Here it sits–looking a little forlorn and dejected, but still surviving and mostly intact–a rather unlikely sight: When was the last time you saw a 1940s Studebaker at a used car lot? Well, I found one. And you can buy it right now, if you’re so inclined…
What an attention-getter! While driving eastbound on Route 46 in Parsippany NJ, past Jan Auto Sales, I spotted this fascinating little green coupe. Of course I had to stop.
The find is a 1949 Studebaker Champion De Luxe Starlight five-passenger coupe. When this design first appeared in 1947, with its radical wraparound rear windows, comedians joked that you couldn’t tell if it was coming or going. There’s more to that story, of course, and JP and Paul covered it before.
As an aside, for those of you who are interested in roadside nostalgia, I consider this to be a historic part of Route 46. This used car lot has been here since the 1960s, and across the highway you can see one of the last vintage Mid-Century Modern neon signs along this stretch.
So while you’re here on the lot with me, let’s do a little walk-around and check out this interesting Studebaker:
One thing I immediately noticed was all these fascinating little artistic details that are often overlooked.
I’m loving this hood ornament, LOL! It’s still mild compared to the dramatic “Bullet Nose” yet to come.
For many years, Studebakers had these cowl side panels on the front fenders. There’s this vertical “seam” going down–what sort of coachwork is this?
Above the trunk handle you can see the words, “CENTRAL MOTORS PUEBLO”. Somehow this Stude made it from Colorado to New Jersey. The button on the left reads, “L6G”. No idea what that means.
Inside: Seat upholstery looks pretty nice!
Sitting behind the wheel. There should be a Studebaker “S” emblem in the center.
Clutch–brake–accelerator. Knob labeled “OD” which is “Overdrive”. Studebaker did not offer an automatic transmission until 1950.
Close-up of center of the dash. Below the missing (?) radio is the heat control lever, with “D” defrost control on the left, and “A” fresh air on the right.
Engine shots. The 170 cubic inch 6-cylinder flathead Champion engine makes 80 HP. Unit on the left reads, “Climatizer”.
Window sticker: AS IS–NO WARRANTY. It further states, “The dealer assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any oral statements about the vehicle.” Uh, huh. 🙄
The salesman (Greg) took my picture with the Stude.
So that’s all I know about this Studebaker Starlight. I probably should have asked more questions. Compared to what Ford-Chevy-Plymouth were offering, it certainly was a unique design. It was lighter in weight than its competition, but it appears to be as solidly built as a tank. I think it looks best seen from above (as shown), but few people will see it from that angle.
Leaving the used car lot. There was a shiny red Jaguar sedan parked near my red S-Type. An interesting comparison.
A little postscript: According to aerial photos shown on the website historicaerials.com, in the 1960s there was a large auto junkyard just west of Jan Auto Sales. This is now a wooded area. But while traveling westbound on Interstate 280 (just south of Route 46), I spotted what appears to be a late ’50s Rambler station wagon abandoned in the woods. Could this be a forgotten survivor from the old junkyard days that escaped the crusher? Could there be more abandoned oldies hidden in the woods? I’ll have to park my car somewhere nearby, take a hike and investigate. I’ll update you if I find anything interesting.
Related reading:
A Curbside Story… and Curbside Outtake: 1949 Studebaker–Champion It Is! by Ed Stembridge
Curbside Classic: 1949 Studebaker Land Cruiser–On Top Of The World by J. P. Cavanaugh
Vintage Brochure Rendering: 1949 Studebaker Commander Starlight Coupe–Out Looking At The Stars by Paul Niedermeyer
I don’t think the radio is ‘missing’, I think the strip with the frequencies on has dropped down or disappeared somehow.
That sort of coachwork is the result of an automaker that has no money! Nice find!
Or the kind that still designs and builds bodies with engineering ideas from the 1930’s.
Cool old car, I hope someone saves i!
It’s great to see Tech Toys is still at the Parsippany Plaza! I’d always stop in there after going to a model toy show at the PAL hall nearby to see what other cool car models they had. The old neon sign is a classic, I hope it survives! It also recall the junk yard just off of RT 80 past there in the 1990’s, with lots of woods all around.
Neat survivor! Improbably, the building that housed the original dealer (Central Motors in Pueblo) is still standing as well, and largely original. The vertical blade sign looks like it uses the original Studebaker sign’s frame, but the sign itself has been replaced. From what I can tell, Spangler’s Rugs moved into the store sometime in the 1950s, and has been there ever since, so I assume the sign was replaced then.
Also, in the image below, a 1954 Chevy is parked by the side of the building – looks like it belongs there!
Google StreetView (but without the Chevy):
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ydALCuf13gZyDaBG9
I hope a Studebaker-lover buys this, maybe even someone from South Bend. It would be great to see it show up at the Studebaker National Museum’s (SNM) summer Cars and Coffee meet-ups. It would fit right in in its unrestored, survivor condition.
The wraparound rear window is a terrific testament to the independent’s lament of survival by finding a niche that the Big 3 had not yet found. Typically didn’t work but there were occasional, short-term successes.
It appears to be in quite solid and original condition. I used to really want a bullet-nose Starlight coupe, as this milque-toast front end does not do the rest of the car justice.
Stephen, it’s almost as if you have your chequebook in your back pocket, just out of sight of the photographer!
But . . . but . . . How much? It appears to be a lovely, solid old car with a really nice interior and in a great period color. If it is anywhere around what it cost new, I could be talked into this.
According to Jan’s website, $7975.
That’s a good price to keep it on the lot deteriorating for years to come.
In adjusted dollars, it cost some $23k when new. So this is a bargain! 🙂
Seriously, this does seem to be in surprisingly good shape, including the interior. I could really see you in this…
For those who didn’t see my comments in the past on this vintage of Studebaker, I’ll re-post it here:
When I was a kid, I had asked my Dad if he was in WWII. He said, “Why yes I was! I was a tail-gunner on a `48 Studebaker!”
Dad knew that I was well aware of Starlight coupes! I caught the joke immediately.
That looks like it could be a rather nice driver condition car. The interior looks pretty darn good except for maybe the steering wheel button. Add a rear bumper and drive!
How much do they want for it???!
Cool studie… Saw a similar vintage in a convertible version over the weekend, a no sale at the Saratoga auto auction while I was attending the vintage BMW show at the museum. They park some of the leftovers behind the museum. You mention the bullet nose, there was a coupe beside this one…
The bullet nose was a business coupe with drop down curtains behind the seat so occupants could sleep in the trunk area… Interesting
Nice, $8K is steep for this given the value of plebian 1940’s cars in these times. And of course the bullet nose is the one to have with this body style.
I would say yes to saving that orphan: put the bumper back on, find some hubcaps and buff out the paint! But no time, no space, no spousal goodwill for such a thing at the moment.
This clearly was someone’s beloved hobby car at one point, sadly they left out the vapor barrier sheets when re doing the interior, originally waxed paper I use heavy plastic sheeting these days and not only no water damage to the door cards but better sound and temperature insulation to boot .
That the rear bumper isn’t attached makes me suspicious but that’s my general nature in used things .
At $5,000 and running this car -may- have a chance to sell, sitting like this is only going to damage it worse, I wonder how bad the brakes and so on are .
That paint looks to me like it can still be compounded & waxed to a nice shine, chips yes but still a good looking car overall .
Overdrive means it can be driven in today’s traffic sans problems .
-Nate