The 1961 Studebaker Champ had the grille of a Lark, the bed of a pickup, and dim prospects for a long-term future.  The Champ was part of a Studebaker truck design generation introduced for 1960.  Studebaker truck styling hadn’t changed in more than a decade and sales were slipping.  The answer, designers decided, was to graft the front end from Studebaker’s new for 1959 Lark compact car onto a truck chassis with a regular pickup bed.

For consignment, a 1961 Studebaker Champ pickup which is in the throes of a restoration, and upon looking at this truck it is near the finish line.  It is one of only 5,500 made for this year and total production only lasted through 1964.  Now our consignor needs someone to take it over and finish it off and add your own personal touches.

Exterior

Apache Red adorns the steel panels which have nicely minded gaps and no rust.  The front grille is a 1959 Lark but with wider ribs and it is chromed.  A single round headlight resides on either front corner and is hovered over by an eyebrow fender which has a thin chrome trim on its edge.  Next to these lights are the signal lights also in ribbed and bezeled casings doubling as airflow intakes.  A shiny bumper is below and on top the fog lights are newer aftermarket versions.  A wrap around glass for the front and sliding style glass for the back view of the bed.  The fender edge trimming ends at the doors where the only highlighting is the handles.   A long stem mirror hangs off of either side.  The roofline is looking nice and level and the glass is all in good condition.  For the flare sided bed, a longer 8 foot bed makes this truck a 1/2 ton version.  On the sides of the bed are some curved fashioned rear fenders that appear to have been just slapped on as an afterthought, but these are in good condition with just some small scratching on the edges.  The bed is painted red and is textured steel most likely from some previously underlying surface rust as it is not textured paint.  On the back is the Studebaker badged tailgate and this is highlighted in white lettering.  Vertical tail lights are on either edge of the backs of the bed sides.  A shiny bumper is below and dual exhausts peek out from the bottom.  Stuebaker badged hubcaps are covering red painted steel wheels wrapped in thin whites.

Interior

A swing of the doors and we see some nice gray upper and black lower vinyl panels with an armrest, crank for window and actuator.  Studebaker has been embroidered in the gray panel and this is using red threads.  On the tops of the doors where they meet the wrap around glass there is some rub off of the paint.  Seats are from a more modern vehicle and are also gray broadcloth and are overstuffed.  These are a little dirty and the broadcloth is a bit soiled.  There is an armrest in the center and in front we see the factory steering wheel in good shape, and behind this is a black rolled over steel dash top with a red dash front.  It is the original design and has the original oval aluminum bezeled and punched pattern background and two round instruments.  One the speedo and the other a multi gauge on the edge version.  A few aftermarket gauges are to the instrument’s left as well as a toggle and a button.  In the center is a glovebox and a panel with CHAMP badging in gold grandmother’s handwriting.  In front of the passenger we see another elongated oval with more punched grid and what appears to be a speaker in its center.  There is some gray carpeting under the seats but for the floors and toe kicks it’s just bare steel.  Above is a gray broadcloth headliner with stitched edges and 2 matching gray visors.

Drivetrain

Under the hood is a 289ci V8 from the factory.  It has a single 4-barrel carburetor, and a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive shifted from the tree.  On the back is a Dana 44 rear axle.  The engine and bay are all very clean with the block being painted sky blue ,valve coverings in black with “Sweepstakes 289” emblazoned in a red sticker atop these.  Also an open chromed air cleaner covering is on the very top.  New wiring abounds.

Undercarriage

Below is a nice black paint and undercoat chassis and frame.  No rust and very clean in its presentation.  Dual exhaust with glass pack style mufflers, good body hangers, and no real apparent drips or leaks.  Disc brakes are in front and drums for the back.  Leaf spring suspension is on all 4 corners.

Drive-Ability

The engine instantly came to life and off to the test track where it was a nice driver.  Good handling and acceleration, and smooth steering and shifting.  I noticed the brake pedal was a bit soft, but when the truck came to a stop it just took longer.

Nearly complete as this writer sees it it really only needs some better seats maybe and the flooring fitted in the cab.  All else is finished.  And the price is right for this piece of Studebaker history.  Go ahead and purchase it on a Lark!

• E714214
• E7-1/2 Ton V8
• 14214-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.

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