1940 Studebaker Champion Introduction

The Studebaker Champion is an automobile which was produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana from the beginning of the 1939 model year until 1958.
The success of the Champion in 1939 was imperative to Studebaker's survival following weak sales during the 1938 model year. Unlike most other cars, the Champion was designed from a "clean sheet", and had no restrictions caused by necessarily utilizing older parts or requiring the subsequent use of its components in heavier vehicles. Market research guided the selection of features, but a key principle adhered to was the engineering watchword "weight is the enemy." For its size, it was one of the lightest cars of its era. Its compact straight-6 engine outlasted the model itself and was produced to the end of the 1964 model year, with a change to an OHV design in 1961.
The Champion was one of Studebaker's best-selling models because of its low price (US$660 for the two-door business coupe in 1939), durable engine, and styling. The car's ponton styling was authored by industrial designer Raymond Loewy who had been under contract with Studebaker for the design of their automobiles. Champions won Mobilgas economy runs by posting the highest gas mileage tests. During World War II, Champions were coveted for their high mileage at a time when gas was rationed in the United States. From 1943-1945, the Champion engine was used as the powerplant for the Studebaker M29 Weasel personnel and cargo carrier, which also used four sets of the Champion's leaf springs arranged transversely for its bogie suspension.
The Champion was phased out in 1958 in preparation for the introduction of the 1959 Studebaker Lark. Prior to this, Studebaker had been placed under receivership, and the company was attempting to return to a profitable position.
Source: en.wikipedia.or...

[@joemackey1950]

Having sold Fords, Olds and Cadillacs 40+ years ago I well remember these training films. Push, push, push, sell, sell, sell. Push and sell some more! Whew. Glad those days are over.

[@Valor_73737]

My parents bought their first Studebaker in 1941. The primary reason was because the heater was located under the front seat and distributed heat onto the floor of the car in front of and behind the seat. They could lay me, as an infant, on the floor in front of the back seat knowing I would be warm on cold days. That under front seat heater installation continued right up until the last year or so of production.

[@2009Berghof]

I own a 42 Blackout Champion and the heater under the driver's seat is a plus. I also own a much larger and heavier La Salle. The Champion handles like a sportscar compared to the heavier GM product, but then the more costly big GM is much more solidly built. The Champion does get about twice the mileage with that overdrive transmission.

[@CB-fn3me]

27 MPG in 1940? That's about the same as a car of similar size today. Impressive!

[@lobmin]

They had less horsepower too..didn't have to go as fast etc..

[@kenbob1071]

@@lobmin And those were outlier numbers that few people managed to obtain. 27 mpg was a record according to the sales pitch --not an average.

[@timothykeith1367]

@@kenbob1071 They did pretty close to 27 mpg. These would struggle to keep up with today's traffic. It is a smaller car than it looks. I believe the Champion weighed about 2,300 pounds. Often the 1960 Corvair, Falcon and Valiant are mentioned as a new type of economy car, but cars like this and the Willys had been there before, and even lighter.

[@nlpnt]

@@timothykeith1367 The Champion probably had about the usable space of a Honda Fit (and the Willys roughly the footprint of one). Small but not super-tiny like the Crosley. On the sort of 2-lane, 50 mph speed limit (60ish actual typical traffic speed) rural roads that approximate typical 1940 driving my Fit gets 45 mpg; go hybrid and you'd see that from a "Compact" CUV that has approximately the presence of a 1940 Ford - Chevy - Plymouth.

[@kenbob1071]

Love the "robo-call" sales pitch.

[@Glendetta]

Great Studebaker History Video!!!! I still own my 1960 Studebaker V8 automatic Lark Wagon 4-door running good mechanically maintained but in need loving cosmetic refurbishing sadly I need to sell due to illness disability.

[@jamesdawson4459]

what do you want for it?

[@richardschulist3056]

That is very convincing and I just googled local Studebaker dealers but I cannot find one. Now what?

[@hankrogers8431]

Time machine.

[@twistedwired]

Lol

[@George50809]

Wow, that guy was really excited about Studebaker.

[@KingRoseArchives]

Who wouldn't be? I mean really. Look at that fine automobile.

[@George50809]

I agree, for its time it looked mighty good.

