Questions about 1950 Champion Business Coupe just purchased

[Doremonger]

I just purchased this 1950 Champion Business Coupe and would appreciate any help on the following:

1. The body tag says 9G-Q2 and then 764 with a side tag that says CAL. I assume side tag means it was built in California? I understand 9G is for a 1950 Champion and the 764 means it was car On-line searching for Stude parts that was "welded up". What is the Q2? I am trying to find what trim level this car was. Do I have to order the original build sheet to find this out?
2. Below are a couple of photos. I have seen these bumpers on a couple of other bullet noses, but believe these are not the original bumpers. Is this correct? Any suggestions on sources for correct bumpers?

[RadioRoy]

"Q" is three passenger coupe, also called a business coupe.

In this "Q" instance, I think "2" is deluxe.

Those are absolutely the original Studebaker official bumper guard accessories, attached to the original bumpers. Not that easy to find, either.

If you do not like the accessory bumper guards, you can remove them and sell them. Be aware, however, that the original bumpers and bumper guards have been drilled to accept these accessories, so you will have to find new bumpers and guards if you remove these accessories.

You might search for a 1950 Studebaker accessories brochure. That will show every doo-dad and bauble that Studebaker offered.

What is NOT original is the color of the paint job. Studebaker did not make any 50 or 51 cars in bright red, although all the sales brochures showed them so. They made a 51 truck in bright red, but not a 50 or 51 car.

The wheel covers are much later than 1950. That stamping was used from 59-63 with different portions painted different colors depending on the year.

[Doremonger]

Yes, unfortunately the car was originally a very attractive bronze and changed to red.

[RadioRoy]

Is there still a sticker on the outside/bottom of the glove box? That will say the name of the original paint.

BTW, you sure have been finding some nice cars. Congratulations.

[StudeRich]

The horizontal "Bumper Guards" are called Bumper Overiders, and of course the Bumper Guards have to not be the more Standard ones, but Special, Taller and made to mount the Overiders.

[RadioRoy]

... and of course the Bumper Guards have to not be the more Standard ones, but Special, Taller and made to mount the Overiders.

The over riders have a stud in them. The stock bumper guards get drilled on top to accept those studs. Likewise, the outward ends of the bumper bars get drilled to accept the studs welded onto the insides of the over riders.

[Doremonger]

Thanks, and yes been on a Stude kick, with also finding a very nice ‘55 Speedster and what may be a 35,000 original miles ‘60 Lark Regal.

The paper is still on the glove box door if that is what you’re referring to but not seeing a paint code.

Also, it appears the two chrome trim pieces on either side of the bullet nose are missing. Any sources for those?

[8E45E]

The color label will be a sticker glued to the underside of the cardboard glove box enclosure. Gotta put your head under the dash to see it!

Craig

[RadioRoy]

What Craig said. We are curious to know the original color, as something called "bronze" was not one of them. We all see and describe colors differently, but it would be good to know what the "official" name was for the original color.

May we have some more pictures, please? Engine, trunk, interior?

Roy Valdez is a forum member and he specializes in parts for bullet nose Studebakers.

You should also buy the body parts catalog and the chassis parts catalog. They show all the parts and where they go and what Studebaker calls them and the part numbers.

[Doremonger]

Photos below. I think the dash color is likely the original exterior color, but will look for the sticker underneath. Also, the headlight bezels seem to be a cheap pot metal. Original?

[RadioRoy]

Nope. The dash has been repainted. You can see runs in the paint by the gauges.

That is not a 1950 Studebaker color and is not the original color of the dash. The dash was dark-ish metallic gray originally, regardless of body color.

There was a lighter metallic copper body color in 1950, but it was restricted to convertibles and Land Cruisers.

The headlight bezels are original, but should not be bare pot metal. They were chromed on the later models and painted body color on the early models (as well as on the later entry level models).

The ignition switch is a replacement and the gauges where the radio should be are modern and not original.

Many folks "fix up" old Studebakers with no regard or knowledge of originality.

[Hallabutt]

Guy,

Congratulations on your purchase(s)! As you may well know you have tapped into an outstanding source for information regarding your coupe. Roy and others know these cars like the backs of their hands.

When your car was built with it would no doubt have had small center hubcaps. The caps were hold on by spring clips which attached to the original wheel through rectangular holes in the wheels. To the best of my knowledge the wheels would have been painted body color, and if I'm correct would all have had pin stripping in two concentric circles. I'm assuming that the Champions original four hole brake drums and wheels are still in place. I have no idea what modern wheel would interchange with that wheel. But of course if the brakes or drums have been changed, all bets are off.

In our collection we have an original Starlight Coupe which has the bumper "over rider." Admittedly it may seem to clutter up the front end a bit, but it is desirable. It is not to everyone's taste. If you choose to remove it, I don't know why a matching bumper bolt couldn't be used to fill the drilled hole?

By the way considering that 1950 was Studebaker's best sales year ever, your car is comparatively rare, with my source showing only 1562 built.

[RadioRoy]

Guy,

To the best of my knowledge the wheels would have been painted body color, and if I'm correct would all have had pin stripping in two concentric circles.

Not so on the wheel color.

Most of the wheels were painted a different color than the body, (ask fpstude about that) with Tulip Cream number 2 being at least one exception. Studebaker published a booklet listing the body color and the corresponding wheel color for that body color. The booklet was for the 47-52 cars.

1950 was the last year that the wheels had stripes, with one stripe wider than the other.