1947 Studebaker Champion Sedan (RHD)

Description

Building on the success of the original Champion of 1939-1942, Studebaker resumed production in the immediate post-war period as something of a stopgap until the heavily revised new model arrived in May 1946.  The 1947 Studebaker featured sleek styling by the talented team of Raymond Loewy and Virgil Exner, the smaller Champion and larger Commander series sharing a number of design elements - notably the flush front fenders and wraparound rear glass on two-door cars - that gave the new models a distinctly modern appearance.  Built on a 112-inch wheelbase, the Champion was offered in two lines, the Deluxe and Regal Deluxe, the latter distinguished by stainless steel windscreen surrounds and rocker panel moldings.  All Champions featured Studebaker's sturdy 170-cid in-line six under the bonnet, developing 80 horsepower.  The most popular body style was the basic four-door sedan, although a number of hardtop and coupe versions also sold well.  Rarest of all, the convertible variant was only available in the more upmarket Regal Deluxe trim, with only 2,251 produced in Studebaker’s South Bend and Los Angeles factories and cost $1,902 when new.  The early post-war period was a successful one for Studebaker, with the company in good financial shape, strong sales and an excellent reputation.  It wasn’t to last; within five years the company was operating at a loss and, aided by poor decision making, including the ill-fated takeover of Packard, Studebaker’s fortunes continue to decline, with production ending in South Bend by 1963 and the Hamilton, Ontario plant finally closing its doors in March 1966.