Affordable Classic? 1960 Studebaker Lark VI

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Sometimes it seems like an impossible mission. Some enthusiasts wish to park a classic in their garage but finding an affordable option that doesn’t require significant work can be the equivalent of spotting an automotive unicorn. For someone searching for a tidy turn-key classic that isn’t going to break the bank, this 1960 Studebaker Lark VI two-door sedan deserves a closer look. It is a survivor that presents nicely, and it seems to need nothing. The owner has decided to part with the Lark, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. It is located in Denver, North Carolina, and while he has set the BIN at $12,222, there is the option to submit an offer.

The 1960 Lark was a sales success that Studebaker sorely needed. While its sales figures weren’t going to have “the big three” shaking in their boots, a respectable 122,186 buyers chose to park a new Lark in their driveway. Of those, the highest sales volumes fell to the Lark VI two-door sedan like our feature car. Buyers seemed to like what they saw, and 24,605 people willingly handed over the cash to own one. Okay, I know that we will have readers who won’t see this Lark as particularly desirable, but it does deserve its place in the sun. When you consider its overall condition, you must admit that it presents well for a car with 61-years under its belt. The Apache Red paint shines nicely, with no significant flaws or problems. The seller admits that the paint isn’t of show standard, but it appears to be above average for a driver-quality car. There are no noticeable dings or dents and no evidence of rust. The underside photos reveal a single patch in the front floor, but otherwise, this Studebaker appears to be structurally sound and rust-free. The exterior chrome is in good order for a survivor-grade car, and there are no visible problems with the glass.

If this Lark has a single highlight, I believe that it would be its interior condition. Apart from an FM converter mounted under the dash, nobody has added any aftermarket components. The trim is a striking combination of red and black vinyl, and it’s hard to find anything to fault. There is no visible wear and no signs of other physical damage. The carpet and headliner are equally impressive, and there are no apparent issues with the dash. The owner says that it needs nothing and that there are no odd smells or problems. You’re not likely to confuse the interior with a Cadillac, so potential buyers should not expect the car to be loaded with luxury extras. However, the original AM radio and the aftermarket converter should provide some entertainment on those longer journeys.

Every 1960 Lark VI rolled off the production line equipped with the 170ci flathead six-cylinder engine that produced 90hp. That is what we find occupying this engine bay, and the original owner chose to order this car with the optional automatic transmission. That combination was hardly likely to get pulses racing, but most buyers found the vehicle’s performance adequate for their needs. The owner says that this Lark is a numbers-matching vehicle, and there appears to be nothing but good news when we start to dig below the surface. It is refreshing to find a car of this type and vintage where the owner doesn’t make outrageous mileage claims. The odometer on this Lark shows 7,000 miles, but the owner readily admits that it has rolled over. The engine bay presents nicely, and it seems that this Studebaker lives up to the promise that it shows. The owner uses the word “impeccable” when describing the driving experience. Everything is said to work as it should, which means that the buyer only needs to slip behind the wheel and drive off into the sunset.

With Studebaker’s financial position looking so tenuous as the 1950s drew to a close, offerings like the Lark were envisaged as the company’s savior. Sadly, it proved to be too little and far too late. While Lark sales were healthy in 1960, they dropped off a cliff in 1961. Despite numerous engineering upgrades that brought welcome performance improvements, Studebaker struggled to shift 70,513 Larks during 1961. This marked the start of a slow and lingering death for the company that would’ve been worthy of an opera. This Lark VI isn’t perfect, but in some ways, that is in keeping with the company that produced it. However, while the company’s flaws were enormous and insurmountable, the flaws in this classic are minor and inconsequential. That’s why I feel that if someone is searching for a turn-key classic that is affordable, this one deserves a closer look.

