Studebaker Champion History

Introduced for 1939, the Champion was Studebaker's entry into the low-price field, designed to be light and fuel-efficient with a simple, durable L-head six. It was an immediate hit — its low price (about $660 for the business coupe), economy, and clean styling made it one of Studebaker's best-selling cars and helped pull the company through the prewar years.

Production paused for World War II (1942) and resumed in 1946. The 1947 Champion debuted Raymond Loewy Associates' 'which way is it going?' postwar styling, including the distinctive Starlight coupe with its wraparound rear window. For 1950–1951 the Champion wore the famous spinner 'bullet-nose' grille.

The Champion was phased out after 1958 as Studebaker, in financial trouble, concentrated its resources on the new compact Lark for 1959.