Chuck Naugle would be proud.

[Buzzard]

This past Saturday provided a great venue for the first outing of the '48 Starlight Coupe I purchased a month or so ago from Jerry Kaiser. A local Baptist church has been sponsoring this event for the past 11 years and we love it for it's simplicity, camaraderie and low key approach to showing all manners of vehicles without the competition and subsequent costs which seem to prevail at most shows. If you recall, it was sold with "some assembly required". I've only got a few pieces left in the trunk so I must be almost there, at least enough to show her to untrained eyes. The trip was 44 miles round trip and other than driving it a couple of blocks here in town, provided the inaugural test run. A slight oil leak(after all it is a Southbend Road oiler) and a noisy speedo cable seemed to be the only real issues. I believe this is the cars' first outing in 23+ years as Chuck procured it sometime prior to 1995 having obtained it from Harold Pearse of Branson MO.
To Honor Chuck, I wore his personal "Southern Arizona Chapter Studebaker Drivers Club, Tucson Studeriders" Club jacket which Chuck's family wanted me to have when we attended the first Naugle auction last January. Now to the point of my post. The 1948 Starlight Coupe received a First Place prize of a Hand Inscribed Bible.
And I know this may spike some controversy, but Jerry provided me with this framed picture from 1948 which he procured from Chuck's auction. It clearly shows(if you blow it up) that Starlight Coupes were indeed introduced in the 1948 model year.(Chuck liked his home-made wine).

PS: Please refrain from the saggy butt comments.

[Mike Sal]

That noisey speedometer cable may be the actual speedometer, begging for oil. Don't drive the car again until you have:

Lay newspapers or old towels down on the floor board (drivers side.....this will catch what little oil doesn't land on your face or clothes).
Stood on your head to get behind the dash in order to use a flexible oil spout to get some oil into that "oiler cup" which is located just in front of the speedo cable.

If the speedometer is allowed to run without lubricant (the old oil is long gone, especially in cars which have been dorment), it will seize up and destroy itself. Once it starts squealing, you can't get pulled off the side of the road quick enough to save it usually.
Mike Sal

[Buzzard]

Thanks Mike for the heads up. I'll get on it as soon as I feel like standing on my head!

[studegary]

This past Saturday provided a great venue for the first outing of the '48 Starlight Coupe I purchased a month or so ago from Jerry Kaiser. A local Baptist church has been sponsoring this event for the past 11 years and we love it for it's simplicity, camaraderie and low key approach to showing all manners of vehicles without the competition and subsequent costs which seem to prevail at most shows. If you recall, it was sold with "some assembly required". I've only got a few pieces left in the trunk so I must be almost there, at least enough to show her to untrained eyes. The trip was 44 miles round trip and other than driving it a couple of blocks here in town, provided the inaugural test run. A slight oil leak(after all it is a Southbend Road oiler) and a noisy speedo cable seemed to be the only real issues. I believe this is the cars' first outing in 23+ years as Chuck procured it sometime prior to 1995 having obtained it from Harold Pearse of Branson MO.
To Honor Chuck, I wore his personal "Southern Arizona Chapter Studebaker Drivers Club, Tucson Studeriders" Club jacket which Chuck's family wanted me to have when we attended the first Naugle auction last January. Now to the point of my post. The 1948 Starlight Coupe received a First Place prize of a Hand Inscribed Bible.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]70861[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]70862[/ATTACH] And I know this may spike some controversy, but Jerry provided me with this framed picture from 1948 which he procured from Chuck's auction. It clearly shows(if you blow it up) that Starlight Coupes were indeed introduced in the 1948 model year.[ATTACH=CONFIG]70863[/ATTACH](Chuck liked his home-made wine).

PS: Please refrain from the saggy butt comments.

The wrap around windows five passenger coupes (C3 and C5 models) were made beginning with the 1947 model year. I do not believe that Studebaker called them Starlight coupes until the 1949 model year.

[Buzzard]

Gary,
My picture wasn't the best for blow up but it clearly states " Starlight Coupe, Studebaker Corporation 1948".
Jerry Kaiser told me many would dispute this as they felt 1949 was the first year.
Bill

[studegary]

Gary,
My picture wasn't the best for blow up but it clearly states "[ATTACH=CONFIG]70873[/ATTACH] Starlight Coupe, Studebaker Corporation 1948".
Jerry Kaiser told me many would dispute this as they felt 1949 was the first year.
Bill

Thanks. You are right in that I could not read that part. Was this an ad generated by an ad agency? Perhaps they originated the name or used it early. Even Fred Fox agrees with me on the Studebaker use of Starlight.

[Stude Shoo-wop!]

Hey there Buzzard. May I say that the ol' Champion coupe is looking mighty fine after a good wash-n-wax? It almost looks like it's wearing a tuxedo!

Anyway, nice to see that you kept your word regarding the pictures. Nice story about Chuck.

[Buzzard]

1948 Champion Starlight Coupe Regal De Luxe (7G-C5) next chapter.
Turning Wheels front cover feature vehicle , February, 2021, Vol.53, No.2

As of yesterday, Saturday, 07 May, 2022, this beauty is in transit to it's new home in La Cruces, New Mexico.
I am sure you will hear from the nice gentleman who is going to give this special vehicle a better home and exposure that I was unable to do, due mostly to me being 2000 miles away in Canada.
It has been a great privilege to be the car's caretaker for the last 4-5 years. As stated previously, Chuck Naugle would be proud.
Cheers,
Bill

[6hk71400]

Bill, I am glad your car is going to a new home. Las Cruces is a nice small college town and traffic is not nearly as bad as Tucson. Cheers to you and Sonja

[ddub]

Looking at the Stude coupe beside the Ford coupe, if you were a cool dude in 1948 which would you drive?

[Buzzard]

Thanks Bob.
As enthusiastic as I was when I purchased the car, reality set in that it really didn't deserve to be collecting dust in an Arizona garage rather than being exercised, enjoyed and shown to the public. It took quite a while to find the appropriate new caretaker(so many ignorant people thought it should be given away) who will treat it with the respect and admiration it deserves. I didn't help the sale by being 2000 miles away most of the year, nor did covid shutting our borders down.
However things have worked out well. As a sort of "thanks" I purchased the new owners' first year of SDC and his personal issue of the 2021 issue which featured the car on the front cover.
Cheers, Bill

[Commander Eddie]

Bill, really nice looking '48. Did you ever sell your '49 down in Arizona?

[Buzzard]

No '49 Ed. Just the '57 Clipper wagon.