Simon Cars - Studebaker Champion and Commander 1953

Studebaker Champion and Commander 1953 - 56

The fourth generation of Champion was launched in 1953 with the stunning new body by Robert Bourke, from Raymond Loewy Studios . Most notable were the coupes, the pillarless 'Starliner' and the pillared 'Starlight'. The pillared car was developed after the pillarless car was found to flex. As well as the coupes, there was also sedans built on a shorter wheelbase and with a higher roofline, and also an extended 'Land Cruiser' sedan built on the 120.5 inch coupe wheelbase. Above the Champion was the Commander which featured a 3,809cc V8 engine. Buyers preferred the Coupes to the other models, coupes selling four times as many as sedans. For 1954 Studebaker strengthened the body and resolved the quality problems, but sales dived as Ford and Chevrolet went into a price war that Studebaker could not afford to join.

aa Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner badgec

Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner - badge on bootlid. 'Champion' was given to the six cylinder cars, and 'Commander' was given to the V8 cars.

aa Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner badgel

Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner hardtop coupe. 'Lazy S' badge

aa Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner badges

Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner hardtop coupe - badge on c-pillar

aa Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop badgeb

Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop - badge on bootlid

ab Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop grille

Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop - grille. 1955 was the final year of the low wide grille, although the thick chrome surround was new for 1955. The following year gave the coupes only a new central grille which was similar to the one given to the Sunbeam Rapier Series III.

ac Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner hardtop head

Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner hardtop coupe. Also available as the pillared Starlight coupe, The standard engine for the Champion was the 2,786cc (169) straight six, but a V8 was an option on the Commander. A new full-width chrome grille was given for 1955

ac Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop head

Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop. All champions had the 3,041cc inline six engines as the entry level Studebaker, although the Regal was the premium trim for the Champion range.

Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner hardtop front

Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner hardtop coupe. The standard engine for the Champion was the 2,786cc (169) straight six, but a V8 was an option. 'Regal' was the top level trim with Custom and then Deluxe below.

Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner hardtop side

Studebaker Champion 1954 Regal Starliner hardtop coupe. The Starliner coupe was built on a 120.5-inch wheelbase and sold as a Champion or a Commander.

Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop front

Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop. Robert E. Bourke designed the Studebaker Coupe for Raymond Loewy Associates from 1951, replacing Virgil Exner who had been fired by Loewy. Launched in 1953, the body kept the Studebaker name in production until 1964.

Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop rear

Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop. Studebaker produced the 2-door coupe in two models, the most stylish was this pillarless coupe, but after complaints about body flexing a new pillared coupe called the 'Starlight' coupe was also introduced.

u Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop side

Studebaker Champion 1955 Regal Hardtop. Designed by Robert E. Bourke at Raymond Loewy Studios , this classic shape is a milestone for car styling. This pillarless coupe was known for body flexing so a pillared Starlight coupe was brought in as a stronger option.

American Cars Studebaker Index Simon Cars