The other Studebaker

[tortoise]

So many 53s have been built, pickups, Avantis, but I've never seen a '47 or '48 Starlight coupe. For Vintage Gas Coupe, it appears to be the lowest drag body suitable for the class. The only other pre-1949 postwar-type body designs are Hudsons and Packards, both of which have substantially higher frontal area.
Why not?

[Bob Drury]

  Just keep in mind that that flat front end is a cd killer.  The rest of the body may not overcome that one point. 
  I would double check the Stude front end vs the Hudson or even the 1941 or earlier Ford or Chevy coupes.

[tortoise]

  Just keep in mind that that flat front end is a cd killer. 

Not exactly pointy.

The Hudson is perhaps a better form, but it's 7-8 inches wider.

[Stan Back]

Crosley?
With a factory propeller?  (No, I think that was 1951.)

[Milwaukee Midget]

Frazers were pretty slick.

[Cajun Kid]

I would think a 39 chevy or even a 36 or 37 ford coupe would be better than the 47/48 Stude ??
unless the running boards cause a problem...
Charles

[tortoise]

Crosley?

No doubt the lowest drag, but going for 200 mph in an 80 inch wheelbase car is probably not a good idea

[dw230]

Comp Coupe resolves those issues. Extended wheelbase, nose modified in front of the cowl and chopped tops.

Passing Vintage Engine rules brings you into another world.

DW

[tortoise]

Comp Coupe resolves those issues. Extended wheelbase, nose modified in front of the cowl and chopped tops.

There's any number of good Comp Coupe choices, including furrin stuff. Vintage Gas Coupe choices are smaller. The first red hat car in the category would be quite an achievement.

Vintage Gas Coupes can get a 3" top chop, too.

[tortoise]

Frazers were pretty slick.

Agreed, but also taller and wider (Frazer 64.5 x 72.9, Stude 61.3 x 69.8 )

[tortoise]

I would think a 39 chevy or even a 36 or 37 ford coupe would be better than the 47/48 Stude ??
unless the running boards cause a problem...
Charles

All that prewar stuff is way tall, and those fat fenders and running boards (can't be removed in Vintage Gas Coupe) cause massive turbulence. I can't see why you'd think that.

[aircap]

As the former owner of a '49 Studebaker, I can tell you they don't handle well in the wind. And here in Kansas, we have a lot of wind. It wobbled if heading into the wind, leaned over if the wind was from the side, and handled best with the wind at the rear. So I suggest you drive it backwards for best performance.

[jpm49c]

Studebaker and Crosley used the same company for their propellers!

[Bob Drury]

  Aircap, a few years back there was a program called The Red Green Show (I think) on PBS.
  Red was the King of Duct Tape and most of the shows revolved around solving any and all problems with Duct Tape.
  If my fading memory is right, Red decided to make a front wheel drive out of a rear wheel drive auto.
  Long story short, he turned the front seat around, installed a boat steering wheel with cables and pulleys, knocked the lenses out of the tail lights, painted the headlights red and on and on.
  If you were a sick individual you would have loved the program.
  I loved the program...................
                                Bob 

[Elmo Rodge]

We still get Red Green here in Utah but it's on too late for me.  Wayno