Words & Photos: Gary Rosier
The Studebaker Champ was a light-duty pickup truck produced by the Studebaker Corporation from 1960-1964. Roger Thompson of Port Orange, Fla. owns this stunning example of a 1963, although it has been extensively modified. This started out as a truly clean Arizona Farm truck that even more amazingly had no dents, and particularly, no rust!
The chassis and cargo box (borrowed from Dodge) of the Champ were basically the same as what had been used for Studebaker’s ½ and ¾-ton trucks since 1949, but this new design cab section was taken from the Lark. The engineers actually took a four door, cut it in half behind the front doors and structurally modified the body slightly so it would fit the truck chassis. This was a cost cutting move, as Studebaker was in trouble with sagging sales and revenue which ultimately resulted in the closure of the plant where they were built in South Bend, Ind. in 1964.
Roger’s Champ had the rear truck bed narrowed 4 inches to help the body lines flow better with the cab. The front bumper was ditched in favor of a cleaner appearance, filling the holes and utilizing the existing body work. New glass was ordered from the only manufacturer left (in Peru!), and that took four months alone! K&S Auto Body in Dickson, Tenn. was responsible for the paint work and cleaning up the front end. It’s painted a 2017 Viper Adrenalin Red.
Next, Roger designed the door panels and purchased the Carpro seats, matching up all the leather from The Leather Hyde Store, even wrapping the dash in black leather. The custom stereo (Clarion with DVD and Blue-tooth, Sirius XM, Navigation and back-up camera) was added. Auto Meter gauges monitor all the “vitals.” A custom ultra-suede headliner with hidden stereo speakers rounds out the tunes department. Dynamat sound and heat insulation keeps the cabin really quiet… at least until the pedal is mashed and that big block lights ’em up!
Big block it is too, with a GM ZZ 502 “Hot Cam” crate engine (522 HP), Corvette ceramic coated manifolds and 3 inch exhaust. A TCI Turbo 400 transmits the power through a 2500 Stahl converter to a Mosier 9″ Ford rear sporting 3:73 gears. It also received a custom (Ford Ranger) late model suspension. It rolls on one-off 15×10 and 15×4.5 (165/80/R15 fronts) Rocket Injector wheels and Hoosier Pro 29/12.5/R rear tires. His vanity plate says RU-KIDNG? No, he’s not; this is one seriously delicious truck that runs and drives like a dream, Roger says. Sure looks like a Champ to us!
