Mechanical changes were few. Power Steering was first offered as an option. Studebaker started with a mechanical PS system, but it proved to be to noisy and to expensive. Few were made, if any production units. The final version would be a Saginaw hydraulic unit. An all new frame was designed for the lower body design. It was lightweight (13 gage stelel) and meant to flex. This did not workout very well as excessive body noise rapidly resulted, especially in the hardtops. In later years, these frames would be prone to rust through. Champions with Automatics had a half-point increase in compression.

Several things happened this year which made 1955 cars survivors.  First the built quality was much better then 53 & 54, especially the early 1953's.  The chrome is better then either of the prior two years and this is the first year vinyl covered wiring is introduced.  A lot more options are available which made the cars more user friendly, like power steering, power brakes, power windows, and power seats.  Even air conditioning is offered on V8's, however little help to the Champion line.

The Champion and Commander Models for 1955 were identical, as were their sheet-metal and trim.  Even the dash is nearly identical across the entire Studebaker line-up.  The thing that clearly identifies Champions from the exterior, is that they do not have a rear-quarter panel name badge like Commanders and Presidents.  The upper badge on the trunk has an “S” where Commanders and Presidents had an “8”” and the right side of the deck lid lift handle said “Champion” instead of “Commander” or “President”.  The basic difference between Champion's and Commander's was the engine.  Commander's were V8's and Champion's were flat-head sixes.

Champion's came in three trim levels:

Custom, two models, a 2dr Sedan and a 4dr Sedan.  These were very spartan cars offered only in solid colors.  They had no side trim and no stainless around the windows or belt-line moldings.  The 2dr Sedan, still featured that ½ door with no handle, just below the rear window, caused by using the 4dr rear-quarter panel, that had been seen in 1953 and 1954.  They also had painted headlight rims and taillight housings (making them easy to ID).

Deluxe, four models, a 2dr Sedan, a 4dr Sedan, a Coupe, and a 2dr Conestoga Station Wagon.  Deluxe had chrome headlight rims, chrome taillight housings, a stainless belt-line, and stainless trim around the windows (except wagons).  The 4dr Sedan had a full length narrow side molding just below the door handles.  The 2dr Sedan has a wide vertical trim piece that covers that seam at the rear “C” pillar and then has a horizontal narrow trim extending thru the center of the vertical trim, longer in the rear then in the front.  The Coupe has window and belt-line treatment like the sedans.  It has no side trim, but has trim on top of the rear quarter-panels.  The wagon has no stainless around the side windows and no lower side trim, but does have front and rear window stainless and a belt-line molding.

Regal, four models, a 4dr Sedan, a Coupe, a Hard-top, and a 2dr Conestoga Station Wagon.  Regal has all the trim of the Deluxe cars, plus the “Butter Knife” (sweep spear) trim which extended just below the Deluxe side trim.  The Coupe and Hardtop have full length side trim with the “Butter Knife” treatment.  The Regal Wagon has it's own unique side trim, which is wider and ends with a flair right at the reverse indented curve behind the door.  Regal Champion Wagons have “Studebaker” badges on the rear quarters, where the Deluxe Wagon did not.  Regal Wagons and Regal 4dr Sedans have a stainless mini-sun visor above the windshield.  Both Champion Wagons have a round “S” plastic medallion built in the belt-line molding at the “B” pillar and have “Conestoga” badge on the tailgate.

The bodies for 1955 are a continuation of the 1953 design (1954 for wagons).  The big news was a new grille with a floating center insert.  The center section was the same across all models, but the side sections which held the parking light were not interchangeable between the Coupe/Hardtop & Sedan/Wagon.  Except for the Conestoga Wagon rear bumper, the bumpers are made larger, thus the 1953 & 1954 bumper guards and fog lights will not fit 1955 cars.  These bumpers are now single piece design.  This bumper design would be used (with some bolt hole changes) on the front of 1956 Sedans & Wagons and later yet on 1964 C&K models.  The Conestoga rear bumper was the same as 53 & 54 Sedans and 54 Wagons.  The 55 Wagon taillight housing and lens were the same as 1954, but the Sedans and C&K cars had redesigned units.  The Sedans and C&K housing and lens were not interchangeable as the Sedan design was much larger.  The Sedan taillight housing actually wrapped around the edge of the rear fender.  Robert Bourke was in charge of all the 1955 styling.

As mentioned earlier, two-tone paint in bright colors was certainly in for 1955 and could be had on Deluxe or Regal Sedan models for $18.28, or on Coupes for $22.58, standard on Hardtops.  Interior fabrics and colors were also spectacular, designed by Eleanor LeMaire and changed several times during the model-year.  A new instrument cluster is used, featuring two large round dials mounted in a grooved panel (gold on early models) with four toggle switches mounted, two on each side.  Signal light indicators and a “S” are in between the dials.  Commander's had a V8 in this location.  Regal models had full circle horn ring with a gold horn button.  Champion Regal Hardtops had front and rear carpeting, Regal Sedans & Coupes had rear floor carpeting with black rubber on the front floor.  All other models featured all black rubber flooring.  For the third year in a row, the Coupe and Hardtop rear center arm rest is redesigned.  In 1953 it was fixed, in 1954 it was removable, and this year it is made to hinge down between the seats.

Mid-year (January) Studebaker would release in the Sedan and Wagons models it's Ultra Vista models (wrap-around windshield).  The C&K models would not get this treatment.  This was a significant modification requiring a new windshield, new windshield trim, new front doors, new wind wings & glass, new instrument panel, and a modified cowl.  The same “instruments would be used in the new dash, but the bezels would be changed.  The toggle switches would be replaced with push-pull switches and the “S” between the dials would be eliminated.  Early Champion Sedan and Wagon models have odd numbers (F1,F3, W1, W3, D3, & D5).  The later Ultra Vista Models would have even numbers (F2, F4, W2, W4, D4, & D6).  Several new accessories would be required which included radios and Climatizer.  Three new options are also introduced in January, power windows, power seat, and air conditioning.  Air was only available on V8's so this did not effect the Champion line.

No information about the interior fabrics is provided here.  However we know the number of color and fabric combinations, along with added color and fabric changes at mid-year, may have created the largest number of interior choices Studebaker would ever offer.  Those interested in addition information should study the following publications:

That flat-head six engine (185 Victory Six) finally gets some help with an increase in the stroke, to raise the cubic inches to 185.6 and HP to 101.  Makes dragging that Commander sheet metal around a little easier.  One other subtle change was to increase the diameter of the Champion tailpipe to 1 3/4 inch (1/4 inch increase.)  All 1955 Studebaker's were ignition key start.  Champion Sedans and Wagons run on 116.5 inch wheelbase while C&K run on 120.5 inch wheelbase.