Studebaker Champ

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Studebaker Champ
1962 Studebaker Champ Pickup
Overview
Manufacturer	Studebaker
Production	1960–1964
Assembly	Studebaker Automotive Plant, South Bend, Indiana, United States Studebaker Canada, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Studebaker Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Nesher, Israel
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door pickup truck
Layout	FR layout
Related	Studebaker Lark
Powertrain
Engine	170 cu in (2.8 L) sv I6 170 cu in (2.8 L) OHV I6 245 cu in (4.0 L) Big Six sv I6 259 cu in (4.2 L) OHV V8 289 cu in (4.7 L) OHV V8
Chronology
Predecessor	Studebaker E-Series

The Studebaker Champ is a light-duty pickup truck produced by the Studebaker Corporation from 1960-1964, the last such vehicles designed by the company before leaving the automobile manufacturing business in 1966.

Designed at a time when Studebaker's truck line had not seen major upgrading in over 10 years, Studebaker engineers were forced to use a number of existing components to fit within the $900,000 budget given them by the company's Board of Directors, but the end result was astonishingly fresh and competitive in price, capability and performance with other American-built trucks of the era.

The Champ, unlike most American pickups of the 1960s, was never offered with power steering, although such a system was offered on Studebaker's heavier-duty Studebaker Transtar and Diesels. The final "8E" (1963–64) models had an improved steering system that reduced friction and, thus, steering effort, but not to the degree that power steering would have. Of course, power steering was not yet commonplace in light trucks during the early 1960s, so Studebaker was not necessarily at a competitive disadvantage by not offering the option. From 1960 through 1964, Studebaker offered a sliding back window in the Champ pickup. This utilized the same opening as the single pane rear window, but used a double sliding channel and two panes of glass. One window could be opened until it was flush with the other. This helped with ventilation and access to the front of the cargo bed without leaving the cab of the truck.