Saved a Studebaker Champion last night...

Yeah, it was going to have an unglorious death by being sawzall'd into cubes, but I talked to the new home owners just in time. Sat in someone's backyard since 1968.

The roof is trashed, so it's next incarnation will probably be roofless, with a Porsche Speedster style window, and lowered about 4". Probably have time to play with it this Summer....

Anyone like these things, or know stuff about them?

 

i salvaged a 53 a few years back. looked about like yours. what do ya need to know?

 

Nice save...and it's a Studey...that's all you need to know...make a roadster out of it...NONE of them were ever made by Studey...find a Studey V8 (if it doesn't have an engine) and slam it on the ground...you'll be the envy of the red roadster crowd for showing your individualism.

R-

 

no need to cut that roof it could easily be saved.

 

the stock frame is like a wet noodle . you'd have to replace it if you whacked the roof. even with the top on it wouldnt hurt to beef it up a lot!

 

Don't whack that roof just yet. It looks fretty fixable to me. And there is a dude on ebay sellin new back glass for 380 bucks, if you can't find one used.

Nice find and remember, there were less than 50 thousand coupes and hardtops made in 53 and 54 so please be gentle.

Here's an in progress shot of mine..I wasn't gentle.

-Abone.

 

Dig that rear bumper over-rider! If anyone has one they could cut loose with I'm interested. Thanks Jim

 

I hope I am not offending anyone you know, but how clueless would you need to be to saw up that car? Nice rescue!

 

I bet if you laid inside that car, with your back on the front seat and your feet on the roof, you could pop that roof right back to where it needs to be.

Better yet, get your girlfriend to lay in the car with her back on the front seat and her feet on the roof....

 

Nice find. That roof *is* an easy fix but don't use the prevoius advice. You *never* push a dent out from the center. Start around the edges using the heel of your hand. If that dosen't move it (without hurting) use a rubber hammer. By the time you get to the center it will pop out & you'll have very little metal & bondo work to do to finish it out.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

I don't take shit; I don't give a shit. I'm not in the shit business.

 

I've always had a soft spot for convertibles. Here's a way to go. Stude never made these.

 

I know nothing but I love them, is that enough?!

 

Why don't you tell them about that other sweet ride you scored the other day!

 

how bout i give you a grand and have it shipped to okla on my dime??

And if you want something really kool cut 22 inches out of it from the back of door jamb back and make a two seater roadster out of it , looks very much like a 57 t bird then and has great lines... I have had several in diff type builds from street rod to drag racer to bonneville look. great cars...

 

there is a really nice studey thats been at hot august nights im gonna check to see if i got any digital picts, i dont think i do... but -- from what i remember -- big block chevy and blower -- low stance (as low or lower then the one in primer above) and massive wheels and tubs... i thought it looked awesome-- let me try to find some picts...

looks like an awesome save...

keith

 

That red vert was at Spokane Goodguys last yr, It was a very cool and unique car. If I remember right the top he used was from a 65 Dart convertable and the car had been in a barn fire and the barn roof collapsed on the car, that was why it was built as a convertable, All Studes are cool

 

You did real good, El Scotto! Transforming it into a ragtop is also an excellent idea! Good Luck on this project! Is it as solid as it looks?




Perhaps reality is nothing more than a "collective hunch" after all.

 

Door posts are often the weak spots for rust. They must not have been very tight under the hood above this area or something. of course being a CA car this may not be an issue for you, but the rest of us to the right of you must check this area out..

Nice find. I have been looking for one myself obviously..

 

That Convertible is NICE
I Tried to make it look more like a "Sports-car" ( Shitty "PAINT" photoshop .. )
KLAZ

 

Then I tried it with a 2" Section ... And a top .. looks like a Studerrari ..
Came out nice , didnt it .. ?
KLAZ

 

I've seen some things to suggest that there may have been an aftermarket conversion in the '50s to make a Studebaker convertible - anyone know anything about this? I found some illustrations of Studebaker convertibles while attempting to research Studillacs a while ago.

My dad would kill for that car, he wants a '53-'55 to mount on a C3 frame we've got. He wants to go 396/4-speed, I'd like to see a Cadillac engine in it, but either way it would be a cool project.

 

The only thing I know is thet are awesome cars. Way ahead of their time at the time. Fix that roof and slam it.

 

For a little inspiration you might take a look at the '53 now up on ebay. Here are some other examples including mine (black one). There are also a ton of resources available to you at www.studebakerdriversclub.com. Cheers!

 

ALWAYS looking for a 53/4 Stude.....have a 63 and a 64 Galaxie fast back to trade.....
Mark

 

A couple more examples.

 

Frank, As much as I hate to admit it that ragtop is really nice. Bob

 

it's called a "tag surround" and a steel one will run you $50-$250 but RODnRACE fiberglass makes them, my '54 has their fiberglass front clip, hood, bumpers, trunk lid and air scoop.

 

my '54 has a 512 caddy and 2004R tranny, gotta get some pics posted.

 

Indeed you do! My father and I differ on this, but I'd like to give one of these the "Jay Leno" treatment. Particularly a '55 President Speedster.