Very new to the Studebaker scene...

[christinalynnc]

And naturally I have a few questions! Just this week I got my very first classic car that I intend to have some fun with. I wanted something that I dont see normally coming from a family of muscle car fanatics. Low and behold I found a 1949 4 door Studebaker Champion. Its already in great condition. It has a tad bit of rust in the trunk and that is it. The more I learn about these cars the more I love and appreciate them.

All that being said...I can not find much information about the particular car that I have. I would like to customize it, but I am not sure if Studebakers hold more value in being restored to thier original condition or if I have some freedom to be a bit more creative with it. It's not the most attractive Studebaker body style I have seen, but I think with some effort it could actually be a really attractive car.

I saw the registry links, but none for 49's. Does anyone know of one that may not be posted yet?

Does anyone have a 49 thats been customized? Or even one thats been left original? The interior of mine some one previously had started redoing, so I am in doubt that its anything even close to original. I'd love to see some interior pics of an original incase I decide to indeed keep it that way.

Anyone have any advice regarding this year or anything for me please? I'm excited to get started on my project so Im trying to get some research in.

Thank you in advance for any info you guys may be able to give me.

[barnlark]

Welcome! Here are a couple cars of that vintage at two of our SDC Meets and some links to pictures of custom and stock engine efforts. There will be plenty of help regardless of which way you want to take your car. The search function above where you log on is a good way to find info on your car. 4 doors are generally the least highest return for a car of any brand, but you will enjoy the ride, anyway. Have you joined the SDC yet? Only $19.95 for the first year. Good luck.

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http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25867&SearchTerms=1949,Commander

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11342&SearchTerms=1949,Commander

http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/Studebaker/1949.html

http://rides.carcraft.com/ride/1010828/rudestude/1949/studebaker/champion/index.html

[studeclunker]

Even though the next year (1950, the Bullet nose) is more popular, I prefer these and their predicessors. There's many a customizer who's found out that customized cars don't sell as well as a good resto job. If you're going to do a custom on this car please keep in mind that using Stude parts or at least parts from our vendors will produce an end result that will sell better (in my limited experiance). Mainly though, it's the quality of the job that determines it's salability. One last thing though. Regardless of what you decide to do with the car. Please keep in mind that Studebakers of any kind are not really high-dollar cars. That's the reason I get to play with them too![8D]


Home of the famous Mr. Ed!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith
Where the heck is Lewiston, CA?

[vegas paul]

My opinions only: (!!!) If your goal is to produce something that will bring a high price, and your intent is to sell soon after you are finished with the project, then perhaps a Stude is not the best choice. The prices that Studebakers bring at sale are not as high as some other brands of similar vintage (fortunately for those of us that want to buy cars on a shoestring budget). Four doors bring the least amount for a brand that is already on the low end of the auction scale. So that means, even in pristine original condition, don't set your expectations unreasonably high.

If this is to be your car to enjoy for a while, by all means do it however you want. Custom Studebakers are wonderful and most of the folks on this site are receptive to them as well. Four door customs are very cool and quite usable for grocery-getting rides around town. Original parts are readily available through the stude vendors that are linked to this site, and of course for customization, any non-Stude vendor can help.

Bottom Line: It's your car, do it the way you want!
My thoughts only, and they do not represent the opinions of the SDC!

Las Vegas, NV - Stop by, coffee's on!
'51 Champion Business Coupe G899965 10G-Q4-1434

[Anne F. Goodman]

Meet Mabel My Pride and Joy she is a Daily Driver

Mabel 1949 Champion
1957 Silverhawk
1955 Champion 4Dr.Regal
Gus 1958 Transtar
1955 President State
1957 Golden Hawk
Fresno,Ca

[52-fan]

I couldn't agree more. In any case, welcome to the wonderful world of SDC. There are lots of good folks in the club and many of them with valuable experience to share on this forum.


1952 Champion Starlight, 1962 Daytona, both w/overdrive.Searcy,Arkansas
"I may be lazy, but I'm not shiftless."

[Sdude]

As you get in to this, you will find that resale value is not so important because you most likely not be interested in selling your car. When I got my first Studebaker I struggled with the same issues - should I restore it or should I street rod it?

I approached that question based on how I intended to use them. I had a 4 door sedan of similar vintage to yours that I intend to drive to 48 states as a retirement goal. That car is being street rodded but will retain a stock appearance from the outside.

Since that was a time consuming and expensive project, I bought an old truck that I could drive around in the interim. I got a little carried away with that one too. It retains the original champion 6 engine with 3 speed/overdrive on the column but that works well for what I use it for.

The great thing that I have experienced with the Studebaker people I have met is that they do not judge me if I choose to modify my Studees.

It's your car - fix it up the way it suits you best and I hope you enjoy attention cause you're gonna get plenty of it.

Welcome to our world.

Jon Stalnaker
Editor, Hawk Talks
Karel Staple Chapter SDC

[Carl Purdy]

Christina since you are in the Springfield, Mo area we would love to have you in the Ozark Trails SDC Club. We always have a lot of fun and go a lot of places with our cars. Our next meeting will be March 8 at Oasis Convention Center on N. Glenstone. At 1:30 pm Hope to see you then. My wife and I will probably have our 48 there.


7G-Q1 49 2R12 10G-F5 56B-D4 56B-F2
Work on your Studebaker you will live longer.

[52-fan]

Those Ozark Trails people are really good folks. You definitely should check them out. If you haven't been to their Orphan Car Show at Branson you are missing a real treat.


1952 Champion Starlight, 1962 Daytona, both w/overdrive.Searcy,Arkansas
"I may be lazy, but I'm not shiftless."

[silverhawk]

Welcome to the studebaker world and congrats an your purchase!

Dylan
'61 lark deluxe 4dr wagon

[christinalynnc]

Wow thanks for all the responses! I definately dont want to build it for the sake of resell, mostly due to the fact that with this being my first I am sure it will have alot of sentimental value to me. My great grandfather was a Studebaker guy so that is another reason that I chose this car. So while I'm not worried about the actual literal value of it I dont want to ruin it completely.

I will definately try to hit one of the Ozark Trails meetings, though it may be a tad later in the summer when we have actually made progress with my mission. For now its sitting in the garage waiting for me and my boyfriend to decide for sure our direction. The rest of our families think we have lost our minds cause we are in our late 20's and chose a Studebaker over something in the Mopar family. We aren't so much into speed and being too much fun. We just like to hang back and chill out. We have some ideas so it shall be fun to see how it goes! It was already getting a ton of attention when it was on the trailer coming home, so I can only imagine how people feel about seeing one actually driving down the road. We are very excited!

[barnlark]

Follow the directions for posting pictures, Christina. We'd love to see what it looks like, inside and out. Many of us have started with basket cases, so don't feel shy.

[Carl Purdy]

Christina you don't have to have Studebaker running to come the the Studebaker meetings. You might even get some ideas.


7G-Q1 49 2R12 10G-F5 56B-D4 56B-F2
Work on your Studebaker you will live longer.

[rockne10]

A couple points:

A four door Champion has probably the least value of all the models so would suffer very little, and probably benefit, from some well executed mods.

On the other hand, since the lowly models have been cannibalized for parts to restore those more desirable models, there are fewer of them left and they always get a refreshing amount of attention when they show up.

It really is your car, and your call. We would love to see it in whatever direction you choose to go.

Welcome to our little corner of madness.

Brad Johnson
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
'33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight, '53 Commander Starlight