Gearheads...Car Guys...Post your ride!

[The kid]

About four years ago I was browsing Craigslist and saw a car I fell in love with. It was unique, different, but similar to cars of it's era. I'm talking about a Studebaker. A 1941 Studebaker Champion Bussiness Coupe. In the early years of hotrodding they where known as "the poor mans Willys". Drag racers would gut these cars to make a gasser out of them.

I spotted this on just outside Atlanta Georgia. After he send me many pictures and several discussions over the phone, my now ex son-in-law and I pulled a car trailer from Nashville to Atlanta. I gave it a test drive and decided to take it home. I've been piddling with it making some major changes. What I want to accomplish is to put it back to original in appearance only. So I ripped out the interior. Aquired an original dashboard. Retrofitted the gauges with modern instrumentation. I still have a ways to go. It's kinda been put on hold while I'm redoing my MF135. Here's a few pictures.

These are pictures of how the car looked when I brought it home from Atlanta.

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The dashboard was old school hotrod look that I didn't much care for. The dashboard on a 41 stude are absolutely gorgeous and had to find one. Found one I did, along with all the brightware that runs down the sides. I took the dash I bought which was in sad shape and refurbished it with modern VDO gauges that came with the car. I took the instrument cluster apart and retrofitted the VDO gauges into the existing 41 instrument cluster. With help from Studebaker Drivers Club members I was able to aquire a decal set to restore all the faces of my original gauges.

The project is on hold till I finish my 65 MF135 which I'm close. I've already promised myself it get the 41 on the road in the spring.

Here's some pictures of the dash before and after.

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Here's the look I'm after both inside and out. I have all the chrome pieces re-done. I have all the side and hood trim. I traded my shaved hood and trunk for original ones so I can fit the trim to. I have an original bench seat to have re-done. I'm going to change the color to something a bit less loud. Well anyways there she is. -robert

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[George2615]

I have a few. 1929 Durant Street Rod with a Dodge 360 / auto, 1955 Olds Super 88 with original 324 - hydramatic and air ride suspension, 1972 Chevelle convertible 396 - auto, 2007 Hemi Charger, and a 2013 Chevy Silverado EC 4x4 1500, Plus a motorcycle and a Polaris Sportsman 550 EFI. Actually its too many toys as I've run out of room to put them all. Will have to weed out a few this spring..

 

[Ridgewalker]

Here's a few more of my '67. Love that 55 Super 88 George!

 

[The kid]

Here's a few more of my '67. Love that 55 Super 88 George!

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Don, that's one nice ride. Very nice attention to detail. I bet it's a trophy winner too.

Sent from my iPad iOS 6.01 - TNB v1.6

 

[Ridgewalker]

Don, that's one nice ride. Very nice attention to detail. I bet it's a trophy winner too.

Sent from my iPad iOS 6.01 - TNB v1.6

Thanks! It's been in one show and took home "Ladies Choice".

I've had a bunch of ladies come up to me and say things like...
"I remember that car!". I suspect they remember the backseat!

If you are really bored here's the build thread I did during the resto.
http://www.realoldspower.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=69724

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Thanks! It's been in one show and took home "Ladies Choice".

I've had a bunch of ladies come up to me and say things like...
"I remember that car!". I suspect they remember the backseat!

You have no idea how close to reality you are. I recall having my '59 at a show some years back, and a couple of "middle aged" ladies were looking at it, talking and laughing. I overheard one tell the other that she lost her innocence in a car just like that.

 

[toppop52]

Dennis, since you started the thread they ought to see your rides, and nice ones they are!
The '59;

The '60;

 

[toppop52]

A few of mine past and present;

I've had another '67 SS and a few others in the last 12 years, but I didn't want to hog all the bandwidth!

 

[Ridgewalker]

Beautiful Impalas! I wish I had a station like that close.

In 1968 my stepdad bought the car below for his birthday. He's been gone 8 years now and I still have the car, it's never been hit and
has always been stored. The last time is was licensed was in '85. Mom is 71 and I am planning to get it going this spring to take her for a ride.
I'm not telling her I am doing this and can't wait to see her face when I pull up in it.

 

[toppop52]

That 300 is sweet! 440?