Studebaker Champ

The Studebaker Champ was an easy pickup model, which was produced by the Studebaker Corporation from 1960 to 1964. As of 2015, wants the Studebaker Motor Company offer a second generation of the model. It is currently in the development phase.

The Studebaker pickups had previously experienced more than ten years, no substantial revision of the company it did not go well due to falling sales figures, and so you had the new model from existing components put together.

Chassis and charging structure of the Champ were basically the same as those for Studebakers 1/2-t- and 3/4-t-LKWs arrived since 1949 are used, but the cab was markedly different from that of the predecessor. The annual cash flow problems of the company ensured that they could not afford a whole new cab, and so the engineers polished one based on the car model Lark construction on, by cutting off at the B-pillar and on the truck chassis adapting. The snout of the Lark was taken, but you invested money into a new grille with horizontal bars, the " tougher " looked like.

Drive

Studebaker upgraded from the Champ with engines that had long been in the program. The buyers could choose between the last 1960 side-valve six-cylinder engines: the smaller with 2,786 cm ³ displacement and 90 hp ( 66 kW ) and the larger " Big Six" with 4015 cc and 110 bhp (81 kW). In 1961 the smaller machine was upgraded with overhead valve, which she won 22 bhp and 112 bhp now ( 82.4 kW) made ​​. Thus, it could take the old Studebaker Big Six from the program.

The new OHV six was new designed, but contained as far as possible components of the old, in 1939 imported engine. The machine has acquired a bad reputation because of some specimens crack the cylinder head. The problem that usually occurred in engines whose valves were not set correctly, was never completely solved. But with proper care, these engines were able to hold well over 40 years.

From the beginning, there were two V8 engines, 4,244 cc and 4,736 cc, fitted with either two or four -barrel carburetor. Both machines have not changed significantly during the production period of the Champ.

For the Champ, there was also a wide range of gearboxes, either manually or automatically. The basic models had a steering wheel switched three-speed transmission ( "three on tree "). For this purpose, you could either choose an overdrive or equal can install a four-or five -speed gearbox. In addition, the "Flight -O -Matic " BorgWarner was available as an automatic.

1960-1964

Despite the " cobbled together " construction, sold the truck in 1960 as 5E Series passable.

1961 ( 6E series) was a closed structure over the entire width of the vehicle - the "Space Side" - offered in addition; the tools for this purpose were purchased from Dodge. This pushed the sales figures but not as little as the new OHV version of the 2.8 - liter engine, which was known for the cracks in the cylinder head.

1962 ( 7E series) and 1963 ( 8E series) was further built champ without major changes, and the few copies that emerged still in 1964, belonged to the 8E Series last year. In December 1963, the Board announced the closure of the factory in South Bend, Indiana, and the trucks were in the car factory Hamilton, Ontario, no longer manufactured.

There is little noted that the Champ first hit on a detail that offers nearly every modern pickup today: The rear windows that open, that there was already from the start of production in the Champ and that was very popular among the buyers. It was later copied by the major truck manufacturers.

Even if the champ could not save the truck production by Studebaker, but he showed the way to a Pickup reasonable size, a merit that with the Dodge Dakota, a mid-sized truck ascribed to. This model was introduced in 1987 but, 27 years after the Champ.

Collectibles

Today existing Champ because of their interesting combination of comfort of a car and mechanical robustness and reliability (apart from the above described problem of the six-cylinder ) traded expensive. A disadvantage notify the Champ with other Studebaker models: the rust. When Champ rust especially the floor of the cab and the front fenders.

Trivia

• The champ was contrary to the practice in other pickups of the 1960s in America never offered with power steering, although this equipment was installed for the heavier Studebaker Transtar and diesel models. The last 8E models of 1963/1964 had an improved steering system with reduced friction and lower steering forces, but not to the degree as a power steering it would have had. However, in the early 1960s was the power steering for light trucks not yet common practice, and so it was for Studebaker also not a competitive disadvantage not to offer this option.
• Air conditioners offered in Studebaker Champ by model year 1963 also non-factory at.
• The champ was probably the first truck with a factory -laid fiberglass construction. He was still introduced in the very short model year 1964 and only a handful were prepared.