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54 Champion Conestoga in UK

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  • #16
    Originally posted by 8E45E View Post
    Is that Conestoga made in Hamilton?

    Craig
    im a noobie to studebakers - how do I tell where it was made ?

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    • #17
      On a better note I have gone through some of the ignition bits today and the engine is free and we have compression and spark - I'll get the carb off in the next day or so and give it a clean and you never know it may run - here's hoping

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      • #18
        Originally posted by 65deluxe View Post
        im a noobie to studebakers - how do I tell where it was made ?
        Left (driver's side on this car) front door hinge pillar, there should be a metal tag midway between the upper & lower hinges.

        Craig

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        • #19
          Originally posted by 8E45E View Post
          Left (driver's side on this car) front door hinge pillar, there should be a metal tag midway between the upper & lower hinges.

          Craig
          Cool - I'll have a look tomorrow

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          • #20
            Found the plate - numbers etc look like GI 386337

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            • #21
              Thanks for posting. Appears to have been built in South Bend.

              It should be a fun project!

              Craig

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              • #22
                The "I" was used for a "1" so the serial number is G 1386337
                "G" stands for Champion.

                Robert Kapteyn

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                • #23
                  I've had an explosive afternoon trying to coax the engine into life - I've hot wired the starter and changed to 12v - have spark and compression on 5 cylinders so thought I'd give it a go with some cold start - I guess timing must be out a bit as I had a fair amount of fire blowing back up the carb - but not starting yet . I do have a 360 mopar motor and 727 trains so all is not lost if I cant get it running .

                  But onwards and upwards

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                  • #24
                    Originally posted by 8E45E View Post
                    Thanks for posting. Appears to have been built in South Bend.

                    It should be a fun project!

                    Craig
                    It may have been built in South Bend but looks like it's been in a U Bend for a good while :-)
                    Not sure if that will translate across the pond .

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                    • #25
                      Originally posted by 65deluxe View Post
                      It may have been built in South Bend but looks like it's been in a U Bend for a good while :-)
                      Not sure if that will translate across the pond .
                      Does the serial number plate state 'Made in USA'?

                      Craig

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                      • #26
                        Might be worth sharing plans for this - I own a VW and Porsche restoration shop , although we do work on anything "interesting" . I always have a plan for a car when I buy one , even one like this that just fell into my hands .
                        So plan is a full body restoration but changing it over to a panel van - maybe still with the rear sliders in place .
                        Paint will almost certainly be 2 tone and the altitude will be adjusted somewhat and will run air ride as I'm too old and fat for static these days . Happy to keep original engine and running gear if it's all sound - if not it will go V8 and auto box quite possibly with a jaguar IRS as I have a limited slip dif rear end from a V12 XJS lying around and it's a popular swap over here and we are limited with spares for American cars and they are expensive .
                        So that's my plan - progress will be slow as I have to fit it in around customers cars ( we are very busy ) and also my other builds which are a VW samba bus on hydraulics and a full on outlaw Porsche 356 .
                        All the purists will now stop reading this now but hey ho - if I didn't buy it I'm sure it would have just carried on rotting into the floor

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                        • #27
                          Originally posted by 8E45E View Post
                          Does the serial number plate state 'Made in USA'?

                          Craig
                          I couldn't make anything else out on it as it's covered in paint that has Cracked with age - I'll try and have a better look when I get some play time on Saturday

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                          • #28
                            Originally posted by 65deluxe View Post
                            Found the plate - numbers etc look like GI 386337
                            G-1386337 is the Serial Number for a 1957 Champion assembled in South Bend.

                            Something isn't correct - your reading of the number, the year of the car (even though it has a 1954 front end on it - could be 1954-1956), a switched plate (post a picture of the S/N plate showing its attachment), not assembled in North America.

                            A 1954 South Bend Champion is G-127401 to G-1316500 (rounded up). California and Canada assembled 1954 Champions only have six digits after the G.
                            Gary L.
                            Wappinger, NY

                            SDC member since 1968
                            Studebaker enthusiast much longer

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                            • #29
                              Originally posted by studegary View Post
                              G-1386337 is the Serial Number for a 1957 Champion assembled in South Bend.

                              Something isn't correct - your reading of the number, the year of the car (even though it has a 1954 front end on it - could be 1954-1956), a switched plate (post a picture of the S/N plate showing its attachment), not assembled in North America.

                              A 1954 South Bend Champion is G-127401 to G-1316500 (rounded up). California and Canada assembled 1954 Champions only have six digits after the G.
                              Thanks - you are correct as you know - closer inspection shows G I306337 - Thanks

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                              • #30
                                Nice to find those 'goodies' inside!...At some point in this car's life someone was thinking restoration!....Rare bird!...Good luck!

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