Nothing like a 2-Stude Day

[arkiejazz]

quote:Originally posted by studeclunker

Steve, the 'Carolina Champ' looks completely rust free. Are my eyes deceiving me? That's phenominal. I wish I had your life instead of mine.

Someone had mentioned the narrowing of a Champ's bed to me once before. The application looks as good as described. But that orange...

[)]It's funny how people's tastes run. Omaha Orange is my very favorite color for a Truck.....Stude or otherwise. I'm redoing a '67 IH halfton right now and I am doing it in, what else?...Omaha Orange[)]

steve blake
http://tinyurl.com/kr3gt
http://tinyurl.com/l7oqh

[arkiejazz]

quote:Originally posted by studeclunker

Steve, the 'Carolina Champ' looks completely rust free. Are my eyes deceiving me? That's phenominal. I wish I had your life instead of mine.

Someone had mentioned the narrowing of a Champ's bed to me once before. The application looks as good as described. But that orange...

[)]It's funny how people's tastes run. Omaha Orange is my very favorite color for a Truck.....Stude or otherwise. I'm redoing a '67 IH halfton right now and I am doing it in, what else?...Omaha Orange[)]

steve blake
http://tinyurl.com/kr3gt
http://tinyurl.com/l7oqh

[arkiejazz]

Nothing like a 2-Stude Day

[)]It was a great day in Texas today. Yeah, the weather was really fine, but even better than that was having 2 Champs delivered all in the same day. The blue '60 came in from South Carolina and the Omaha Orange '64 with the "narrowed" P2 bed was delivered by the seller, Ronny Fuchs from Whitney, Texas. You all may remember the blue one being on Ebay...where it went unsold. I contacted the seller and made a deal for it after the auction. Then the next day, I found out that Ronny was willing to sell the '64. I never dreamed that Ronny would ever sell the Omaha Orange '64........not even in my wildest dreams. I had called him up to pick his brain about how they had narrowed the bed 4 inches to make it fit the cab......well, one thing led to another until he said, "Why don't you just buy this one?" I knew the chance wouldn't repeat itself, so I went for it even though I had just shelled out for the blue one. The blue '60 is and "okay" little Champ.....very solid and appears to be virtually rust-free underneath, but I'll sell it to keep the peace around here. I've included a link so you can see both of them.[)]
http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l6...arch%206_2007/

steve blake
http://tinyurl.com/kr3gt
http://tinyurl.com/l7oqh

[Dick Steinkamp]

That narrowed bed sure makes that Orange Champ beautiful! Studebaker should have spent the extra $$ to do those Dodge beds right. It's a completely different looking truck [8D].

Nice pair Steve.

[Dick Steinkamp]

That narrowed bed sure makes that Orange Champ beautiful! Studebaker should have spent the extra $$ to do those Dodge beds right. It's a completely different looking truck [8D].

Nice pair Steve.

[studeclunker]

Steve, the 'Carolina Champ' looks completely rust free. Are my eyes deceiving me? That's phenominal. I wish I had your life instead of mine.

Someone had mentioned the narrowing of a Champ's bed to me once before. The application looks as good as described. But that orange...


Lotsa Larks!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith
Where the heck is Lewiston, CA?

[studeclunker]

Steve, the 'Carolina Champ' looks completely rust free. Are my eyes deceiving me? That's phenominal. I wish I had your life instead of mine.

Someone had mentioned the narrowing of a Champ's bed to me once before. The application looks as good as described. But that orange...


Lotsa Larks!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith
Where the heck is Lewiston, CA?

[arkiejazz]

quote:Originally posted by Dick Steinkamp

That narrowed bed sure makes that Orange Champ beautiful! Studebaker should have spent the extra $$ to do those Dodge beds right. It's a completely different looking truck [8D].

Nice pair Steve.

[)]Dick, I agree with you 100%, but I don't see how it could have cost them much of anything to make the bed 4 inches narrower at the factory. They had all the stamping tools. All they would have had to do was to cut the parts down a bit before they put them together. I've read that they had to make a new front header panel anyway, and cutting 2 inches off both ends of the tailgate should have been a snap in a factory setting. Maybe it had something to do with them having to supply replacement bed parts for Dodge? Just like you said, I wish they had made all the P2 beds this way.[)]

steve blake
http://tinyurl.com/kr3gt
http://tinyurl.com/l7oqh

[arkiejazz]

quote:Originally posted by Dick Steinkamp

That narrowed bed sure makes that Orange Champ beautiful! Studebaker should have spent the extra $$ to do those Dodge beds right. It's a completely different looking truck [8D].

Nice pair Steve.

