A few weeks ago I celebrated my 50th year of Studebaker ownership. It was on September 4, 1962 that I bought a 1940 Champion 2 door from Ed Steffen of Washington, Illinois for the sum of $312. The Bill of Sale is shown above and the car below. The photo also shows my brothers identical car (also purchased from Mr Steffen) that ran in the NHRA B Gas class. Interestingly both cars have survived, my old car is in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc (painted up like the 1940 Indy 500 pace car) and my brothers I believe somewhere in the Peoria, Illinois area.
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Celebrating 50 years of Studebaker ownership (quietly) 1940 Champion
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Celebrating 50 years of Studebaker ownership (quietly) 1940 Champion
A few weeks ago I celebrated my 50th year of Studebaker ownership. It was on September 4, 1962 that I bought a 1940 Champion 2 door from Ed Steffen of Washington, Illinois for the sum of $312. The Bill of Sale is shown above and the car below. The photo also shows my brothers identical car (also purchased from Mr Steffen) that ran in the NHRA B Gas class. Interestingly both cars have survived, my old car is in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc (painted up like the 1940 Indy 500 pace car) and my brothers I believe somewhere in the Peoria, Illinois area.Richard Quinn
Editor emeritus: Antique Studebaker ReviewTags: None
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Congratulations on your milestone of ownership Richard. I acquired my first Studebaker in 1959 but unlike you had a 23 year hiatus in ownership. I owned none from 1968 or so until 1991. My then youthful (and impaired) reasoning had me sell my Studes,all four of them, as I was convinced no parts were going to be available.Frank van Doorn
Omaha, Ne.
1962 GT Hawk 289 4 speed
1941 Champion streetrod, R-2 Powered, GM 200-4R trans.
1952 V-8 232 Commander State "Starliner" hardtop OD
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...and I got my first one as a Junior in High School (62/63). My Aunt gave me her '55 Champion 4dr which I wrecked as a Freshman at Phoenix Jr. College. I replace it with a '61 Lark 4dr which I drove until Studebaker went out of business and switched to AMC. Back to Studebakers in '72 with a '51 Champion business coupe and have had at least one ever since!Lou Van Anne
62 Champ
64 R2 GT Hawk
79 Avanti II
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My first Studebaker was a new 1962 Lark 2 door V8 with o.d. I’ve had a driver, of one model or another, for 36 years out of the last 50. I’ve had my 50 Starlight for nine years. I rebuilt a Champ 6 cyl., drove it 15 years, wore I out and sold it. Good work truck!
My next Studebaker will be a V8 Champ pickup, if I can find one that suits me.
Dick
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I've only had my '40 since 2009, but I'll probably still have the dang car in 2059, 50 years later. That would make the car 119 years old!! By then my Jeep would also be an antique vehicle.... I wonder if Studebaker parts would still be available that far into the future like they are now? What a strange thought...
Your first car looks a lot better than mine does now!!Chris Dresbach
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Originally posted by Chris_Dresbach View Post.... I wonder if Studebaker parts would still be available that far into the future like they are now?Brad Johnson,
SDC since 1975, ASC since 1990
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
'33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight. '53 Commander Starlight
'56 Sky Hawk in process
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I learned to drive (1956) in a 1940 Champion 4 door. Had it up to 80 mph downhill once. It had the disturbing habit of the headlights turning off unexpectedly.Don Wilson, Centralia, WA
40 Champion 4 door*
50 Champion 2 door*
53 Commander K Auto*
53 Commander K overdrive*
55 President Speedster
62 GT 4Speed*
63 Avanti R1*
64 Champ 1/2 ton
* Formerly owned
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Lavon (Doc) Erickson is the original owner (special ordered) of his '56 Power Hawk. He drove it last Saturday for IDYSD. Maybe Anne got a picture of it.KURTRUK
(read it backwards)
Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong. -A. Lincoln
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'Dang, Richard; you beat me by about six months....but, hey, I was only 16 in 1962, OK?
In early 1963, I bought my 1955 Champion Regal Coupe and was hard at work "restoring" it by late summer:
It would be painted that fall, reassembled, amd looking pretty good 'come spring 1964:
Still 'looking good enough in 1970 to take future wife on her first date to a Studebaker club event in Nobelsville Indiana's Forest Park:
But I'll concede you've got me beat with an earlier date and documentation as to specific purchase date. Congratulations. BPWe've got to quit saying, "How stupid can you be?" Too many people are taking it as a challenge.
G. K. Chesterton: This triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.
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I got my first Studebaker in 1956, a '40 Champion Business Coupe. I needed the car to get me to the train station so I could commute to Brooklyn for college at St. John's University. I loved that car and wish I had it today. Love the '40s.
Rog'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop
Smithtown,NY
Recording Secretary, Long Island Studebaker Club
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My first Studebaker, my everyday car, was a 1957 President Classic that had been used for one year before I purchased it in 1961. I have had a couple of gaps after that, but there were also periods when I owned several at a time of the more than 50 that I have owned.Gary L.
Wappinger, NY
SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer
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Originally posted by Studebaker Wheel View Post[ATTACH=CONFIG]17534[/ATTACH]
A few weeks ago I celebrated my 50th year of Studebaker ownership. It was on September 4, 1962 that I bought a 1940 Champion 2 door from Ed Steffen of Washington, Illinois for the sum of $312. The Bill of Sale is shown above and the car below. The photo also shows my brothers identical car (also purchased from Mr Steffen) that ran in the NHRA B Gas class. Interestingly both cars have survived, my old car is in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc (painted up like the 1940 Indy 500 pace car) and my brothers I believe somewhere in the Peoria, Illinois area.Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.
'64 Daytona Wagonaire, '64 Avanti R-1, Museum R-4 engine, '72 Gravely Model 430 with Onan engine
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