1963 Studebaker Champ

1963 STUDEBAKER CHAMP PICK-UP TRUCK. #E721154. (Stock #4303.) Studebaker was known for building some innovative and interesting cars through the decades. They also built a line of innovative and interesting trucks from 1960 through 1964–known as the Champ. The Champ was a mid-size, light duty truck which had the comfortable bench seat of a sedan–in fact, the front half of the truck was borrowed from the interesting Studebaker Lark, available in sedan or convertible, and the rear was pure rugged truck. There was even an innovative sliding rear window for added ventilation. This merging of models worked very well and has helped make the Champ very collectible. The original 6-cylinder engine, with either 90 or 100 horsepower (the “big six”) was not inspiring, but the 259 V-8 engine was available and could be ordered with a 3-speed manual Borg-Warner transmission–even with an optional overdrive making highway speeds easily available. Our truck is a later “8E” Series, ordered with the optional “V-8” engine, the optional overdrive manual transmission and the “twin traction” differential. as well as the “hill holder” fitted to the transmission, making starting on hills very easy. . . Our truck was also ordered with the “Wonder Bar” signal-seeking radio, seat belts, original Studebaker air conditioning and factory twin outside rear-view mirrors–all rare for the time. It was sold new in Omaha, Nebraska, then moved to Arizona in 1984 and to Kansas in 1993. In 2021, the truck came to New Jersey to a Stable friend who was a Studebaker enthusiast. It is the second Studebaker which we will have sold for him (the first being a beautiful 1963 Hawk GT). The solid body and undercarriage are undoubtedly due to the truck having spent its life in non-salted-road states. The interior is completely original except for a seat cover having been installed at some point. The mechanical condition is excellent with a new clutch having been recently installed. The truck drives exceptionally well.