1953 Studebaker Champion Regal Starlighter Coupe

Resto-Rod:

Restored 1999 - 2001.

This model in 2000 was given the award of

one of five of the last 100 years for best designed by the americanautomobile design engineers.

Body:

Original body un-molested with the exception of window tint.

No fiberglass or replaced sheet metal.

Neverhad rust issues. Paint Dupont black with clear coat.

Suspension:

Custom made box and tube frame with mustang II front clip.

Made frame to body rather than body to substitute full frameexisting car.

Uses five link system to keep things square.

Air ride technology front independent from rear.

Manual diskbrakes all around.

Manual rack & pinion steering.

Engine:

Limited edition hand built rather than production line assembled.

They made only 430 of these in 1999. This motor is # 221.

#001 was installed in a lemans style body and raced at 12 hours at Sebring in 1999.

Came in 13th in class 25th overall.

This is the highestoutput 350 crate motor that GM ever built up till 1999.

The engineputs out 430 ftpd. torque @ 4000 rpm and 430 hp @ 5280 rpm.

The engine has aluminum heads.

The intake valves are vacuumfilled and the exhausts are sodium filled.

The upper end is roller witha six to one ratio.

The engine also has 9.6 to 1 compression ratio.

The cam is a LT1/LT4 that was custom made for this engine buyGM performance.

The intake manifold is a dual flow with a 750 cfmcarburetor on it.

HEI distributor with eight mm wires.

In 1999 you couldbuy this engine directly from GM out of its performance parts

catalog for $14,000.

Interior:

Dash and front sets are from a 1957 Hawk, ear sets are standard1953 Studebacker Champion.

Leather work done by ShermanPackard.

Steering column is Billet.

Wheels are imitationknock offs by Billet also.