Wednesday, April 18, 2012

1956 Studebaker Full-Sizes

While Studebaker expects a brand-new generation of cars for 1957, its current range is heavily updated in the meantime. Out is traditional designer Raymond Loewy, deemed too expensive while the company’s coffers are empty. In his place, Studebaker hires one of his former employees, Vince Gardner, who proposes a totally new, though very conventional-looking automobile. The sloping nose is replaced by a tall and wide grille at the front, and the gently-flowing lines of the rear wings are replaced by very angular fins. To some extents, this year’s Studebakers somehow look a little bit as Virgil Exner’s 1955 Chryslers. The inside is also new, Duncan McRae having designed a totally new dashboard with “Cyclop’s Eye” speedometer.

Note that all coupes are now included in a separate Hawk series.


Studebaker Champion Custom
● 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: 510 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan.


Studebaker Champion Deluxe
The new Sedanet is a simplified version of the standard sedan, that sells at a discounted price.
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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: 510 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Sedanet” sedan, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.


Studebaker Champion Regal
Produced for export markets, the Champion Regal combines the trim of the President with the economy of the smaller six.
● 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: 510 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan. Note: though built for export, a single Champion Regal is sold in the United States.


Studebaker Pelham
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● Introduction: 1952 for this generation of Studebaker, 1955 for the Pelham wagon. 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: 500 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door station wagon.


Studebaker Commander Custom
● Introduction: 1952. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.2-litre, 170 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: 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: 510 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan.


Studebaker Commander Deluxe
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● Introduction: 1952. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.2-litre, 170 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: 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: 510 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door “Sedanet” sedan, two-door sedan, four-door sedan.


Studebaker Parkview
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● Introduction: 1952 for this generation of Studebaker, 1955 for the Parkview wagon. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.2-litre, 170 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: 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: 500 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door station wagon.


Studebaker President
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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, 4.7-litre, 190 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 4.7-litre, 210 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: 510 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan.


Studebaker President Classic
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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, 4.7-litre, 210 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: 520 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: four-door sedan.


Studebaker Pinehurst
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● Introduction: 1952 for this generation of Studebaker, 1955 for the Parkview wagon. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.7-litre, 190 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 4.7-litre, 210 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: 500 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door station wagon.


Any mistake you’ve just spotted? A detail to add? A suggestion? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment!

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