1950 Versus 1951 Studebaker Bulletnose

[ReggieFoote]

Once and for all, please clear an item up for me. I have a 1950 Starlight Bulletnose Coupe

Is the 1950 Bulletnose the same body as the 1951 Bulletnose?

I was told by a Studebaker collector that the 1951 body was downsized from the larger 1950??

Thanks in advance,

Reggie

[bezhawk]

It depends on whether the cars in question are Commanders or Champions. Commanders were larger cars up until management decided to make Champions out of them in 51! The frames and suspension were different too. even from 50 to 51 Champions they are not the same. Things were standardized in 51, and the same frame was used all the way up until 1985 (on the Avanti).
Being that the frames were changed even the 50 and 51 Champions don't bolt right up as far as mounting points go. Between a 50 and 51 Commander....foget-a-boud-it!!
Now that's just the front clip. The main bodies were pretty much the same, (except for the largest Land Cruiser Commander). That is a Commander, and Champion Starlight Coupe are the same sized structure, doors, and all are interchangeable. Same with sedans.

[ReggieFoote]

Hi Bez,

First, my Starlight Coupe is a Champion. Sorry for the omission.

You otherwise have responded to my inquiry with what I was looking for. As a Champion, I see from your posting that the Champion remained the same "body" size so, in reality, a 50 and 51 Champion Bulletnose can be interchanged but not the Commander??

Thanks again,

Reggie

[rockne10]

If you are only interchanging that round chrome nose, sure! But the '51 Champion has a 2" longer wheelbase than the '50, they have different frames and entirely different front suspensions.

You asked if the '50 and '51 Champion body was the same. Yes! Identical. But technically noted, the hood, front fenders and grill are part of the chassis, not the body; and they are different.

[RadioRoy]

The bullet nose only - just the nose part, is a larger internal diameter in 50 than in 51. You can bolt a 50 bullet on a 51 grille assembly, but you have to enlarge the hole in the 51 sheet metal.

The 47-52 cars have the same body from the cowl back, but there are three different frames and three different front suspensions in the Champion line alone.

Lots of people tell people lots of things. Lots of people misunderstand things that people tell them.

The 47-52 bodies are the same from the cowl back.

47-50 Commanders had longer front sheet metal than 47-50 Champions. This was to accommodate the extra length of the Commander six.

In 1951, the V-8 came out and it was shorter than the old Commander six. So in 51 the same front sheet metal could be used for both Commanders and Champions. Similarly, the 52 sheet metal is the same from Champion to Commander.

But for all the years of 47-52, the body was essentially the same from the cowl back.

As far as the frames are concerned, there are:
47-49 Champion
47-49 Commander
47-49 Land Cruiser
50 Champion
50 Commander
50 Land Cruiser
51-52 all Champion and Commander, except Land Cruiser
51-52 Land Cruiser

I do not know if the 51-52 Champion frames were lighter gauge steel than the 51-51 Commander frames, but I suspect they were not. A look in the chassis parts book would clear that up.

[RadioRoy]

What exactly are you asking to interchange? Correct, accurate terminology is crucial to a written exchange.

[dean pearson]

Roy, my car has 51 champion front fenders and a 50 center sheet metal piece. They bolt together.

Does that help?

This is an older photo but you can see they bolt on. I don't think you can simply put a 50 bullet in a 51 car. (But, I've been wrong before).

Dean.

[fiveftsix]

Hi Guys,
Having just put a 50 Starlight body onto a 51 4 door sedan chassis and also cutting out the 4 door 51 floors to put in the 50.
This is what I noticed,
I can say that the floor is different in the center tunnel area and obviously slightly different at the rear being a 4 door
But all the mounts line up the same, the bell housing access plates are different, one being larger than the other.
The 50 cowl front mounts are higher than the 51, it appears the 51 chassis has a lower sweep up over the front suspension so a modification is require if you plan to use those front mounting points.
The 50 and 51 fenders both mount to the cowl.
But the inner fenders are different.
The 51 has different front mounts to the 50
Also the 51 front fenders have a bigger swept cut out at the front lower edge of the wheel arch from the front lower edge to about 6 inches up but that may be for turning wheel clearance
And may only be required if using a 51 chassis.
The 50 front panel will bolt up to the 51 fenders
But if using a 51 chassis it will need to be trimmed back (Chassis) as it is longer and will prevent fitting the 50 front panel.
The 50 hood will match up to 51 fenders and a 50 front panel.
Geoff


50 starlight body with 51 front fenders,50 hood and front panel sitting on a 51 chassis

[plee4139]

Once and for all, please clear an item up for me. I have a 1950 Starlight Bulletnose Coupe

Is the 1950 Bulletnose the same body as the 1951 Bulletnose?

I was told by a Studebaker collector that the 1951 body was downsized from the larger 1950??

Thanks in advance,

Reggie

Did you mean "versus?" Verses are in poems and songs. Thank you.

[kurtruk]

The bullet nose only - just the nose part, is a larger internal diameter in 50 than in 51. You can bolt a 50 bullet on a 51 grille assembly, but you have to enlarge the hole in the 51 sheet metal.

The 47-52 cars have the same body from the cowl back, but there are three different frames and three different front suspensions in the Champion line alone.

Lots of people tell people lots of things. Lots of people misunderstand things that people tell them.

The 47-52 bodies are the same from the cowl back.

47-50 Commanders had longer front sheet metal than 47-50 Champions. This was to accommodate the extra length of the Commander six.

In 1951, the V-8 came out and it was shorter than the old Commander six. So in 51 the same front sheet metal could be used for both Commanders and Champions. Similarly, the 52 sheet metal is the same from Champion to Commander.

But for all the years of 47-52, the body was essentially the same from the cowl back.

As far as the frames are concerned, there are:
47-49 Champion
47-49 Commander
47-49 Land Cruiser
50 Champion
50 Commander
50 Land Cruiser
51-52 all Champion and Commander, except Land Cruiser
51-52 Land Cruiser

I do not know if the 51-52 Champion frames were lighter gauge steel than the 51-51 Commander frames, but I suspect they were not. A look in the chassis parts book would clear that up.

Roy,
The rear part of the frame on Champions changed between 48 and 49. So the gas tanks changed, and the spare tire went from flat on the floor to vertical in a well in the floor.

[ReggieFoote]

I'm not interchanging anything. Just wanting to find out if what I was told is accurate.

By the way, I'm really enjoying the "Studebaker Experience". I've had mine for the past year and a half. Love doing shows especially those with scads of spectators.

Reggie

[RadioRoy]

Roy,
The rear part of the frame on Champions changed between 48 and 49. So the gas tanks changed, and the spare tire went from flat on the floor to vertical in a well in the floor.

I forgot about the spare tire. Thanks for the info.

[GTHEMI62]

This is a little off the subject as you all have answered my sheet metal questions. I have retained all of the 50 sheet metal on my Starlignt Coupe, just changed the front suspension. I do need a good bullet for the nose if anyone has one. Prefer new but very good used will work as I am building a driver to show, not a show car. Also need a speedometer new or very good used. I do not know if anyone is reproducing the nose cone or not, but would not be adverse to a reproduction. Can anyone direct me to someone who restores gauges? Would like to get mine refaced and converted to 12v.

[RadioRoy]

Leave your gauges as 6 volt units and put a RUNTZ gauge regulator on them, from Randy Rundle.

http://www.fifthaveinternetgarage.com/electrical_parts.php

http://www.fifthaveinternetgarage.com/pdf/runtz_instructions.pdf

[kurtruk]

There has been a recent ad in Turning Wheels from someone who is reproducing the bullet nose (not in metal). There are no metal reproductions.