Easy and Affordable: 1949 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe
When you examine modern passenger cars, their styling has become quite generic. Occasionally, a manufacturer will introduce a new feature, but the financial risks involved are now considered too significant to justify treading a radical styling path. That brings us to this 1949 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe. The rear glass is its defining feature, giving backseat passengers the impression they are seated before the type of bay window you might find in Georgian mansions. This Champion ticks many boxes for potential buyers seeking a project candidate. It is rock-solid and mechanically healthy, and the seller’s price confirms it is affordable. The Starlight is listed here on eBay in Checotah, Oklahoma. They have set a BIN figure of $7,000 with the option to make an offer, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this cool classic.
Potential buyers with limited or non-existent welding skills will find this Studebaker particularly attractive. Its Tulip Cream paint is badly faded, and the car cries out for a refresh. However, the seller identifies surface corrosion on the floors as the only issue. It seems there is no steel penetration. With the worst panel damage restricted to a small dent on the driver’s side front fender, whipping this car’s exterior into shape won’t require a grinder or welder. That could also make the vehicle irresistible for those considering a first project build. The exterior trim is complete, with the condition ranging from items that will respond to polish to items requiring a trip to the platers. The glass is spotless, including the distinctive multi-piece back window.
The Starlight can never be considered a muscle car, with its 169.6ci flathead six-cylinder engine producing 80hp and 138 ft/lbs of torque. The power feeds to the road via a three-speed manual transmission, with an automatic option not offered until the year after this car rolled off the line. Performance figures are glacial by modern standards but were considered acceptable in 1949. Outright performance wasn’t the company’s aim with the Starlight, but cruising all day at 60mph was achievable. The engine bay presentation isn’t pristine, but it is comfortably acceptable for a survivor-grade classic of this vintage. The seller confirms the car is in excellent mechanical health, retaining its numbers-matching mechanical components and 6-volt electrical system. The only identified issue is a leak from the master cylinder. Otherwise, it runs and drives perfectly, and with the master cylinder shortcoming addressed, it is ready to hit the road for classic motoring fun.
The styling is the first of two highlights of this Studebaker, with its interior presentation the second. It needs nothing because the upholstered surfaces are free from significant issues, there is no appreciable wear on the carpet, and the dash is spotless. The wheel has cracked, but with restoration kits retailing for around $50, addressing that shortcoming would be rewarding and affordable. Luxury appointments include a factory radio and clock, which buyers found pretty respectable in 1949. I am not the world’s greatest passenger, but I would make an exception by occupying the back seat of this classic. Who cares about air conditioning or power windows when that location offers a sweeping view of the passing scenery?
One of the pitfalls of writing for Barn Finds is that I sometimes feature cars I would love to own. If I surrendered to temptation every time, my garage would be the size of a small suburb. This 1949 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe joins that list, but it will suffer the fate of almost all by never finding its way to my workshop. I hope someone gives it a new home because, with only 5,917 DeLuxe Starlight Coupes produced in 1949, it is a rare classic worth preserving. Are you up for that challenge?
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Comments
A very clean looking car. Thank you Adam for the write-up.
One time I was in Jasper Alberta Canada, I saw one of these pulling a teardrop trailer. I spoke to the owner, an elderly gentleman that he had driven it up from Arkansas on his way to Alaska. That would have been in 1971.
Both the car and the trailer were immaculate.
The bullet nose looks way better on these.
Agreed, there’s a bullet nose type in almost the same color in my neck of the woods. Very unique auto. This one is still cool and what about that visor? That’s made of unobtanium for sure!
Boy , that’s a RARE ONE !! Not many of those left especially in original condition . Those vintage cars had a personality all their own unlike the modern cars of today ! They were easy to work on and parts were cheaper too . Some fortunate bidder will be the new owner of this elusive ’49 Studebaker . Happy Motoring !
Agree, I have a 1951 Starlight coupe (with the bullet nose)
Its a matter of taste ;I find the bullet noses very bizarre looking and would much rather have the 49 front end
Back in the day, postwar cars like this were plentiful and cheap. I would buy one, wrench on it a bit and then sell it, maybe making a few $$. Then I’d repeat the process, a fun pastime. If you have to pay $7000 or thereabouts just to get into the game, I would think it would be hard to make any money trying to flip a car like this, you should buy it because you like it and want to keep it awhile.
Look at that oil filter cannister, right up there where you could change it in minutes! What a concept!
Numbers Matching? What would Richard Quinn say?
Engine number matching what is listed on the production order is what RQ might say.
It’s already sold.
My father owned one of these and I remember as a young lad riding in the back and enjoying the scenery. We lived in La Junta CO and he would drive it to the radar base (he was in the USAF). If I recall correctly, it broke down on a trip from CO to his new base in Tucson and he had to tow it in. Ours was black and he traded it in for a VW and that started my love of VWs.
I do remember that the 6 volt system didn’t produce much light at night when we drove up to Colorado Springs.
The oil filter was “optional at extra cost”. My father did not go for the optional radio, or clock, or oil filter, on our 1950 Champion Regal Deluxe, and the engine was toast at 40,000 miles. But, otherwise, it was a step above the Chevy, Ford, and Plymouth of the day in terms of fit and finish. Two fit in the back seat of the Starlight Coupe.
I bought my first Starlight coupe in 1970, a dark blue 1950 Champion with overdrive, and drove it to college for about a year before selling it About 1985 I found a 1951 Commander Starlight with the new V8 and automatic trans, it was also dark blue. Should have kept that one, but it needed a lot of body work. My final Starlight was a 1950 Champion Regal Deluxe in Maroon. It was one of those rare Studebakers – it didn’t have any rust.
Most people don’t know about the twin drinks coolers in the Starlight coupes; Both rear seat armrests have padded tops that flip up, and the metal-lined bottom area of the arm rest will hold 2 six-pack cans of your favorite drink.
On my first Starlight, I drilled a hole in the bottom of the “cooler”, that bottom panel was part of the floor, so any melted ice would simply drain out the hole, However it was important to first use house caulk to seal up the seams of the metal body so it wouldn’t leak water into the interior of the car. Since the armrest sides were padded upholstery, the drinks would stay cold most of the evening.
Another Starlight coupe owner said the police never found his beer stash because it was all in the armrests.
I remember as a teenager hanging around the hotrodding kids in the mid-50’s that the word was that a Cadillac engine would “drop right into” one of those post-War 1940’s Studebakers. Dad was driving a ’47 Champion at the time, so I had dreams…. That thing wouldn’t make it up a steep hill with the family inside, unless he stopped and shifted back into first.
From what I remember in the ’60s, you could drop anything in these.
I don’t see an overdrive lever so for anyone not familiar with these cars, don’t plan on traveling long distances at any expressway speeds. When I bought my ’56 Flight Hawk the OD wasn’t working so the engine was screaming at highway speeds. Once I fixed the OD it was a whole different animal and happy keeping up with traffic.