"Laughing" - The Guess Who

Until this vid, I didn't really think about how popular Studebakers were in my young life. One of my grandfather's biggest customers was a local dairy, and they had all Champs for deliveries. One of my dad's good customers had a Studebaker Silver Hawk. My Sunday School teacher had a Lark. So, I guess I was around quite a few Stude's in my youth.

The standard Bed was the first (1949) double walled pickup bed where as the wide Dodge Bed was single wall! Studebaker was also the first Truck (1949) with a fuel tank mounted outside the cab and inside the frame for protection. In late 1962 Studebaker made a substantial redesign of their 6 Cylinder and V-8 converting both to Full Flow Oil filter system along with many other refinements.

It made sense that Studebaker made trucks considering their origins were making wagons. They also made a lot of heavy trucks for the US Army and allies including the UK and Russia during WW II.

Back in the mid 70s to the mid 80s We owned a 1964 studebaker champ 8E7 3/4 ton long bed 289 4bbl 5 speed od truck. It was quite a head turner. Very unique and dependable..

Actually owned one, a 61. Best looking truck that always drew praise. Unfortunately, it was manual on the column and a b to drive. Mine was the wide short bed. These trucks could have been at the forefront of truck popularity that RAM eventually captured, it just had that style. Also, since it was derived from car design, it is a worthy successor to the Coupe Express. Some were built into 1965 South America, slightly altered bed and mesh grill. Druthers: always a Champ.

6:00 those layers, as you called them are because that was a sedan body, but the bumper was mounted quite a bit lower for the pick up truck to increase the ground clearance and to accommodate larger wheels and tires for a truck application. The body stamping was modified to have more sheet metal, which on the sedan, would be directly behind the bumpers.

My pick would be the Studebaker Champ from both scenarios. I noticed the Corvair and the Econoline have orange turn signal lights. From what I have observed frontal turn signal lights in orange first became available in 1963, unless an aftermarket conversion was done.

When I was young I worked for a company that had a champ. It was the toughest truck we had, didn't get stuck on muddy jobs like the Ford's and chevys

The Scotsman model. Cardboard door interior and a rim with no spare tire. Those were the days😂

I’ll take a double Champ, with a cup of rust to chase it down. The Champ was pretty spartan, but today it is highly collectible as its small sized and cute. The reason for the filler under the grille is Champ was on a truck frame and sat higher than the Lark. Leaf springs, front & rear. And that’s why the bumper sits lower. Studebaker selected the name Champ in deference to their well known Champions. If they had chosen a derivative of Commander, it might have been called a Commie. 🤔 Nah.

61 El Camino 61 Champ I always like the looks of these Champ trucks. I thought they were very stylish for their time. Considering the low budget they were given to design and build these, I think they turned out beautifully. I've always thought the 289 in the small 1/2 ton would've been a nice little hot rod truck. One thing I noticed on the underhood was it looked like the blower motor and heater core were missing from the truck I thought it's on opening for them on the firewall but I didn't see that they were there.

Saw the 61 IOM flyer in the outro: Mike Hailwood won that on a Honda, the first time he or a Japanese bike won that classic and quite dangerous race. If you're not familiar with the IOM TT race you should look into it, truly unique. He went on to ride for Norton in later years. WYR is tough, but I'm a Ford man so those are my picks but I do like that style El Camino quite a lot. Pick-up's were viewed differently than they are today, being work-only vehicles and lacking any amenities one would want in a daily-driver, so most got worked to death and are long gone. That makes this Champ special indeed. It's stylish in every version but the Dodge-sourced bad doesn't quite look right with the offset body lines. Studebaker had slipped in the market relating to the "Big 3" by then and we'd soon lose them; sad as they did some great cars and trucks in their final decade. I'd love to have any Studebaker truck just for the 'different' factor in the sea of the other all-too-common ones.

They are sharp classic truck .

I am a Ford guy, so I would take the Fords first. The Studebaker second. In 61, with such rare vehicles as a collector, you would really want all three. I grew up in Studebaker country, Michiana, in all my life, I think this may be one of three early 60s Studebaker trucks I have actually seen. The other two were owned by farmers who lived in the area and delivered fruit and vegetables to the grocery store I worked at as a teenager. I guess that shows just how rare these trucks were when they were built just 13 miles south of my home, and I only saw two of them. South Bend, Indiana is where Studebakers were built, and you could drive down any street in that city and see a Studebaker parked in a driveway or at the curb in front of a house. Yet, only two farmers in the area had a Studebaker truck.

Awesome truck! Thanks

WYR: 1961 Studebaker, Corvair Rampside. Two of my favorite postwar pick-ups. BTW, there's a 1937 Studebaker Coupe Express listed for sale outside St. Louis; I know you said you like these. Found it on AutoTempest.

Another great and informative video, Jay! Thanks!

One of my best friends got one from his grandpa for summer work on his farm

Thanks for a great presentation,I have always like the Champs looks.I think they did amazing work given what they had to work with,and they look great with the stake bed.

