1951 Studebaker Champion

1951 Studebaker Champion Starlite Coupe For consignment, a 1951 Studebaker Championship Starlite coupe showing 129,293 miles, but the true miles are unknown. This work in progress is sitting on the chassis of an 89 S10 and theres a 4.3 liter behind the bullet nose! Exterior Weve got a combination of unpainted panels, primer areas, a smoothed filler and if you put on some wipe on a clear coat, you could call it a day as is. But a body like this also deserves some color, fantastic, rearward sweeping lines that start with the front, sharply angling back and of course, capped by the legendary bullet nose detail that along with the side ornamentation, looks very much like an airplane over the smiling grille below and between teardrop shaped headlights. Cadillac style pointed amber marker lights now adorn the front while double red 59 Caddy units live out back. The wrap-around rear window really could pass for a windshield and creates an open greenhouse with unobtrusive B-pillar. 14-inch red steel wheels wear full covers, wrapped in staggered size tires with a late 2019 date code. There is surface rust, cracking filler, ill fitting add ons, and just general patina on the outside. Interior Though the door panels are rough with some patina and peeling panels, the layout is consistent with everything about the Studebaker, slightly different than the other guys, here with vertically stitched glossy red vinyl over a white panel over a plaid multi colored lower. More modern bucket seats are in front in black vinyl, while the rear bench is white cloth and in poor condition with tears and soiling. A three spoke steering fronts the familiar S10 dashboard with arching blue gauges and plastic toggles, all showing some patina. The remaining dash is the Studebakers with holes and wires and yet the glovebox ornamentation remains. The floor is barren steel with rubber mats and the headliner is what wed call barn find condition. Yeah, shes a diamond in the rough, but lets get to whats underneath! Drivetrain Here we have GMs venerable 4.3 liter V6 and its a new, remanufactured example with fuel injection. Its backed by a 700R4 4-speed automatic that sends power to the 10 bolt rear axle. We note a newer aluminum radiator, hoses, and belts under the hood in an otherwise driver quality bay. The battery has been relocated to the trunk, and the car runs on a 12 volt system. Undercarriage Driver quality here too with plenty of surface rust, and oil presence limited to a cross member. The exhaust looks fresh in comparison, a single system with a stock style muffler that sends the tailpipe sideways to exit in front of a rear wheel. Power disc brakes are up front with power drum in back and suspension is made up of coil springs in front with leaf springs in back. Drive-Ability The dash and engine sound are familiar to we S10 owners, and the raw interior gives us a Streets of Fire vibe while the outside is a bit Mad Max. Whatever movie were in, the car gets around the test loop with typical S10 V6 power, which is decent, and the car tracks straight and stops on demand. We note the wipers and heater blower are not working but all other functions available for the driver operate as intended. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase. Amazingly, this is only the second Starlite weve represented at the mall. Maybe it shouldnt be a surprise as only 14,000 were produced in 1951. Wed love to see more as these are incredibly unique cars, and even in rough, unfinished condition its a desirable model. Heres one thats ready for your ingenuity and it doesnt take much imagination to see how cool this car could be. Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (thats more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price. With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy listening. You can also watch on YouTube!