1938 President Model 4C – Rock River Valley Chapter SDC

For 1938 model year, the body was extensively restyled, the engine moved forward three inches and both the width and length of the cabin increased. The wheelbase was reduced to 122 inches and overall weight reduced by about 200 pounds. The head lights seem to be partially recessed into the front fenders, but are actually specially designed pods mounted on the fenders, they are unique to the 1938 model. The President’s engine is reduced back to 110 HP, resulting from a reduction in compression ratio to 6.0 to 1. Performance, however remains much the same as a result of the weight reduction. The water pump is moved to the front, driven by a belt attached to the fan pulley. New steering linkage with transverse link and symmetrical tie rods were introduced. The brake drum diameter is decreased, but the width is increased. The “Hill-holder is now standard equipment.

The big innovation for the model year is an optional vacuum shift device. This device was not well received and did not appear the next year. The transmission is laid on it’s side, thus reducing the front compartment “tunnel” height. The optional over-drive reverted to the one used on the 35 – 36 models. The Convertible Sedan returns to the line up.

When data was available from Turning Wheels (TW) or Studebaker the Complete Story (STCS), it is used. Else, The Classic Car Database (TCCD) & The Standard Catalog of American Cars (SCAC) is used. →Information between the arrows is from “This is a Studebaker Year – Vol. 3 W.A. Cannon← What we can be fairly sure of is that the same body styles, depending on the source, were sometimes listed in different terms. SB=South Bend, LA=Los Angles, and CAN=Canada

Body Style	Body Code	Doors	Pass	Price TCCD/SACA
As we have not access to a Fox Feature Article for 1938 Presidents, the price information comes from TTCD & SCAC
2dr Club Sedan	F2	2	6	$1,185.00
	F3	2	6	unknown
	F6	2	6	*$1,695.00/$1,195.00
4dr Cruising Sedan	W2	4	6	$1,195.00
	W3	4	6	unknown
	W6	4	6	$1,205.00
2-pass Business Coupe	Q1	2	2	$1,120.00
3-pass State Coupe	Q2	2	3	$1,130.00
6-pass Convertible Sedan	S2	2	6	$1,555.00
6-pass State Convertible Sedan	S3	2	6	$1,555.00
→The 1938 4C Series President started production in September 1937. It finished production in July of 1938. Studebaker assigned 5,400 SB serial numbers and 700 LA serial numbers to the 4C series. Engine Serial Numbers, B-24,601 to B-30,200. Most of the data in the chart is from “This is a Studebaker Year – Vol. 3”.← 4C series serial numbers would suggest production of 6,100 cars. Both TCCD & SCAC reported 5,474. The prices for series 4C cars come from TCCD & SCAC were both mostly agreed. The following assumptions are made, that W6, F6, Q2, and S3 were the State models and as both TCCD or SACA listed prices for only two Club Sedans and two Cruising Sedans the W3 & F3 prices are unknown. The TCCD price for the *Club Sedan seems way out of line and is likely a data entry error. Side mount spares are an extra charge accessory and based on our Google searches few car were purchased with them.