1962 Studebaker Lark

By 1961 the sales of the three-year-old Lark began to decline. Although it was fresh and new in 1959, it began to look aged by 1961, and it lost more and more sales to the fresh new Big 3 compacts. With increased competition from the brand new Buick Special, Olds F-85, and Pontiac Tempest, the Lark didn't have such a good year in 1961. Fortunately, new, dynamic president Sherwood H. Egbert called upon his friend Brooks Stevens of Milwaukee, WI, to redesign the aging Hawk and Lark lines for 1962 on a shoestring budget. Stevens lengthened the car and added new styling that made the car look longer, lower, and wider. He also gave the Lark a new grille that gave it the appearance of a Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes was distributed by Studebaker in the US at the time). Steven's new Lark and GT Hawk were successful, and sales increased. Studebaker was selected to pace the Indy 500 in 1962, and they hoped to supply a new Avanti to pace. Due to nagging production problems for the Avanti, Studebaker was forced to supply a Lark convertible (the Lark was the first compact to pace the Indy 500).

The Studebaker Lark was introduced in 1959. The car had styling that contained more European flavor than American, especially with the absence of tail fins so abundant on many other American cars of its time.

The first year of its introduction was a success. The car sold well, and in turn, the profits were good for Studebaker. 1960 saw management and marketing changes which had a negative impact on the sale of the vehicle. In 1963, the production of vehicles by Studebaker at its main facility in South Bend, Indiana, ended. In 1966, its Canadian operation ceased as well.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2005