Images are from the brochure collection of Hemmings Motor News
Studebaker was first out of the gate with a freshly styled lineup in 1947, beating the GM, Ford and Chrysler competition that wouldn’t have truly new cars to offer until 1949. Those 1947 Studebakers—styled by Raymond Loewy‘s team, then including Holden Kato and Virgil Exner—would spark trends with their integral front fenders and wraparound rear glass. Their basic design remained in production through 1949, the last year Studebaker used a conventional grille design, before 1950-’51’s controversial “bullet nose” styling made the scene.
The 1949 lineup was largely carried over, and included the low-priced Champion and premium Commander, both offered in Deluxe and Regal Deluxe trims and both with six-cylinder engines. Prices ranged from $1,588 for a three-passenger Champion Deluxe coupe to $2,467 for a Commander Regal Deluxe convertible, the rough equivalents today of $15,900-$24,700.
In this double-sided four-panel foldout brochure, Studebaker was keen to emphasize its long history (97 years!) and multi-generational family workers, which were also stressed in the firm’s print advertisements.
In this double-sided four-panel foldout brochure, Studebaker was keen to emphasize its long history (97 years!) and multi-generational family workers, which were also stressed in the firm’s print advertisements.
Article courtesy of hemmings Daily, written by Mark J McCourt.
