
- 1948 Studebaker Champion De Luxe
- 170ci L-Head Inline-6
- Single Carburetor
- 3-Speed Manual Transmission + Overdrive
- RWD
- Black Exterior
- Beige Interior
- Wood Grain Interior Trim
- 6-Volt Battery System
- Aftermarket Master Cylinder
- Drum Brakes
- Original Owner's Manual Included
Studebakers are among the more under-appreciated classics of the 1940s and 50s. With distinctive styling and fewer survivors than their counterparts from the “Big 3”, a classic Studebaker is a very desirable car to own. The Champion was produced from 1939 to 1958 across 5 generations. The 3rd generation (1947-52) was the last full-size Champion (the later models were mid-sized). It was available as either a 2- or 4-door sedan, a 2-door convertible or a 2-door coupe (the station wagon version never made it past the prototype stage) and captured the market well, accounting for over 65% of Studebaker sales in its first year.
Exterior and Interior
Being the first new post-war model, the 3rd generation Champion got radically different styling from its predecessor. In fact, with the new ponton style (incorporating design cues like flat front fenders) it looked more modern than many of its competitors when it was released, with many unusual and distinctive features. The most important of these is the wraparound rear window (dubbed the “starlight”) on these 2-door coupes, which gives this car a lot more rear visibility. In 1950 the Starlight coupe became a separate trim, but in 1948 it was considered an option on the existing coupe models. Surprisingly, despite being a 2-door coupe it can actually seat 5 people inside. This Champion De Luxe’s exterior is glossy black, and the interior is a 2-tone beige color scheme with wood grain trim. Studebaker added features like automatic courtesy lights and backlighting for the gauges for this generation. The 3 large gauges consist of a speedometer, an analog clock and a combination of 4 smaller gauges integrated into 1 (fuel, oil pressure etc). Also mounted on the dash is the rear-view mirror, a common practice at the time. While it is unclear whether the stated 74,000 miles are original, it does still have the original owner’s manual.
Engine
The 170ci L-head inline 6-cylinder engine has been rebuilt. It’s fed through a single carburetor and drives the rear wheels via a 3-speed manual transmission (with overdrive). The master cylinder for the drum brakes is aftermarket but it does retain the 6-volt battery system.
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