[)]Dick, I agree with you 100%, but I don't see how it could have cost them much of anything to make the bed 4 inches narrower at the factory. They had all the stamping tools. All they would have had to do was to cut the parts down a bit before they put them together. I've read that they had to make a new front header panel anyway, and cutting 2 inches off both ends of the tailgate should have been a snap in a factory setting. Maybe it had something to do with them having to supply replacement bed parts for Dodge? Just like you said, I wish they had made all the P2 beds this way.[)]

steve blake
http://tinyurl.com/kr3gt
http://tinyurl.com/l7oqh

[StudeRich]

Those are a couple of very nice looking trucks Steve, you are a lucky guy! [^] That orange one is different, 14 in. wheels in back for that lowered in the rear look! It has a really plush interior, did the FO tell you what the seat is out of?
Rich.

[StudeRich]

Those are a couple of very nice looking trucks Steve, you are a lucky guy! [^] That orange one is different, 14 in. wheels in back for that lowered in the rear look! It has a really plush interior, did the FO tell you what the seat is out of?
Rich.

[arkiejazz]

quote:Originally posted by StudeRich

Steve; don't ya just love it, how no matter what your opinion is somebody will disagree with ya!! Yeah you guessed it, I have my reasons for really liking the big, bad real truck look of the 8 ft. Styleside wide bed Champs!

[^] I know, I know, I know, I can't get as many followers as you can! My guess is Studebaker would never do the narrowing trick because a real truck can put a 4X8 sheet of plywood between it's wheelwells! I don't know if you still can, but you could do it a lot better with a stock one! Here is my (distorted?) reasoning: You have to remember this is, I believe 1962? when they DUMPED THAT ancient old outdated narrow '50's look bed for an up-to date one. It was totally replaced except special orders, for a good reason. I know that double walled bed was the best pickup bed ever built-bar none, but it's time had come it was OVER! People really wanted that extra space in front & behind the wheel wells. Ford sold em like hotcakes in '57 until the old behind the times General as usual, finally had to follow in '58 but the GMC/Chevy didn't sell like a Ford. The new Champ looked right in style sitting next to a new Chevy or Ford, and that is where sales was driving this. With the new modern looking (very luxurious for a truck) Lark type cab with the first sliding rear window, it's just NOT right to have that old too narrow bed looking tacked-on like it came from 1949! Real trucks (1 ton & larger box vans etc. all have a bed a little wider than the cab, so it is not unusual at all to be only 1 1/2 inches or so wider on each side than the cab! If you want a pickup that can actually haul, which is what real men wanted in 1962, (they didn't drive em to the mall for a new dress ya know!) then you want a BIG wide and long 8' pickup box! Really though guys, you have-ta put your self in 1962 to understand this! OK, I'll get off my soapbox now, and go look at my 1960 Champ narrow bed, (Dad bought new) and wish it was a WIDE bed! Someday I'll tell ya how I REALLY feel!

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[)]Rich, I do understand and respect your point of view. My everyday ride is a long wide '63 Champ. I'd never change it because it's so original and nice the way it is. And to tell you the truth, the look of the "too wide" (IMHO) P2 bed has grown on me over the 30+ years that I have driven Champs. I can't agree with your view that the P1 box looks "tacked on", but ...there again, it's all in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? I'm not sure if a 4X8 sheet of plywood will fit in the back of the "narrowed" bed. I'll find out tomorrow. In the meantime, wanna trade that P1 box for a P2? I've got a '62 LWB with the P2 and a 5spd/OD that I got from Steve Hudson a couple of years ago. I'd sort of like to go with a P1 on that one....[)]

steve blake
http://tinyurl.com/kr3gt
http://tinyurl.com/l7oqh

[arkiejazz]

quote:Originally posted by StudeRich

Steve; don't ya just love it, how no matter what your opinion is somebody will disagree with ya!! Yeah you guessed it, I have my reasons for really liking the big, bad real truck look of the 8 ft. Styleside wide bed Champs!

[^] I know, I know, I know, I can't get as many followers as you can! My guess is Studebaker would never do the narrowing trick because a real truck can put a 4X8 sheet of plywood between it's wheelwells! I don't know if you still can, but you could do it a lot better with a stock one! Here is my (distorted?) reasoning: You have to remember this is, I believe 1962? when they DUMPED THAT ancient old outdated narrow '50's look bed for an up-to date one. It was totally replaced except special orders, for a good reason. I know that double walled bed was the best pickup bed ever built-bar none, but it's time had come it was OVER! People really wanted that extra space in front & behind the wheel wells. Ford sold em like hotcakes in '57 until the old behind the times General as usual, finally had to follow in '58 but the GMC/Chevy didn't sell like a Ford. The new Champ looked right in style sitting next to a new Chevy or Ford, and that is where sales was driving this. With the new modern looking (very luxurious for a truck) Lark type cab with the first sliding rear window, it's just NOT right to have that old too narrow bed looking tacked-on like it came from 1949! Real trucks (1 ton & larger box vans etc. all have a bed a little wider than the cab, so it is not unusual at all to be only 1 1/2 inches or so wider on each side than the cab! If you want a pickup that can actually haul, which is what real men wanted in 1962, (they didn't drive em to the mall for a new dress ya know!) then you want a BIG wide and long 8' pickup box! Really though guys, you have-ta put your self in 1962 to understand this! OK, I'll get off my soapbox now, and go look at my 1960 Champ narrow bed, (Dad bought new) and wish it was a WIDE bed! Someday I'll tell ya how I REALLY feel!

