56 Champion 2dr Sedan

[Jett289]

Wow what a great looking Champion and the color is fantastic ..
Would that be the 185 six cylinder engine ?
Is it a 3spd overdrive ?

[StudeRich]

If I had to choose between two similar condition '56's, one with that BEAUTIFUL Air force Blue metallic, solid or two-tone with Arctic White and a Red and White one, it would be a no brainer IMHO.

But it IS your Car, how about adding the White two-Tone?

[56H-Y6]

Hi

My color addition advice is Daybreak Blue between the upper and lower Air Force Blue as the color breaks on the red and white two door sedan in the brochure, very striking and attractive.

Rather than an in-house project, the '56 Studebaker sedans and wagons restyle was contracted to Vince Gardner who was free-lancing as a design consultant at the time. He already had most of twenty years experience by then, some of his early styling work was with Auburn Automobile Company during the years working with his contemporary Gordon Buehrig designing Auburns and the Cord 810. Later, he was in the Loewy group under contract directly to Studebaker, truly a talented designer.

Steve

[57studechampion]

It is a 185. I got it from SI. I have the original still. It is a 3sp with overdrive.

[57studechampion]

Steve is this the color you might be referring to? This is my interior.

I did think about the lighter Blue where the white is on the Red and White picture and leave the Air Force Blue where the Red is.

Or I may even consider the Blue with Arctic White that StudeRich suggested.

All three would look nicer than the faded out paint on it now.

I do not plan on painting until next year but I want to start working on the interior panels so that they are ready to go on when it get put back together. I have to do things slowly (Finances as they are!!)

Don

[StudeRich]

No Don, that is not Daybreak Blue, it looks like the Wild, Bright Maui Blue they used way back in 1952.
Have a LOOK at this:

http://www.autocolorlibrary.com/aclchip.aspx?image=1956-Studebaker-pg01.jpg

AND that wheel is the no Horn Ring basic Wheel that would be Standard on your Champion, but the optional "Deluxe" Wheel and horn Ring was available:

[8E45E]

Citing Richard Langworth's Studebaker Buyer's Guide, 1956 Champion 2-door production was 4,301 Deluxe 2-door Sedans, 3,097 Deluxe 2-door Sedanets, and 2,236 Pelham 2-door Station Wagons. The Sedanet was an inexpensive minimal trim 2-door Sedan priced under $2,000. Not as plain as the 1957 Scotsman but rubber windshield moldings and painted headlamp rims etc.

I wonder how many of those Sedanets were sold for fleet use.

Craig

[8E45E]

I hate to inform you but I am planning on changing the color to a Red and White 2 tone like the car in the 56 Brochure. I think it looks like a totally different car. Really COOL!!!

It would be a shame to do that to what is an already nice car. And a LOT more work than you anticipate, including painted areas in the interior, and under the hood, door jambs, etc.

Craig

[StudeRich]

When Studebaker Two-Toned those '56 lower trim level Champions and Commanders without Chrome Headlight Rims, they had to cut the paint in on 2 halves of the Painted Rims, they looked a bit funky.

Apparently not ALL of them were though, either the ones I have seen or this and others were re-painted?
A mid-year change or on different trim levels I do not know, I never owned a '56 Sedan or Wagon, just not into the fake Hawk look front end but I totally LOVE the rear ends.

Hmm, did I just SAY that?

[TWChamp]

It would be a shame to do that to what is an already nice car. And a LOT more work than you anticipate, including under the interior, and under the hood, door jambs, etc.

Craig

I agree with Craig. That's a beautiful car just as it sets, and I'd use the paint money to buy gas and drive it a lot.

[56H-Y6]

Hi

The analogous colors two-tone blue Commander four door sedan in profile in the brochure shows the Air Force Blue/Daybreak Blue combination. The only difference in color break pattern from the red and white Champion on the next page is it also has the lower color around the side windows similar to the President color break. Whether that additional color around the windows was optional for the Commanders and Champions, someone else will have to answer. It certainly looks quite attractive that way. Since your car has the blue interior, it will be quite striking in the Air Force Blue/Daybreak Blue combination.

Steve

[57studechampion]

Now you guys have really got me thinking!!

I am curious if anyone knows how many 2dr sedans were painted solid blue vs 2 tone? Just curious, not that it matters. As mentioned above I am not painting it until next year. I PLAN on driving it a lot this season and go to as many car shows as I possibly can, or should I say be allowed to go.