1950 Studebaker Champion Deluxe Starlight Coupe
Provided by Hemmings

Looking past some of Studebaker’s more eclectic designs, one comes to realize that this independent manufacturer offered innovative engineering and styling that sometimes was too advanced for its own good. Our particular focus is on the Champion’s Deluxe Line, two-door, five-place Starlight Coupe. This was a popular style, with over 19,000 Deluxe versions selling for just under $1,600. The Champion line first debuted as the company’s low-cost car in 1939 with an 85-hp L-head six-cylinder for power and two- and four-door styles available in Custom or Deluxe configurations. By 1950 it had undergone a number of redesigns, the most recent of which culminated in the whimsical “Next Look” bullet-nose treatment derived from the aviation industry that gives it individuality not seen in today’s autos.

Aside from the Hawk cars of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, these are perhaps some of the most well-remembered of all Studebakers, with the design generally credited to Studebaker’s South Bend Styling head, Robert Bourke. The front of the Champion of course got the bullet nose, the rear featured a trunk that was nearly as long as the front, leading to the interminable Dr. Doolittle push-me-pull-you jokes. Honestly though, who could complain about the expansive view through that four section rear window? Again, Studebaker was just far ahead of its time. Mechanical refinements were made as well, the most obvious of which was the planar leaf spring independent front suspension being eliminated in favor of a coil-sprung A-arm system. Automatic Drive, a $201 option over the standard column-shifted three-speed manual was also introduced in the ’50 models, but a V-8 would have to wait a bit longer.

Most likely because they were based on Studebaker’s low-cost Champion platform, Starlight Coupes are not to been found at the more prestigious auctions, with the exception of a few heavily modified street rod versions. Actually, this is a good indicator of a car that is going to be a very affordable collectible. What the interested collector can expect to pay for a solid Starlight based on the Custom Line ranges from $2,500 for one needing quite a bit of attention to bring it up to good driving quality to about $4,500 for one that’s ready for a Sunday drive. Mind you though, at this level, you’re still not in a show quality car, but a nice driver. Going to the upper end of the range, a turn-key looker will set you back between $6,000 and $7,000, depending on how the car was optioned. Moving up to the Deluxe line, identifiable by the hood ornament not found on the Custom Line, you can expect to pay 15 to 20% more for examples in ready-to-drive or turn-key show condition.

1950 Studebaker Champion Deluxe Starlight Coupe
Base price: $ 1,592
Base weight: 2,705 lbs.
Body: Five-place, two-door steel hardtop coupe
Frame: Ladder-type, five cross members
Wheelbase: 113 inches
Length: 197.25 inches
Width: 69.825 inches
Height: 61.75 inches
Track (f/r): 56.4/54
Suspension: Independent unequal-length A-arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar, direct-acting hydraulic shocks
Suspension (rear): Semi-elliptic four-leaf springs, live axle, direct-acting hydraulic shocks
Steering: Variable ratio cam and twin lever, 5.5 turns lock-to-lock, 24.0:1/33.8:1 ratio
Brakes: Hydraulic drums, 11-inch diam front, 9-inch diam rear
Engine: 169.6–cu.in. In-line Six
Transmission: 3-speed manual