Did Studebaker Champ trucks really do that?

[tutone63]

I was surfing the net the other day and I ran across someone who mentioned that Studebaker used Dodge pickup boxes on their Champ trucks. Is this true? I had never heard that and was curious. If so, what years? All of them or just some? Thanks for the info!!

[JDP]

It's true, all the flat sided beds were made with Chyrsler tooling and that's why they don't match the cab very well.

JDP/Maryland
64 R2 GT (Sid)
spent to date $62,839.60
63 Daytona HT/4 speed
63 Lark 2 door
57 Wagon

[JDP]

It's true, all the flat sided beds were made with Chyrsler tooling and that's why they don't match the cab very well.

JDP/Maryland
64 R2 GT (Sid)
spent to date $62,839.60
63 Daytona HT/4 speed
63 Lark 2 door
57 Wagon

[Roscomacaw]

To be a bit more precise, Budd had made the beds for Dodge (it was a Dodge design, of course) and Studebaker got permission to use the tooling to make this bed for use on Champs. This was the year AFTER Dodge had changed the design of their pickup boxes, so the tooling was only being called upon (for Dodge's needs) to supply any repair parts that they might need down the road, so to speak.

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Roscomacaw]

To be a bit more precise, Budd had made the beds for Dodge (it was a Dodge design, of course) and Studebaker got permission to use the tooling to make this bed for use on Champs. This was the year AFTER Dodge had changed the design of their pickup boxes, so the tooling was only being called upon (for Dodge's needs) to supply any repair parts that they might need down the road, so to speak.

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Bredehoft]

I wonder....

are there more Stude-Budd boxes around today than Dodge-Budd boxes? I don't see any old Dodge trucks running around, but, I only see Champs on here, too...hmmm....

--george

[Bredehoft]

I wonder....

are there more Stude-Budd boxes around today than Dodge-Budd boxes? I don't see any old Dodge trucks running around, but, I only see Champs on here, too...hmmm....

--george

[tutone63]

quote:Originally posted by JDP

It's true, all the flat sided beds were made with Chyrsler tooling and that's why they don't match the cab very well.

JDP/Maryland
64 R2 GT (Sid)
spent to date $62,839.60
63 Daytona HT/4 speed
63 Lark 2 door
57 Wagon

That explains why I like the earlier Champs better....


She may have bugs and she may have dings, but that just proves I drive this thing!!

[tutone63]

quote:Originally posted by JDP

It's true, all the flat sided beds were made with Chyrsler tooling and that's why they don't match the cab very well.

JDP/Maryland
64 R2 GT (Sid)
spent to date $62,839.60
63 Daytona HT/4 speed
63 Lark 2 door
57 Wagon

That explains why I like the earlier Champs better....


She may have bugs and she may have dings, but that just proves I drive this thing!!

[garyash]

Budd also made the beds for the M5 and M15 pickups from 1941-48. The M truck beds are nearly identical to the ones that Budd made for Dodge/Plymouth/Fargo back to 1933-1935 and up until 1947. The stake pockets are only slightly different. However, Dodge switched to wood floors about 1936. Even the doors in M trucks were made by Budd. I'm pretty sure Budd made the beds for the C-cab trucks, too. So, the Budd-Dodge-Studebaker relationship was an old one.

[img=left]http://www.studegarage.com/images/gary_ash_m5_sm.jpg[/img=left] Gary Ash
Dartmouth, Mass.
'48 M5
'65 Wagonaire Commander
'63 Wagonaire Standard
web site at http://www.studegarage.com

[garyash]

Budd also made the beds for the M5 and M15 pickups from 1941-48. The M truck beds are nearly identical to the ones that Budd made for Dodge/Plymouth/Fargo back to 1933-1935 and up until 1947. The stake pockets are only slightly different. However, Dodge switched to wood floors about 1936. Even the doors in M trucks were made by Budd. I'm pretty sure Budd made the beds for the C-cab trucks, too. So, the Budd-Dodge-Studebaker relationship was an old one.

[img=left]http://www.studegarage.com/images/gary_ash_m5_sm.jpg[/img=left] Gary Ash
Dartmouth, Mass.
'48 M5
'65 Wagonaire Commander
'63 Wagonaire Standard
web site at http://www.studegarage.com

[Retired]

Richad Quinn can provide the facts on how Studebaker ended upmakinh pick up boxes for Dodge.

Interesting: The New Avanti Motors was making step side pick up boxes for Dodge as an after market item for dealers and specialty shops.

[Retired]

Richad Quinn can provide the facts on how Studebaker ended upmakinh pick up boxes for Dodge.

Interesting: The New Avanti Motors was making step side pick up boxes for Dodge as an after market item for dealers and specialty shops.

[Avantidon]

Otis Romine is the one who was responsible for designing the Champ truck. He did itas he liked to say wit a $20.00 design budget. He was also the one who realized that Studebaker needed a Wide -box (Spaceside) bed. He also knew he did not have the $$$$$ necessary to design and tool the box. So as he always did he got creative went to the Chrysler folks and for $100K boght the tooling for their Swept side bed used in the 59 and 60 model years. Yes, there was work to be done but it was minimal. The changes made included replacing the curved front panel of the bed with a straight one and changing the tailgate so Studebaker could be syamped into it. Also this bed was a single wallcontruction unlike the former double wall used in the past. While the bed was a little big looking it gave Studeaker a type of bed the public wanted. The Studebaker Parts department labeled this bed as a P2. The former bed was kept as a option and was know as a P1. The first trucks to have the Spaceside bed rolled off the SB assembly line in Jan 1961 and it was introduced at the 53rd Annual Chicago Auto Show during the week of Feb 18-26, 1961. The bed was available in a 61/2 and 8 foot length. It was also used only on the 1/2 and 3/4 ton models. Since it was a late model change to the 1961 model only approximately 750 1/2 ton trucks were made with the P2 bed.

See you in the future as I write about our past

[Avantidon]

Otis Romine is the one who was responsible for designing the Champ truck. He did itas he liked to say wit a $20.00 design budget. He was also the one who realized that Studebaker needed a Wide -box (Spaceside) bed. He also knew he did not have the $$$$$ necessary to design and tool the box. So as he always did he got creative went to the Chrysler folks and for $100K boght the tooling for their Swept side bed used in the 59 and 60 model years. Yes, there was work to be done but it was minimal. The changes made included replacing the curved front panel of the bed with a straight one and changing the tailgate so Studebaker could be syamped into it. Also this bed was a single wallcontruction unlike the former double wall used in the past. While the bed was a little big looking it gave Studeaker a type of bed the public wanted. The Studebaker Parts department labeled this bed as a P2. The former bed was kept as a option and was know as a P1. The first trucks to have the Spaceside bed rolled off the SB assembly line in Jan 1961 and it was introduced at the 53rd Annual Chicago Auto Show during the week of Feb 18-26, 1961. The bed was available in a 61/2 and 8 foot length. It was also used only on the 1/2 and 3/4 ton models. Since it was a late model change to the 1961 model only approximately 750 1/2 ton trucks were made with the P2 bed.

See you in the future as I write about our past