1959 Studebaker Lark

In 1959 a miracle happened at Studebaker. It was called the Lark. After losing enormous amounts of money since 1954, Studebaker unveiled this compact that was popular enough to bring Studebaker a nice profit. The amazing thing was that, although the venerable names of Champion, Commander, and President were gone, the Lark sold enough to supplant the sales of all three lines and then some! Chief Engineer Eugene Hardig and stylist Duncan McRae championed the Lark. What they did was take a standard 1958 Studebaker sedan, chop off nearly 2 feet of front and rear overhang, and the new 'compact' Lark was ready. Since the dimensions were new and the front and rear styling were also new, the public received it as a totally new car. The Lark beat the Big 3 manufacturers with their compacts, so the Lark enjoyed one full year of prosperity. When GM, Ford, and Chrysler all unveiled their compacts for 1960, Lark sales began to slip, and Studebaker was back in its downward slide.

The base engine in the 1959 Lark was a 169.6 cubic-inch six-cylinder with solid valve lifters, four main bearings, and a Carter one-barrel carburetor developing 90 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. It came standard with a three-speed manual transmission, with overdrive optional, along with a Flightomatic. The optional overhead-valve V8 engine had 259.2 cubic inches, five main bearings, and solid valve lifters and delivered 180 horsepower at 4,500 RPM. The hardtop and sedans rested on a 108.5-inch platform, and the station wagon and Eco-O-Miler sedan had a 113-inch wheelbase.

Lark prices for 1959 began at the high-$1,900s and rose to $2,450 for the six-cylinder options while the V8s pinnacled at $2,600.

The popularity of the 1959 Lark helped Studebaker earn its first profitable year in six years.

The Studebaker Lark was produced from 1959 through 1964, which was the same year that Studebaker went out of business. The Lark was a compact car that was hoped to continue the Studebaker name and provide competition for the Big Three Automobile Manufacturers. At the time of its introduction, there was little competition in the compact car market. Within a few years, this changed and the sales of the Studebaker Lark began to decline.

In 1959 and 1960, the Lark was available with either a six or eight-cylinder engine. The six-cylinder 170 cubic-inch unit produced around 90 horsepower, while the 259 cubic-inch V8 produced an impressive 180 horsepower. By 1962 the other automakers had caught up with Studebaker and were offering more-modern versions of the compact vehicle offered with more amenities at an affordable price. In comparison, the Lark looked very dated. In 1962 Brooks Stevens modernized the interior of the Lark and increased the overall length. Sales began to improve until a strike by the United Auto Workers Local 5 at the South Bend Plant slowed production considerably.

Throughout the following year, minor improvements were made in an effort to keep the Studebaker Lark looking modern. The wrap-around windshield was eliminated in 1963. The door and roof pillars became thinner. A stripped-down version of the Lark, called the Standard Series, was introduced in 1963 and offered as a low-cost version of the Lark. It was intended as a fleet vehicle with the interior being void of any non-essential amenities. On the exterior, the vehicle bore no nameplates, just the 'Studebaker' name could be found on the fenders. It carried a sticker price of just $1,935, making it affordable to most buyers.

Even with all the changes for 1963, it was not a good year for the Lark with only 77,000 examples being sold. The prior year had seen 90,000 Larks produced even with the strike. In 1964, the changes to the Lark were even more drastic. The new design featured aluminum grilles and squared-off headlamp surrounds. The rear end of the vehicle incorporated horizontal tail lamps and backup lamps. The hood was flattened, along with the trunk lid and roofline. Despite this effort, the Lark was phased out the following year, leaving the Challenger, Commander, and Daytona to carry on the Studebaker name. Sadly, Studebaker production would cease, ending production of one of the oldest American Automobile Manufacturers. The Studebaker Company had incorporated in 1868 and entered the automotive business in 1902. Their first vehicles were electric. Gas-powered machines were introduced by Studebaker in 1904. They continued in business until 1966.

by Dan Vaughan