1953 Studebaker Specs
- A restored model of a 1953 Studebaker Commander Starlinerold car image by pearlguy from Fotolia.com
Winning awards for the design of the 1953 models, Studebaker hit popularity in the '50s with its Commander and Champion cars. However, the popularity didn't quite follow the company's plan for sales. Consumers demanded the Studebaker coupe models rather than the sedans; the company had planned production for the opposite market desire. Overall, the Studebaker produced seven body designs in 1953 centered around the two engine options of the six-cylinder Champion and the eight-cylinder Commander cars. - Named the Champion 6, the smaller Studebaker came in either a two- or four-door-sedan design. Purchasing it as a coupe or as a convertible was also an option.
The six-cylinder engine included a bore and stroke measurement of 3 inches by 4 inches, and the design covered a cubic displacement of 169.5 inches. The compression ratio depended on the transmission matched to the engine. With the manual version it was 7.0-to-1. With the automatic transmission, the compression measured 7.5-to-1.
The engine cooling system was water-based and had a design option to run with or without a heater.
The power of the Champion 6 engine measured out to 85 horsepower at 4,000 RPMs. Maximum torque reached 138 pounds per foot at 2,400 RPMs.
The Wheel base on the vehicle covered 120.5 inches from wheel to wheel.
Fuel capacity on the Champion 6 carried up to 18 gallons of gas while the engine carried 5 quarters of engine oil. - Dubbed the Commander V8, the larger Studebaker choice also came in two-and four-door-body choices and options for a convertible or hardtop.
The wheelbase measured out to 116.5 inches on the sedans and bit more at 120.5 inches on the coupes and convertibles. The width of the car from side to side measured 71 inches. The car was 201.9 inches from end to end. The height of the car reached 56.4 inches.
The eight-cylinder engine installed in the Commander model had a bore and stroke measurement of 3 3/8 inches by 3 1/4 inches. The engine size in cubic inches measured 232.6. The engine compression did not vary like the Champion 6's; it rated a ratio of 7.0-to-1.
The Commander engine power reached 120 horsepower at 4,000 rpm. The maximum torque performed by the Commander measured 190 foot-pounds at 2,000 rpm. The car had a top speed of 93 mph.
The Commander engine was water cooled as well, including the option to be packed with or without a heater.
Fuel capacity on the larger vehicle was the same as the Champion 6 at 18 gallons. However, the engine took up a bit more oil at 6 quarts. - For the Champion model, three transmission designs were possible. The standard transmission came as a three-speed manual package. The optional designs were a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive and the Borg-Warner Automatic Drive.
The suspension on Studebaker 1953 models retained a king pin design rather than a ball joint on the suspension spring. The rear suspension used leaf springs with a conventional Hotchkiss-drive differential.
