Vin Plate for 63 Champ

[jeremyprice11]

lol... you guys are awesome thank you so much for the great info.

[Ron Dame]

Well, it does not describe me, but fits Asheville well! Thanks for the laugh Biggsie!

quote:Originally posted by Mr.Biggs

Well, ya learn somthin' new every day. I always thought that since a Champ was a car that changed into a Truck, it was a Transvestite-cab.[}]

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

Ron Dame
'63 Champ

[studelark]

[quote]Originally posted by Mr.Biggs

Frank, great rundown. I've always wanted to know what set the E-series truck apart from the R-series. Of course, I know of the differences, but why carry the E forward WITH a prefix on succeeding models??? One more of those goofy idiosycracies that make them different by design.[}]

I DO have a problem with this fact tho.....

" 5......indicates a 1/2 ton rated chassis with the smallest six cylinder engine, in this case the overhead valve 170 cubic inch engine was the standard and only engine offered by the factory. "

5 would have indicated "the smallest six" as late as 1960. After that, it still meant 6cyl, but the 170 was the ONLY 6 offered - and not "the only engine offered by the factory".

You KNOW that, but I'm just trying to clarify for our new Champ owner here.

Edit: Oh - and T-cabs and C-cabs were more than an advertizing gimmick. You only have to see one next to the other to realize that![:I]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +

OK, Biggsy: One at a time-

#1- I don't know if anyone can definitely answer the question why the 1955 models became series 'E' rather than '4R'. The only explanation I have read (don't know where) is that with the advent of V8 engine availability across the full line of Studebaker trucks, a factory engineer(s) decided to distinquish the successor to the 'R' series as the 'E' series. There are arguments that the 3R should have been designated the new 'E' series. These is another argument the 1956 'Transtar' models should have been the successor to the 'R' series. Be that as it may, the 1955 models were the first 'E' series trucks.

#2- I was trying also to clarify the same thing for our friend by saying it was the only 6 cylinder offered in 1963 when heretofore it meant the smallest 6 cylinder. The '5' digit still meant the smallest engine in the truck line. A matter of semantics.

#3- The advertising gimmick was 'Champ' and 'Transtar' (by the PD people), not the 'C' or 'T' cab coding. The coding was done by the engineering staff.[8D]


Frank Drumheller
Louisa, VA
60S-W6
1948 M16-52 Boyer fire truck

[Roscomacaw]

Well, ya learn somthin' new every day. I always thought that since a Champ was a car that changed into a Truck, it was a Transvestite-cab.[}]

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[StudeRich]

Quote: "Transtar equals C, therefore Champ equals T."

Gary, you forgot to multiply times "Pie "X" "R" Squared!

StudeRich

[studegary]

quote:Originally posted by studeclunker

quote:Originally posted by studegary

quote:Originally posted by Mr.Biggs

Edit: Oh - and T-cabs and C-cabs were more than an advertizing gimmick. You only have to see one next to the other to realize that![:I]

Not an advertising gimmick, but more of a joke. After the C cabs became Transtars, it was "logical" that the Champ cab was named a T cab.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

Ohhhhh... huh?[|)] I don't get it
Ron Smith

Transtar equals C, therefore Champ equals T.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[studeclunker]

quote:Originally posted by studegary

quote:Originally posted by Mr.Biggs

Edit: Oh - and T-cabs and C-cabs were more than an advertizing gimmick. You only have to see one next to the other to realize that![:I]

Not an advertising gimmick, but more of a joke. After the C cabs became Transtars, it was "logical" that the Champ cab was named a T cab.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

Ohhhhh... huh?[|)] I don't get it.[)]


Home of the famous Mr. Ed!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith
Where the heck is Lewiston, CA?

