Studebaker Champion 1951

1951 Studebaker Champion Description:

Restored 1951 "bullet nose" sedan. Very little body filler used - mostly hammered, welded, NOS parts, English wheel work. You won't find anywhere that a magnet won't stick. Original maroon color with a little pearl added for glow. Frame is treated with POR15. Interior redone to be similar to original. Looks very original, but made driveable with an overhauled 305 Chevy engine from a 1987 Monte Carlo Aerocoupe, and a Chevy 700R4 automatic overdrive transmission. The engine compartment is "dressed down" to appear to be from the period, and includes an oil bath air cleaner. The speedo cluster is from a Geo Metro to have all the lights and stuff, but hardly noticeable installed inside the original Studebaker chrome frame. Mileage on the odometer is set to the original mileage, and the original speedo cluster is included if you should ever want to spend big bucks for a custom restoration. Vintage Air air conditioning is installed, but needs to be re-installed to work right - has a slow leak. Rear end is original. Steering changed to rack and pinion power using the steering parts from a 1987 Pontiac Grand Am. The horn is not working due to the steering shaft change, and needs some re-thinking. The front brakes were changed to Studebaker Hawk 9" drums - almost feels like power brakes. The original radiator is installed with some helper electric fans in addition to the belt driven fan for the air conditioning and transmission cooler, but I would have a custom high efficiency radiator made for it and eliminate the electric fans.
This car was found in a farmer's field where it sat for over 25 years near Vancouver, WA, and DRIVEN down I-5 to Southern California with new tires, exhaust, battery, spark plugs and then began restoration in 2003, and completed in 2007. The old Studebaker inline 6 with the 3 band Borg Warner transmission gave their last effort. Bullet holes were welded shut and all rusted areas rebuilt or replaced, and a lot of time, money, parts chasing, and fun went into making it the way it is. I now just drive it about every other month, and have had my fun and moving on to other projects.
At one point I was offered almost what I put into it - less my time and labor. I have a reserve price that's about half of that, and I'm not going to give it away, but the reserve is very fair.
No trades, and you can come and drive it home if you win...