The Lark was a pioneering "compact car" designed and built by Studebaker and introduced as a 1959 model.
From its introduction in 1959 until 1962, the Lark was a product of the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. In mid-1962, the company dropped "Packard" from its name and reverted to its pre-1954 name, the Studebaker Corporation. In addition to being built in Studebaker's South Bend, Indiana, home plant, the Lark and its descendants were also built in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada from 1959 to 1966 by Studebaker of Canada Limited. The cars were also exported to a number of countries around the world as completed units and completely knocked down (CKD) kits.
Lark-based variants represented the bulk of the range of models produced by Studebaker after 1958 and sold in far greater volumes than the Hawk family sports car and the later Avanti. The company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1952, ceased auto production in 1966.Sales of the Lark were good for the 1959 and 1960 model year, thanks to the fact that Studebaker had obtained "dual" dealerships with dealers of the Big Three manufacturers that did not as yet have their own compacts to sell.
Initial models included two- and four-door sedans, a two-door hardtop coupe and a two-door station wagon, with two levels of trim (Deluxe and Regal) offered on most. Aside from American Motors Corporation's Rambler line, the Lark offered the broadest line of compacts on the U.S. market. Indeed, the Lark was the first car of its size to offer a V-8 engine - the similarly-sized Rambler American offered only an inline six. Unfortunately, for all of its new engineering and the mild restyling, sales of the Lark dropped off precipitously for 1961. Even more new competitors were squeezing their way into the marketplace, as Dodge brought out the Lancer, and General Motors issued the Buick Special, Oldsmobile F-85 and Pontiac Tempest. These new "senior compacts," in addition to their very presence in the market, caused other problems for Studebaker. Most of the Big Three dealers who had signed on with the independent when the Lark debuted dropped the smaller company under pressure from the Detroit manufacturers once the new cars broke cover. Those who did not drop Studebaker outright often put more effort to selling their other product lines. In an effort to reverse the downward sales trend created when Detroit rolled out its own compacts in 1960 and '61, new Studebaker-Packard president Sherwood Egbert called upon his friend, noted industrial designer Brooks Stevens, to effect a striking yet cost-effective 1962 update. For 1963, Stevens again restyled the Lark. The dated wrap-around windshield was eliminated and the entire "greenhouse" was lightened via the use of thinner door and roof pillars. Doing away with the thick framing that had been a much-criticized feature of Studebaker's bodies since 1953 imparted a much more modern appearance, although most shoppers likely didn't notice.
Inside the cars, a completely new instrument panel with full, direct-reading gauges (sans idiot lights) was installed, although the designers were not able to integrate the available air conditioning into the panel; the evaporator and vents were still hung beneath the dash in a space-robbing box. For the ladies, an "Exclusive Beauty Vanity" with a mirror and makeup tray was fitted in the glove compartment on most models.
This amazing time capsule was purchased new by an employee of the Studebaker Company. This gentleman had a habit of installing clear plastic seat covers on all of his cars, which did an excellent job of preserving the interior. The car was used sparingly, and garaged its entire life. Passed on to his son, also a car collector, the car continued to be treated with respect, and was always garaged. Recently purchased by our client, the plastic seat covers have just been removed to reveal the perfect upholstery and interior- you can still see one piece of the plastic on the passenger door carpet kick panel. This car features the unique Glove Box Vanity mentioned above, and is complete and correct in every manner. This is probably one of the finest original Larks in existence, with a known history and provenance one normally finds in much more valuable cars.
This is a special car!