[@sharonpattonthaxton6449]

King Rose Archives u

[@michaelbenardo5695]

In retrospect, the Champion helped doom Studebaker. The Champion transformed Studebaker from a medium-priced car to mostly a low-priced car, but Stude's operation was too inefficient to profitably build low-priced cars, as was evident by 1951.

[@dorothygale5896]

They hit their peak with the Golden Hawk.

[@Robbi496]

660.00?? That is only a little higher than my monthly car payment right now :)

[@rudywinston3636]

+Robbi496 That's roughly equivalent to about $11,000 today, in terms of the Consumer Price Index. Still quite a bargain -- about half the cost of many economy cars today!

[@Ayce1955]

These were great sales tactics for the time. Most men had decent jobs, and could afford a new car, while while married women stayed home with the kids. (Until Dec. 41, that is.) These days, the first thing looked at is whether you can afford to pay for the car. If yes, pour on the sales spiel. If not, get out.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

That's because more and more guys were becoming union members. Now, most are forced to be poorly paid scabs. And to think that we used to be the envy of the world as far as the Standard Of Living.

[@granskare]

I want one now! :)

[@ArcadeGames]

Crazy to think WW2 started a year later.

[@binyon7]

The War started officially on 9/1/1939.

[@jamesbulldogmiller]

Japan invaded China 1937

[@hebneh]

"The nineteen hundred and forty Champion."

[@charlesnorte]

Un auto muy racional en todo sentido por su peso y tamaño con respecto a la mayoría de la época, muy buen precio y estilo. Es una pena que haya desaparecido Studebaker...

[@georgejacob3162]

I saw one of these today... in the UK!

[@allencrider]

Look! It's Jimmy Fidler from his Hollywood studio!

[@mobileentertainment575]

Where is my Jimmie Fidler letter?

[@RonRay]

Anybody have a time machine I can use for a couple of hours? ($660 for a new Studbuster!)

[@manoelluizteixeira8073]

Uma grandes marcas que já não existem mais, certamente, má administração, falta de criatividade e de engenhosidade na criação dos modelos. maneco - Brasil.

[@ricardorodrigues7304]

Excelente.

[@dlwatib]

Jimmy Fidler who?

[@Snarky79]

One of my school chums during WW2 had parents that had bought this car in 1940. It had OD and Jim always swore the got over30 miles per gallon on trips. I seem to recall it had a flathead 6 engine, Why these people rhapsodize on looks and say nothing or little about the technics , i am wondering. Were the brakes hydraulic??

[@dlwatib]

Yes, hydraulic.

[@marc639]

Better millage than now at a total price of one monthly payment now.

[@weasel884]

Almost looks like I could take the door off a ‘39 Chevy and it would fit that car

[@JBC814]

The heyday of Studebaker was the Loewy-designed '53 model, which was years ahead of the competition. However, mechanically it was no improvement over the other brands, and wasn't that impressive to the family man. The four-door President model was outstanding, but the windshield was too close to the driver, giving it a closed-in feeling. The '55 model improved ergonomics quite a bit with a wrap-around windshield, but they failed to raise the trunk lid and expand the grill.

[@peterraynes356]

"idol chatter" was intentional I take it.

[@zoltandomjan4764]

CCCP SZOVJETUNIO SZOVJET GAZ M 20 VICTORY!!!

[@jeffreywoods4040]

Under $14k in today’s money!

[@osvalcs_]

$660 dollars in 1940. Oh my freaking God lol. How much is that in today's dollars?

[@driftcat7076]

$12,946, practically unheard of for a new car today

[@dwightcole6989]

Nice video, but I'd say the 194O Ford Deluxe is the better car with great styling and performance, and will run like a scalded dog around a Studebaker.

[@nobatteriesincluded3968]

I’m getting 27 mpgs in a 2018 VW so where’s all the technology they brag about these days nothing has changed in 80 years 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@MrRobster1234]

Studebaker was about to make over 100,000, 9-cylinder, Wright R1820 engines. As for Jimmy Fidler, he was the original fast-talking, Jewish back-stabber in Hollywood.

[@MrRobster1234]

Sometimes the truth hurts...

[@reh3997]

If there is one thing I can't stand, it is pushy car salesmen.