1951 Champion VIN

[charlee]

I have a 1951 Studebaker Champion 2-door. The VIN starts with a G1 or GI. Do all of the Champion 2-doors start with a G1? Do the other 6 numbers really mean anything as to what the car is?

[Tom Bredehoft]

Almost all (covering myself) Champions start with a G. The next unit is a 1, but the factory used the letter I instead. The numbers are simply sequential.

The body tag, on the firewall, (standing in front of the car, facing it, the body tag is on the left) Will give information about body style, trim level and sequence of body tub assembly. Only the last is in clear, the others are code.

[Dwain G.]

South Bend built '51 Champion serial numbers start with a 1 (looks like letter I). Los Angeles produced '51s start with an 8, and Canadian built cars start with a 7.

[charlee]

Thanks for your help. That clears up some things.