Hello everyone, I found a restored 1950 Studebaker champion for sale for a decent deal and I’m considering purchasing it as my new daily driver. From what I’ve researched, they get 25ish mpg which is what my current car gets, they can keep up with modern traffic, and they are very reliable and parts are cheap. I’m not 100% sure that all of this is true but it’s what came up when I researched lol. What do all of you think? With proper maintenance do you think I could make it work? I love old cars so if it’s possible it would be a dream come true 😂. Thanks for any help you can give me 😁
The parts situation is actually not all that bad for Studebakers. Unlike when AMC was absorbed by Chrysler and all AMC/Rambler pre-1980 parts were destroyed, when Studebaker left car manufacturing (the company did not go out of business) all the OEM parts were preserved. There are still some left and some are being reproduced.
https://www.studebaker-intl.com/
https://www.studebakerparts.com/
You'd want to get involved with the Studebaker Drivers' Club:
https://studebakerdriversclub.com/
You really should not have a problem getting parts, but, you're probably going to have to order online and wait for them. Some will be available at your local NAPA etc. but overall it won't be like getting parts for something like a Toyota Corolla.
Also, most mechanics today won't know how to work on anything that old. You're talking flathead six-cylinder engine (Studebaker V8 came out for '51), vacuum windshield wipers, 6-volt positive-ground generator with relay-type regulator, kingpins instead of ball joints, etc. So although a Studebaker is uncomplicated and easy to work on, mechanics these days are just not familiar with them. (How many even know something as simple as how to polarize the generator if the battery is disconnected?) If you're not going to be doing your own wrenching you may find repairs and maintenance to be a problem.
Bear in mind that these cars were made well before the interstates when most travel was done at no more than 40 to 50 miles per hour and that's what they are geared for. (If it is equipped with overdrive that will help considerably.)
If you decide to buy, you would want someone familiar with cars of that era to do a pre-purchase inspection.
So I would say that depending on the kind of driving you do you may well be able to make a '50 Stude work as your primary vehicle but you really need to have something more modern to use as a backup. Some modern upgrades would make it easier to live with if they have not already been done, like converting to 12-volt negative ground electrical system with alternator, electronic ignition, and maybe fitting front disc brakes.
Believe it or not I actually live less than a few miles from an official Studebaker parts dealer, no joke 😂. He specializes in Avantis but I’ve seen him put a hawk and a champion out for sale a few times. I already avoid interstates because I don’t like them lol, and I saw a YouTube video where a guy was driving a champion without overdrive and he said it was good up to about 60mph cruising and that’s about the fastest I would go in it lol. The main thing I’m worried about is reliability. If I kept up the maintenance do you think it would be reliable enough to use as a daily? Keep in mind I could always use my moms truck as a backup vehicle lol. And yes I would be doing my own wrenching lol, I’m not a pro but I have a little know how when it comes to older motors, not specifically 6 volt though, I will have to research that.
Well, it was a daily driver when it was new! If it's in good condition and well sorted out it should be quite reliable if you keep up with the comparatively intense maintenance cars of that vintage require.
It would make a great weekend/hobby car, but ...if you have a car that's up to 30 years old, and not rare, when you have a repair need - say a water pump or brake master cylinder, you can roll down to the local auto parts store or do Amazon and get the parts right away.
For a 50 Stude, you're likely looking at weeks if not months to get parts - the company went out of business 60 years ago.
Also, having driven cars of that era, I would consider them too unsafe to drive regularly - lousy brakes, steering, no seat belts, no crush zone, interior full of sharp/unpadded surfaces.
Although your question is about reliability there is another factor that you should consider - safety, or lack thereof. In 1950 cars lacked even the most rudimentary safety equipment. The only manufacturer that even had seat belts was Nash, and those were optional. Your dashboard will be unpadded steel and the steering column a non-collapsible spear. (Fortunately the Studebaker steering box is behind the front wheels which gives some space before the column moves towards you when hit.)
If you go ahead with the purchase you'll want to at least add seat belts if a previous owner has not done it so you don't go flying through the windshield or crack your head open on the steel dashboard even in a relatively low-speed collision.
You would probably need to go with a specialty insurance company. I don't think either Fran or that stupid Gecko would want to insure a 70-year-old car.
I gotta say I love how you refer to those insurance companies, I laughed 😂
Consider drivability, repairability, safety.
What is it’s stopping distance? How usable is the steering? Turning radius?
As ChuckTobias has said, getting parts and finding mechanics that know what they’re doing isn’t going to be easy. Even with some semi-modern cars you can’t find people who know how to work on them, with a 70 year old car? Chances are there aren’t many people who do.
These old cars may weight a lot but without the correct design it does not help safety (if you look at modern cars, beyond some point around 1.5 tons, the more the worse)
70 year old cars just don’t make sense as dailies. You probably can do it, I do see why not - but it’s going to be worse than pretty 95% of modern cars.
I would not use a 1950 Studebacker as a daily driver. As a second vehicle or hobby vehicle, sure.