[studegary]

quote:Originally posted by Mr.Biggs

Edit: Oh - and T-cabs and C-cabs were more than an advertizing gimmick. You only have to see one next to the other to realize that![:I]

Not an advertising gimmick, but more of a joke. After the C cabs became Transtars, it was "logical" that the Champ cab was named a T cab.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[Roscomacaw]

Frank, great rundown. I've always wanted to know what set the E-series truck apart from the R-series. Of course, I know of the differences, but why carry the E forward WITH a prefix on succeeding models??? One more of those goofy idiosycracies that make them different by design.[}]

I DO have a problem with this fact tho.....

" 5......indicates a 1/2 ton rated chassis with the smallest six cylinder engine, in this case the overhead valve 170 cubic inch engine was the standard and only engine offered by the factory. "

5 would have indicated "the smallest six" as late as 1960. After that, it still meant 6cyl, but the 170 was the ONLY 6 offered - and not "the only engine offered by the factory".

You KNOW that, but I'm just trying to clarify for our new Champ owner here.

Edit: Oh - and T-cabs and C-cabs were more than an advertizing gimmick. You only have to see one next to the other to realize that![:I]

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[studelark]

quote:Originally posted by jeremyprice11

Can anyone give me any info about my truck. On the inside door plate it is E5-136528. At the bottom it is 8E5-122. Then there is a plate under the hood that is 8E - T6. Any info would be great thanks

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Jeremy; Here's my Studebaker history lesson for you. It does duplicate some of the correct information already given, but perhaps in a little more concise order.

Model Code- 8E5-122
8......indicates Studebaker trucks built in model years 1963-64
E......series of Studebaker trucks built from 1955 through 1964
5......indicates a 1/2 ton rated chassis with the smallest six cylinder engine, in this case the overhead valve 170 cubic inch engine was the standard and only engine offered by the factory.
122....indicates the wheelbase from center of the front axle to the center of the rear axle, in this case 122 inches. A 112 inch wheelbase chassis also offered.

Serial (chassis) number- E5-136528

E......same as above
5......same as above
136528.the sequencial order in which this E5 chassis came off the assembly line. Your serial number, E5-136528, was in the assigned block of numbers for the 1963 model year- the first 1963 E5 built was serial number E5-136001, the last one was E5-138618.

Cab code- 8E-T6

8......same as above
5......same as above
T......indicates a standard 'T' cab used on 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks to distinquish them from the 'C' cab used on 1 to 2 ton trucks. The 'T' cab is based on the 1959-60 Lark sheet metal.
6......indicates the deluxe cab, an extra cost optional factory cab which includes upgrades in equipment and trim. The base cab would be a 4.

This line of trucks using the 'T' cab was named the Champ models as opposed to 'C' cab trucks that were named Transtar. An advertising gimmick.

Hope this helps.

Frank Drumheller
Louisa, VA
60S-W6
1948 M16-52 Boyer fire truck

[studegary]

It looks like Bob K. and I were inputing at the same time. At least we didn't disagree with each other <G>.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[jeremyprice11]

thanks for the info

[studegary]

You already state that it is a 1963 Champ. It is a half ton pickup with a 122 inch wheelbase and a 170 cubic inch overhead valve inline six cylinder engine.
I will leave it to the truck specialists to give you more info.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[Roscomacaw]

The E5 means it's an E-series (actually an 8E series) half ton with a 6-cylinder engine - the 5 denotes a 6cyl engine. The other six digits are just a sequential serial number. There's no secret decoding to them.

Again - at the bottom - the 8E5 means what I spoke of earlier and the 122 signifies a 122" wheelbase. What we'd call a longbed pickup.

8E-T6 8E again denotes the truck series. 8E was the series for 63 & 64 trucks. The T6 indicates a T-cab (Champ body) with a 6 trim level. For Champs there was only a 4 or a 6 trim level - 6 having a bit more glitz inside and out.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[jeremyprice11]

Can anyone give me any info about my truck. On the inside door plate it is E5-136528. At the bottom it is 8E5-122. Then there is a plate under the hood that is 8E - T6. Any info would be great thanks