1950 Studebaker Champion Custom Series 9G
Original price: $1,716.50 (In 1950: average car, $1,510; average household income, $3,210; average home, $8,450; gallon of gas, 27 cents)
On loan from: Jane Dahlstrom-Quinn, Evergreen, CO (originally from Holdrege, NE)
Previous owners: The car has been family owned since it was new. Ms. Dalstrom-Quinn’s grandparents, Fred and Hannah Youngquist, were the original owners and purchased it on August 5, 1950 from Warren Huss Motor Company in Holdrege. Their daughter and husband, Harry and Evelyn Dahlstrom, were the next owners. Ms. Dahstrom-Quinn inherited the car from them. The car was maintained through the years by Black Motor Company in Holdrege.
Now painted dark green, the color is very close to its original color. The car has been partly restored including the custom upholstery and carpet done in 2002 by Shepherd’s Upholstery of Holdrege. Both are very close to original. As a result of some hail damage, bodywork and painting were done in 1999 by Rick Streeter of Rick’s Body Shop in Holdrege.
Number made: 19,593 (2-door sedans)
Engine, etc.: 6 cyl.; 86 hp., 169.6 cu. in.; 3-speed manual transmission; 2,700 lbs.; 113″ wheelbase
The 1950 Champion introduced the famous bullet-nosed style of Studebakers and they sold very well. The redesigned Champion’s introduction was very important to the company since it was on the brink of being forced out of business. The success of the Champion would determine the future of the Studebaker Company. Production of the Champion model dated back to 1939 and continued until 1958 when it was replaced by the Lark.
The new design, done by Raymond Loewy, was simple and clean. Research was done on what the public wanted in an automobile and some components were advanced for the time.
The car won awards for fuel economy, especially during World War II when fuel was rationed. In 1947 Studebaker completely redesigned the Champion and Commander, making them the first new cars after World War II. Styling included a new rear window, flat front fenders and other features such as lights behind gauges and automatic courtesy lights.
In 1950 a new grill, sheet metal, and rear end were introduced as was a new automatic transmission. A wraparound rear window was offered as an option. The “spinner” grill was introduced in 1950.
The Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company started in 1852 making wagons, buggies, carriages and harnesses. It started making automobiles in 1902 and made electric vehicles from 1902 – 1911. By the 1920s Studebaker had a production capacity of 180,000 cars and employed 23,000 workers.
Because of financial problems and inability to compete with Ford and General Motors, it merged in 1954 with luxury carmaker Packard to form the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. Packard bowed out and the company returned to the name Studebaker Corporation in 1962. Production ceased at the South Bend plant in December, 1963 and the last automobile was made at the Canada plant in March, 1966.
Sources:
https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z4345/studebaker-champion.aspx
http://www.classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=8976&year=1950&model=29216
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker_Champion (See “Third Generation)
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Studebaker/1950%20Studebaker/1950%20Studebaker%20Brochure%201/dirindex.html (Original dealers brochure)
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Studebaker/1950%20Studebaker/1950%20Studebaker%20Folder/1950%20Studebaker%20Folder-01.html (Original dealers brochure, Studebaker Champion)
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Studebaker/1950%20Studebaker/1950%20Studebaker%20Inside%20Facts%20Booklet/index1.html (“Inside Facts”, a Studebaker salesman’s folder)
