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Custom Studebaker Pickup

Mixing a’48 four-door Champion with a ’50 Studebaker
February, 2009
By Bob Carpenter
Photography by Bob Carpenter
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Paul Stevenson's '48 Studebaker... 
   
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Paul Stevenson's '48 Studebaker pickup.
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The stock Studebaker dash... 
   
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The stock Studebaker dash was filled and covered, while ’84 Cadillac power seats were retrofitted. That’s a Weld wheel. Mike Robbins helped out with a lot of the work.
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This is a unique profile if... 
   
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This is a unique profile if there ever was one. This truck was so well thought out it looks better than a concept car could have in the ’50s.
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Owner Paul Stevenson built... 
   
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Owner Paul Stevenson built the consoles. He even wired the truck himself.
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You’re looking at years... 
   
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You’re looking at years of metal surgery to get all this to work! Imagine the planning that went into the rear window and bed alone.
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Stevenson built his own bedcover.... 
   
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Stevenson built his own bedcover. Check out the curved bed sides!
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Fifteen-inch Ultra wheels... 
   
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Fifteen-inch Ultra wheels have a modern look to them, but they really work on the ’48 Studebaker pickup.
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A small-block Chevy engine... 
   
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A small-block Chevy engine powers the Studebaker down the road.
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Stevenson named the truck... 
   
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Stevenson named the truck Noz Job, because he grafted a ’50 front end onto a ’48 body.
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The bullet-nose front end... 
   
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The bullet-nose front end is a very common sight at street rod events. You just don’t normally find a pickup bed on the other end.

Stevenson is a longtime street rodder, and this project was his passion for about three years. He took a ’48 four-door Champion and grafted a ’50 Studebaker nose onto it (well actually, Batson’s in Santee did the work). Then a custom bed was formed with no break between the cab and bed. It’s hard to believe this project didn’t take longer than three years to complete.

The workmanship is fantastic. Stevenson is quick to credit Mike Robbins and Ron Batson for their help, but he also says his wife Becky, son Brian, and daughter Julie were a big help. And let’s not forget painter Joe Nunez who sprayed on the ’98 Ford Aspire Sapphire.


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