I suspect that most of the (probably few) people who recall 1947-49 Studebaker styling think of the Starlight Coupes with their wraparound back windows. Or maybe the racy Business Coupes. But not so much Studebaker two-door and four-door sedans, the subject of today's post.
Unfortunately, I cannot locate production data on various Studebaker body types, which means I have no way of judging popularity of sedans as opposed to the more exotic Studebaker models of that era. Most likely, sedans out-sold the others. But Starlights seemed to have survived better, if searches of Google and Bing images are representative of current reality.
Photos below are of cars listed for sale unless otherwise noted.
Here is a Champion sedan, Champion being the entry-level Studebaker.
As noted, the Starlight Coupe is the best-known postwar Studebaker design. The Commander line was more upscale, and Land Cruisers were top-of-the-line.
The other distinctive Studebaker variant. Now to the sedans as seen in side-view....
The wide doors are the same as on Starlight Coupes and Business Coupes.
Four-door cars had narrower front doors and a vertical B-pillar. The after part of the rear door's window profile is that of the two-door sedan. Ditto the C-pillars.
Land Cruisers received a wider rear door, but the C-pillar configuration is retained.
Now for a more careful examination of four-door sedans. Champions had 112-inch (2845 mm) wheelbases, Commanders were 119 inches (3023 mm) and Land Cruiser wheelbases were 123 inches (3124 mm).
Champion hoods were short. The Commander's added length was just forward of the cowling. Note the relationship of the forward vertical cut lines to the front wheel openings shown in this photo and the previous one.
The additional length of Land Cruisers was in the passenger compartment as can be seen regarding the wider rear door. I wonder if this added tooling expense in the passenger compartment area paid off in terms of sales.
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