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Comments

  1. Howard A. Howard AMember

    Aw, I always get a little “verklempt” when I see a Lark like this. I guess I’ve always felt sorry for Studebaker, being in direct competition with Rambler. Back then( late 50’s,early 60’s) Big 3 buywers wouldn’t look once at these cars, but the less fortunate, that still needed a car, it was either Studebaker or Rambler. I did find some performance figures, are you sitting down? 0-60 in 14.7 and the 1/4 mile was 20.6@71 mph and a claimed top speed of just over 100. ( Who knows how long THAT took). You know, I think it could be original, with maybe a repaint at some time. I don’t see any tell tale signs of 107K. Remember that ’63 Caddy I told you about with 2200 miles? So it could happen. Very neat find, and Wiiiiillllbur Post would be proud. I don’t expect the author to know that reference, but in the 60’s, Mr. Ed, the talking horse show,( 1961-1966) was incredibly popular, and Studebaker was the sponsor and featured the cars in the show. The horse became the spokesperson, as it were, for Studebaker, but never had the zing of Dinah Shore( Chevy) or Groucho Marx( DeSoto)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCsMYduSwWA

    Like 17
    • Steve Clinton

      I remember the first time I saw an Avanti…on Mr. Ed.

      Like 6
      • Terrry

        Wilbur drove a Lark too.

        Like 6
      • 370zpp 370zpp

        But Mr. Ed drove a Mustang . .

        Like 10
      • fordor

        370zzp–still laughing! Guess they had a gay old time back then!!

        Like 1
    • Steve Clinton

      I don’t recall the Studebaker Verklempt.
      (Sometimes I slay myself.)

      Like 1
    • JimmyinTEXAS

      I was disappointed when I looked at the eBay pics. It seems to be a pretty fresh repaint and seat covers that don’t look bad. The underside pictures let me down. It appears likely 107K is accurate with all the grease and oil on the underside. It makes me wonder how much rust and Bondo they painted over. Maybe I’m just skeptical.

      Like 0
    • frank OWEN

      member the ads?? new $1776…be blessed, grateful, prepared…

      Like 0
  2. Steve Clinton

    Where else could you find a 61-year-old car that needs nothing for $12,222?

    Like 7
    • Terrry

      It might be worth that if it had the V8.

      Like 3
  3. Terrry

    If you bought a Lark VIII you got the much more desirable 289 V8.

    Like 4
    • Vince H

      You got the 259

      Like 2
  4. A.G.

    This Lark is far from a survivor. The seller indicates it’s an older repaint. The patched floor raises concern about what is under the quick and dirty paint job. The reason the interior looks like new is because it is relatively speaking. The brakes, suspension, and drivetrain all need inspection and likely service. Many of the things which aren’t shiny are probably original. The seller is probably 60 to 75% high on his asking price.

    Like 0
  5. Ben T. Spanner

    I always liked Larks and I remeber them when they were new. The V8 was a must. From the side you can see the origins of the 1953 oe so body shell.

    My favorite version was the pickup with a Lark nose and a Dodge bed.

    Like 1
    • Steve Kapsch

      We lived in northern Minnesota in the fifties and sixties where subzero winter temps are common. The Studebaker V/8 was the best winter starter and was purchased for that reason. My mom would leave her 1960 Lark at the curb overnight with no block heater of any kind, and still go out at 6:30 to drive to her job confident the car would start. However, one had to be cautious to leave the transmission in low gear because it would be impossible to shift for a couple of blocks or so. I tried it once, and broke off the shift lever which seemed to be made of pot metal.

      Like 0
  6. Bill

    A hundred plus MPH for a small flathead with automatic sounds optimistic. I doubt that this could see 90.

    The performance data seems in line for the time and competition. A 36 HP VW was slower and sold a lot better.

