe.


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