UPDATE: '56 Studebaker Champion sedan

Well, after 13 months I am on the home stretch now. I pulled this car out of a field in Pacoima--a $200 Craigslist find. It now sports a 299 inch Studebaker R1 V8 (from a '64 Lark I parted years ago), a T85 with a Hurst shifter, a 4:27 Loc Rite rear end with "Super Lark" traction bars and (horror!), 1984 Corvette discs on the front and '89 Vette discs on the back (would have gone with the big, finned Hawk brakes, but it was CHEAPER to use the Vette stuff). I have everything ready to finish putting this one back together--should have it ready for the Stude "La Palma" show in a couple of months and after sorting I'll run it at Irwindale for the hell of it . . .

Sorry about the crummy pics, but all I had with me yesterday was my cell phone . . .

 

Love it, Allan .

Studes Rule!!

 

Nice. More pic Allan. Wasn't this the low budget ride?

 

Define "low budget."

Yeah, it started out that way, but this is a classic case of "mission creep." The more hours I spent the better I wanted it to be and VOILA!, here comes the world's best 1956 Studebaker sedan.

Still, it's not a 20K car or anything like that . . .

 

Looks great. Different is Good !!

 

Looks great, body looks really straight. How many hours do you figure it'll take you to reassemble it? Two months, you must have a lot of free time.

 

I figure about 100 hours.

What else are weekends for?

 

Thats great!

 

NICE! the roof line kind of resembles a Lark. Go figure.

 

Cool. I had a 56 President w/289 (2bbl side draft stromberg), 3spd w/OD, hill holder clutch...wish I still had it.

 

very cool

 

You mind telling me more about the brakes? And the traction bar? I have a '57 President Broadmoor wagon that I plan on starting on this summer. I have a Golden Hawk engine and a 3 spd w/OD, I just need to get some time.

 

Anymore updates Allan?

 

That front end looks like the one on my 56 President 2 door wagon. Wish I still had that car!

 

Dolling it up for the GNRS next month. These pics are a couple of months old, but you get the idea . . .

 

Cool Alan,
Love the car.
See you in August? We'll be back......

 

Great car, More pics please!!

 

I sure hope so. I won't be building a car for the flats for this year, but I have my eyes on the 6 cyl pickup class. How would that old flathead Stude Turbo 6 from Salt 2 Salt look in a '54 C Cab? Looks like a soft record. Feel like lending out the engine for a few runs in 2011?

 

Very cool car! Can you post a picture of your speedo, never seen a restored one.

 

Cool! Nice job on the Stude. It's refreshing to see cars like this.

 

Beautiful car! I've got a '58 Commander hard top myse'f... i'm curious about what it took to put 'vette brakes on your car?

-Chris

 

Wow! What a great looking car! I've always felt these Studebaker two door sedans were among the most under-appreciated designs of the '50s. Particularly appealing in the more restrained trim of the Champion and later Scotsman series. Terrific lines and proportions; love those hooded headlights!

Looking forward to seeing more pics!

 

Right now, the engine is in the Tribaker, but we can talk......I might let you borrow the head and intake setup...You come up with a NOS block, and good crank. I'd help with any questions about building up the block. Now stop talking about soft records in public!

 

Good enough! I have a line on a '54 C Cab that would make a nice salt flats racer. Knowing I might be able to "borrow" your proven flathead Champion technology (and parts!) will go a long way toward nudging me in the right direction. This will be a low-buck/high effort venture much like Salt 2 Salt. Currently looking for a couple of partners to share the burden out here in L.A.

 

Lets see a before pic of what it started out like!

 

OK, here is was the day I dragged it home:

 

That paint is beautiful

 

Thanks to Bob Cole in Long Beach, CA. The guy is FANTASTIC!!!!!!

 

What a unique hot rod, man I have only seen a couple of those cars and never one that was done up. Really a tasty build, you aregoing to have a ball with this cool ride. Thanx for sharing the pix. That 57 el-presedente wagon is another "to cool for school" car ~ Sololobo ~

 

What Bob says 2x. That is how a late 50's street car looked around here. I wish that Stude were mine.