History's Best Selling Vehicles of 1939

Extra! Extra! Step right up to inspect the definitive collection of first-rate vehicles releases from 1939. Discover the genuine articles of American ingenuity that captured the public's fancy and won nationwide acclaim during this historic era.

1. Studebaker Champion

   Released in 1939 by Studebaker

   On March 2, 1939, the first Studebaker Champion rolled off the assembly line in South Bend, Indiana, marking a pivotal moment for the venerable automaker. Still recovering from its 1933 receivership, Studebaker desperately needed a hit product to secure its future. The Champion was that product—a bold gamble to enter the fiercely competitive low-priced field dominated by Ford, Chevrolet, and Plymouth. This date represents not just the launch of a new car, but the beginning of a corporate revival. The Champion was engineered from the ground up to be affordable, economical, and stylish, embodying the hopes of thousands of workers and a brand determined to survive the lingering effects of the Great Depression.