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[)]Rich, I do understand and respect your point of view. My everyday ride is a long wide '63 Champ. I'd never change it because it's so original and nice the way it is. And to tell you the truth, the look of the "too wide" (IMHO) P2 bed has grown on me over the 30+ years that I have driven Champs. I can't agree with your view that the P1 box looks "tacked on", but ...there again, it's all in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? I'm not sure if a 4X8 sheet of plywood will fit in the back of the "narrowed" bed. I'll find out tomorrow. In the meantime, wanna trade that P1 box for a P2? I've got a '62 LWB with the P2 and a 5spd/OD that I got from Steve Hudson a couple of years ago. I'd sort of like to go with a P1 on that one....[)]

steve blake
http://tinyurl.com/kr3gt
http://tinyurl.com/l7oqh

[StudeRich]

Steve; don't ya just love it? How no matter what your opinion is somebody will disagree with ya!! Yeah you guessed it, I have my reasons for really liking the big, bad real truck look of the 8 ft. Styleside wide bed Champs! [^]

I know, I know, I know, I can't get as many followers as you can! My guess is Studebaker would never do the narrowing trick because a real truck can put a 4X8 sheet of plywood between it's wheelwells! I don't know if you still can, but you could do it a lot better with a stock one! Here is my (distorted?) reasoning: You have to remember this is, I believe 1962? when they DUMPED THAT ancient old outdated narrow '50's look bed for an up-to date one. It was totally replaced except special orders, for a good reason. I know that double walled bed was the best pickup bed ever built-bar none, but it's time had come it was OVER! People really wanted that extra space in front & behind the wheel wells. Ford sold em like hotcakes in '57 until the old behind the times General as usual, finally had to follow in '58 but the GMC/Chevy didn't sell like a Ford. The new Champ looked right in style sitting next to a new Chevy or Ford, and that is where sales was driving this. With the new modern looking (very luxurious for a truck) Lark type cab with the first sliding rear window, it's just NOT right to have that old too narrow bed looking tacked-on like it came from 1949! With the rear fenders that so do not match the front ones. Big trucks (1 ton & larger box vans, flatbeds etc. all have a bed a little wider than the cab, so it is not unusual at all to be only 1 1/2 inches or so wider on each side than the cab! If you want a pickup that can actually haul, which is what all the guys wanted in 1962, (they didn't drive em to the mall for a new dress ya know!) then you want a BIG wide and long 8' pickup box! Really though guys, you have to put yourself in 1962 to understand this! OK, I'll get off my soapbox now, and go look at my 1960 Champ narrow bed, (Dad bought new) and wish it was a WIDE bed! Someday I'll tell ya how I REALLY feel!


StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[StudeRich]

Steve; don't ya just love it? How no matter what your opinion is somebody will disagree with ya!! Yeah you guessed it, I have my reasons for really liking the big, bad real truck look of the 8 ft. Styleside wide bed Champs! [^]

I know, I know, I know, I can't get as many followers as you can! My guess is Studebaker would never do the narrowing trick because a real truck can put a 4X8 sheet of plywood between it's wheelwells! I don't know if you still can, but you could do it a lot better with a stock one! Here is my (distorted?) reasoning: You have to remember this is, I believe 1962? when they DUMPED THAT ancient old outdated narrow '50's look bed for an up-to date one. It was totally replaced except special orders, for a good reason. I know that double walled bed was the best pickup bed ever built-bar none, but it's time had come it was OVER! People really wanted that extra space in front & behind the wheel wells. Ford sold em like hotcakes in '57 until the old behind the times General as usual, finally had to follow in '58 but the GMC/Chevy didn't sell like a Ford. The new Champ looked right in style sitting next to a new Chevy or Ford, and that is where sales was driving this. With the new modern looking (very luxurious for a truck) Lark type cab with the first sliding rear window, it's just NOT right to have that old too narrow bed looking tacked-on like it came from 1949! With the rear fenders that so do not match the front ones. Big trucks (1 ton & larger box vans, flatbeds etc. all have a bed a little wider than the cab, so it is not unusual at all to be only 1 1/2 inches or so wider on each side than the cab! If you want a pickup that can actually haul, which is what all the guys wanted in 1962, (they didn't drive em to the mall for a new dress ya know!) then you want a BIG wide and long 8' pickup box! Really though guys, you have to put yourself in 1962 to understand this! OK, I'll get off my soapbox now, and go look at my 1960 Champ narrow bed, (Dad bought new) and wish it was a WIDE bed! Someday I'll tell ya how I REALLY feel!


StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA