Studebaker was the first company to launch new cars after World War Two, and the Champion launched on a 112-inch wheelbase alongside its 119-inch Commander sibling. Raymond Loewy Studios had a contract with Studebaker and they produced 2-door coupes, 2-door sedans, 2-door convertibles and a 4-door sedan. There was also the famous Starlight Coupe with wraparound rear window offered as Champion or Commander and now known to be the work of Virgil Exner. Raymond Loewy let Exner go when Virgil would not be silent about his design work on the Champion/Commander. Evolution carried on with Bob Bourke on the pens, and he gave the Studebakers a 'spinner' or 'propeller' grille for 1950 and enlarged the Champion to 113-inch and the Commander to 120-inch. For 1951 both lines were built on 115-inches but the Commander got the new 120 bhp Studebaker V8 engine. New fronts appeared on the 1952 cars ahead of the 1953 new bodies.