LOT 256 1956 Studebaker Champion
SPECIFICATION Registration
Chassis No. Engine No.
Odometer Reading Estimate
PSU 550 G1374931 1198228 61,190
£7,000 - £9,000
Studebaker Corporation was a manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the military. Studebaker entered the automotive business in 1902 under the name ‘Studebaker Automobile Company’. The first petrol vehicle to be fully manufactured by Studebaker was marketed in August 1912. Over the next 50 years, the company established an enviable reputation for quality, reliability and styling. The South Bend plant ceased production on 20th December 1963, and the last Studebaker automobile rolled off the Ontario, Canada, assembly line on 16th March 1966. The new-car sales war between Ford and General Motors in the early 1950s wreaked havoc on Studebaker’s profitability; Finance Directors focused on short-term earnings
rather than long-term vision. There was enough momentum to keep going for another eight years, but stiff competition and a price war instigated by the larger manufacturers doomed the enterprise. From 1950, Studebaker declined rapidly and, by 1954, was losing money; it negotiated a strategic takeover by Packard, a smaller but less financially troubled car manufacturer. However, the cash position was worse than it had led Packard to believe and by 1956, the company (renamed Studebaker-Packard Corporation) was virtually bankrupt, although it continued to make and market both Studebaker and Packard cars until 1958. This very stylish Studebaker Champion was manufactured in 1956, then shipped and used in South Africa. Importation into the UK from South Africa took place in April 1989; however, this car is quite rare in that it is righthand drive with three-speed manual transmission. The six-cylinder, three litre engine ensures a very smooth delivery of power, offering a very pleasant, comfortable drive. Finished in two-tone green/white coachwork with a matching, original interior, a good history file is supplied with the vehicle, together with an original sales catalogue and the importation documents. A V5 registration document is supplied, together with a full year’s MoT test certificate; this very well presented example has been competitively priced and represents extremely good value.
www.historics.co.uk
89
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156