Just one shot from the Cohort by Jerome Solberg. At first glance, I thought it was some Studebaker Lark on its way to a car show or something. The kind of venue most such 1960s cars now belong to. Of course, it didn’t take more than a split second to realize this Lark was no car show queen; not even close.
The photo is a bit fuzzy, but there are clearly some rust patches (fixed?), and some body work being done. And well, I love that golden hood ornament. Could it be a lark proudly on display on this Lark?
So is this some hipster’s daily driver? Or a car on its way to restoration?
Related CC reading:
1963 Studebaker Lark Daytona – Awake From Hibernation
Car Show Classic: 1963 Studebaker Lark Regal – A Left Brain Car For A Right Brain Car World
Curbside Classic: 1963 Studebaker Lark Wagonaire – A Real Vista For The Cruiser
Probably a Packard Cormorant on the hood.
Thanks for posting this picture!
I grabbed this as both of us were stopped at a stoplight. No opportunity to get a better picture since the light changed!
This generation Studebaker Lark I think is a pretty sharp-looking car. If one didn’t know all the backstory, and didn’t know about the dated underpinnings, it would be very attractive. Brooks Stevens did well here. There is, I think, a lot of Mercedes influence, though that could also be traced back to the mid-1950’s Studebaker Hawks (which were maybe also MB-influenced?)
Is that a Packard Cormorant hood-ornament? I couldn’t be sure from the distance.
It immediately reminded me of this Allstate ad (the ad’s from 1971, but featuring an older Studebaker). The reason it jumped into my mind is because I wrote an article on this ad back in 2019:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/ad-classics/ad-classic-allstates-studebaker-clunker/
Great photo!
Enlarged version of the ad’s photo here:
> It immediately reminded me of this Allstate ad (the ad’s from 1971, but featuring an older Studebaker).
Just slightly older though, by one year (1962). The greenhouse was reconfigured for the ’63 models, thinning the window frames, pushing the A pillar forward, and losing the dated wraparound windshield and rear window, along with a new dashboard inside to fit the new cowl.
That IS a Packard Cormorant! Great tribute to sadly discontinued Packard.
The last Stude I saw about 2 years ago was also a 1963, but a four-door sedan so not the same car! Also was in much better shape, and had a nice big Studebaker decal (with the cool-looking ’62-’66 logo) on the rear window so it might be a car that’s displayed at car shows. But not the day I saw it driving past me in the other direction, on a weekday in an industrial park where my dentist resides. I don’t know of any local car shows around that time.
Back in 1963 I thought the Larks were really frumpy looking although I do remember seeing a red Daytona 2 dr hardtop with I believe a 289, black interior with bucket seats and a 4-speed transmission that I thought looked rather attractive. In retrospect they were fairly nice looking cars; the M-B influence was obvious. Maybe Studebaker was ahead of its time?
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Studebaker. But I just read about the make in a novel, with a reference to a Studebaker taxi in 1950 Barcelona. The protagonists wait for several cabs to go before hailing the Studebaker, presumably because they wanted to enjoy the comfort and roominess. There was no mention of what the other taxis were; perhaps Fiat Topolino’s?
Love that Lark! I used to prefer the 64 by a lot, but have become a much bigger fan of the 63 over the last few years. Nice catch!
My cousins babysitter drove a 1966 Studebaker Coupe. He was 2 yrs older than me so I’m going to say it was still on the road when he was old enough to be on his own which would be 1974-1975? My Dad had a 1967 Dodge polara sedan at the time. Although both were just a year apart and the polara was bare bones, the stude seemed as geriatric as the 1949 Chevy pickup he also owned.
That Packard Cormorant is a JC Whitney reproduction, just like you see on every other Kenworth. I’ve got one out in the shed. Paid $15 for it new. Used it for a few years. It didn’t age well.
Love everything about this shot! Whatever it is its being driven by someone who appreciates it; Not an investor/collector, nt a trust fund grandchild, just an honest to goodness fan of old automobiles, otherwise they’d pick a nicer stude or a more popular classic!
My first collector cars were two 53 Studebaker hardtops- one the Champion (6) and the Commander V8. Later I acquired a 63 Lark OHV 6 cylinder with 6000 miles as a daily driver. Strong performers and the lark was roomy like a full size car but with its lovely shorter length that was easy to parallel park in the city. EASY on fuel. The local Mercedes dealership was originally a Studebaker dealer and they added Mercedes was their import brand in the late 50s they told me. Studebakers looked like in inexpensive Mercedes the salesman said and sold well in a combined dealership. This was in the Pennsylvania- German area.
My Lark got compliments. It handled well. The OHV 6 was subject to cracked cylinder heads at the valves. Not bullet proof like the flathead 6 or the stout V8s.
Nice little article. Thanks.
The “PA-German area”? PA is a big place.
Looks nice to me .
-Nate
“Well, you’re invited for a motoring thrill. It’s the Lark by Studebaker, the Lark by Studebaker” and I forgot the rest of the jingle.