Interesting vehicle. I've never seen one before so thanks for the walk-through. Did I see that right, the coolant temperature gauge goes from cold on the right to hot on the left?

I was at a campground near Southbend, Indiana in the 1970’s when the owner of one of these Lark pickups was showing what he said was a factory truck. Factory Supercharged V8 engine like a stock Hawk and a four speed floor shift (car four speed not HD truck four speed). If it was factory, it had to have been a very special order.

Unusual trucks from Studebaker 🤔 ? I have a tool box big enough to own a Studebaker 🤷😂 Corvaire has two carbs a pain to synchronize !! And I owned that ford Econoline for about 8 months.. new brakes and hard application could bring the rear out 3 feet 😱.. Elcamio is the only reliable one 😂 !!! Great Episode 😃👍 Happy Motoring ✌️🤠

WYR: 1. Feel like I'm being a bad Hoosier but choosing El Camino. 2. With feelings of guilt, Corvair Rampside. I really like the Champ, but you presented some darned irresistible options!

2:18 My '91 Ranger had a sliding back window ... and I _really_ liked that feature !

I I would love to have one of those Studebaker just so cool. Nice job Jay.

11:26 look at the rear guards on this thing ! They look modern custom as ! How futuristic ! Front looks like a big Lark ! I love it Jay. Can I have mine in blue ? Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿

My memories of the Studebaker Champ pickup truck was from the late 1960's when walking home from grade school, some company had a fleet of trucks that was heading down Wilbeth Road in Akron on a regular basis which consisted of a Studebaker Champ, 1957 Studebaker truck (I forget the configuration but stake body comes to mind) and a circa 1950's Diamond T. I remember doing a double take the first time because I was unfamiliar with the Champs. Just the 1957 Studebaker truck was an unusual sight on the street and it to took my attention but as I said, that was my first experience with a Champ and it really grabbed my attention although it sounded as if it had a diesel engine. If only I could recreate that memory so you could experience it, it was definitely something different. Mr. Picky enjoys your videos. By for now unless I find something to criticize.

This is a cool truck. I would love driving this with its three speed column shifter and the V-8. There is something about driving old pickups with three on the tree that brings me back. I always thought they were fun to drive. I drove a couple picking up parts at work when I was young. It looks like they did a solid job repairing the floor boards. I would try to find the proper interior though. I would choose the Champ in both scenarios.

I own a 57 Studebaker president and it has the same windshield and front doors I know this, not only from visuals but also from parts order catalogues and cross references sheets when I had to order glass and Internal mechanisms which are also the same on some larks.

My uncle's neighbor gave me a 62 Studebaker Lark back in the early 70's. A friend and I went to get it. We got the 259 V8 started and heard a rod knock. I drove it to the gas station my friend worked at about a mile away from uncle's house, checked it out, and decided that, yup, it has a rod knock. Drove it another mile towards home, but the rod let go, and I coasted into the gas station that I worked at, parked it and had it towed away. :( For the 2nd WYR, a look at my avatar will tell you that the Rampside Corvair is the winner! As always, great video!

I have a second cousin once removed that was born in 1961 like this truck, and he likes early 60s trucks

1961 Studebaker Champ.🏆

This is so cool. I'm a direct descend of clement Stuabaker. I have the studabaker family book.i wish they'd start making the studabaker cars again. I know they were good cars but very expensive.thankyou for this article

The sad part of Studebaker was the Workers had a choice between take a wage cut or lose your job! The Workers chose to lose their job. Studebaker over paid when they had lots of sales to get the workers they needed, when Ford and Chevy new designs came online, Studebaker had more overhead than they had profit. It was sad to see them go, but the big Three did a good job of killing off the little guy. Ford and Chevy got into a Sales battle in the mid 1950, they were selling cars at a loss to increases their numbers. This ruined all the small company's.

Chur Jay ! (Chur is Kiwi slang for choice ) Another good one mate 👍 I'd love to visit that car sales place. Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿

Just came across this video. FYI the champ was never made out of fiberglass, only the Avanti was. Also as for "looks like a slap together" thats because it was put together with left over parts. The cab and front clip from a 59/60 4dr lark. The front bumper (never fit properly) grill, and trim was was used for the champ only, and the boxes were either left overs or they used the dodge box. Enjoying the shows ive seen sofar 👍

A cool truck. I wish that Studebaker had survived as an automaker. A Studebaker financial company survives - Studebaker-Worthington

Gorgeous truck

Our neighbor bought a new 3/4 ton it was a great looking truck for the times. He was disappointed when the company closed

Tge champ with the studebaker step side bed was a great looking compact truck. Tge champ with the refrigerator box was not so much.

😈🔱👿.. With the rear wheelbase so wide it looks like ot could be a cool gasser project to me... And you would deff be the only cat at the drag show with one 🤘

WOW! I didn't know they were full size pickups. I thought they were more like a Ranchero. It is the sharpest looking pickup (frontal wise) of that era. Too bad Studebaker couldn't afford to blend the cargo box into the front. WYR: Sorry, Ford, going with the Studebaker. 2) Ohhhh, tough choice! Can I pick the Econoline AND the Rampside?

I'd go with the El Camino and the Corvair Rampside! 😎

lions dragstrip california track matinence truck was a champ, I am always looking for a champ but theyre rust prone, another great episode jay

Studebaker made quality cars and trucks. Sorry that the company died so soon. 😢😢

Beautiful truck. ❤️ I'll take the 61 champ and the 61 Corvair Truck. Always had a thing for Corvairs. But definitely take the Champ. Its different and cool.

This is what I learned to drive “ three on the tree”

Great little truck, Jay. Thank you for featuring it. And I'll take the Econoline and Ranchero.

WYR #1 Falcon Ranchero. WYR #2 Corvair Rampside I was unaware that Chevy made an El Camino in 1961. I thought the El Camino ran in 1959 and 1960. Then skipped 1961 through 1963. Came back on the new Chevelle chassis in 1964. I'm going to check right now. EDIT: Chevy DID NOT make an El Camino in 1961, 1962 or 1963 model years. Sorry Jay, but your first Would You Rather is disqualified!

All of them!

IF you can find one, do a presentation on one of my favorite pickups; International Harvester's 1964 C-900. It had a six foot bed, regular IH pickup cab and was powered by the Scout's 152 CID slant four Comanche engine. They only produced the C-900 for (I believe) three model years.

"Would you rather...?" Studebaker on both counts.

Rancharo have 64 all of them cheers 🥂 😊

5:34 not really Frenched-in headlamps. If they were, there would be body color right up to the headlamp opening, without any chrome or stainless steel trim. That is what defines that style.

Nice looking truck. Too bad somebody "upgraded" the interior and trashed the original seats for tacky modern seats.

Hi Jay, the basic architecture for that over head valve six goes back to 1939. It had the same CID to 1964 except for the years 1955 to 1958. I had a couple of the champ six's dependable but not powerful.

Hi Jay!: The Studebaker Champ pickup was a very interesting truck! They tend to be scarce, though. Not withstanding the rust problems and the crummy six. The thing was probably a GREAT little truck with either of the V-8's, though! The styling of the cab is great, too bad they didn't have money to design proper bed units for these cute little trucks!! WYR# 1: Gotta be the Falcon Ranchero! Always wanted one! Plus, the little Ford 6's were much better engines than those Stude ones! #2 You are KILLING me! I want them ALL! Rode around with my dad in the van version of the econoline, those were neat! And being a former Corvair owner, the truck versions are just SO cool! And I like the V-8 version of the Champ, too!

Champ both times, but if you'd put an A100 in there, I'd have gone with it.

Studebaker across the board

I'm a chevy guy! So El Camino it is!

The Stude in both cases.

Very cool truck jay but I think for uniqueness I will take the ramp side Chevy, just a side note the studebakers were built like tanks my cousin was in a severe accident that no believed someone could survive and if it hadn’t been a studebaker she was driving she wouldn’t have, she was rear ended by a cement truck and driven into a hay truck that sent her back into the cement truck and then into a semi truck the studebaker looked like a lunch box but she survived because the passenger compartment remained in tack

The chevy looks like a custom unit.

The champ pick up

Ramblin Man Allman brothers? I like the Corvair side ramp truck.

You didn't mention transmissions available on the Champ

I always think went I see classic cars. Wish I had gotten one of those when i was younger and they were in dealerships. Finding myself wondering what it would have been like shopping for a pony car in 65. Or a car in 1955. The chevy, the ford or the dodge. What would they cost what options could i get. It might be a fun video.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD LOVE TO BUILD ONE AS DAILY DRIVER.

Been missing ur shows,,traveling from Oregon to s.carolina,,any collection recommendations for the Charleston area ?

Chevy, champ.

Ford ecoline ❤

Ford Ranchero the Champ

1961 Studebaker Champ, 1961 Corvair Rampside

I’ll take the El Camino thanks😊

Could I pick a GMC or Chevrolet steel tilt cab over with a v-6,or 348,or409 if I have my choice, such, cool looking cabovers.Where did you find a 61 El Camino?

Song- Laughing by THE GUESS WHO

The tail lights look a lot like 46 to 48 Chevy cars.

Ranchero by far.

I had one of those

I hate that they put a modern interior in there.

WYR: All of them, regardless of what it is.

51 Champ, not even close 61 Corvair, only thing weirder than the Stude...

Even as a child in that era I thought Studebakers looked ugly, except for the Avante. So for me there are some interesting design elements but overall this is an ugly duckling. Might make a tuff looking street rod. I will go with the Falcon Ranchero because my dad let us ride in the back at 70mph on the expressway.

Studebaker and Corvair

Champ

1961 ford Ranchero

I'd rather have a Champ!

There is no such thing as a 1961 El Camino. They were made in 1959/60, then paused until 1964

The Chevy or the Studebaker.

Its A frankin truck that looks more like a Dodge .

Laughing - The Guess Who...weird looking pickup

Drop the metric crap. No one who grew up in the 50's & 60's ever used metric to describe engines, nor any other feature of the cars we drove.

Ranchero, for me