    Like 0
  7. David Bailey

    I believe when I was 5 or 6, Cheerio-s offered a brand new 10c model of the brand new( 1959, for 1960?) Studebaker Lark. Ten cents for our family was REAL MONEY, but somehow I followed my older brothers bottle collecting in the alleys of NW Detroit. to acquire it. I put the dime into the envelope and waited expecting a Monogram, or Revell, or? model in the mail. A tiny little cardboard box finally arrived with the Studebaker kit. Not ONE piece was intac from the body to the seats. For a 5 or 6 year old quite the disappointment! I gave up fumbling with the glue and push togethet parts that wouldn’t stay put. This experience stayed with me my whole life and although I’ve owned dozens of mostly driver quality, GMs, Fords, and Chryslers and Ramblers/AMCs, I’ve never owned a STUDE!! I wonder if Studebaker’s build quality was any better?

    Like 3
  8. Car Nut Tacoma

    Nice looking car. I’ve always loved the 1959-61 Studebaker Lark. I used to know someone who had a Lark VIII 4 door.

    Like 0
  9. RexFoxMember

    The car I learned to drive on at age 12 was my dad’s go to work car, a 1961 Lark VI with a 3 speed manual. It was baby blue and for some reason, he let me put red racing stripes and an STP sticker on it. I did not remember a flathead, so I looked it up and sure enough, 1960 was the last year. The Studebakers had pretty nice lines and were of a very practical size. The interior of this car does not look like a stock Stude design.

    Like 0
  10. Chuck C.

    A close friend of mine had a Studebaker Scotsman wagon 50 years ago. We had a lot of fun with it. It was the flathead six with “three on the tree”. With 90 HP (If that was accurate),that little engine ran smooth, but, It you wanted to go uphill with only a six pack in the back as cargo, you had to do some serious downshifting to make it to the top !!!

    Like 1
  11. Robert Thomas

    My neighbor across the street had a white Lark, it was distinctive in it’s own way. I remember as a small boy the sound of the car, even still to this day.

    Like 1
  12. Tom

    I purchased a ’60 Stude Lark at the G’boro Auction in Feb 2020 for just under the grade 2 price and it is a convertible with a replacement drive train (V8/AT). Beautiful car and drives well only wish it had pwr steering for parking. New upholstery w/nice carpet and new buckskin pwr top. I would buy this one if I didn’t already have a ’60. I don’t live that far away from Denver, NC. Collector Car Price Guide lists the value for this car at a condition 2 at 8,450 with a V8 engine and says to deduct 5% for one w/6cyl engine—$8,030 would be the approx value. If the car had some other features such as pwr steering and brakes plus a/c here in NC, I could see possible $9000 tops. At auction that would be my top bid, in person or on-line. Sellers price is a bit too high.

    Like 2
  13. wayneCMember

    I have owned many Larks from 59-63. I actually had the most fun with a 59 6 cylinder hard top while my Avanti sat in the driveway. I was a freshman in college in Denver and my best friend had a 59 2 door post 6 cylinder Lark. I had no complaints except trying to go in the mountains. The 6 cylinder Larks handled better than the V-8 models, due to the added weight. They were a lot of fun. I finally sold my last Lark about a year ago, a 62 6 cylinder Lark that I used as a going to work car, then my son used going to college. It was a smooth running car but it was the ohv 6. I had no problem with it and the gas mileage was great. I still have Studebakers and plan to until the end, being that I am in my 70’s, who knows how long that will be.

    Like 4
  14. John

    Drove Larks as squad car’s,had 259, city wouldn’t buy the 289 4b, if U had to idle them for a time would back fire thru the carb and go no place fast.
    After a 8 hr shift they felt like PU trucks

    Like 1
  15. Chris in Pineville

    we love Studebakers and it’s only 40 miles from our home, but wrong color wrong transmission and wrong price for a 100K+ example……

    Like 1
  16. Fire51

    I also had one as a squad car and it was painted red.

    Like 0
  17. Ward William

    Love the car, hate the color. That chrome trim all the way along the side just screams out “two tone me baby, do it now”.

    Two tone paint in more muted colors would give it more style IMHO.

    Like 1
  18. chrlsful

    pretty boxy, like my 2 or 4 yr newer rambler (american?) vert. Near same engine. Fantastic car. Right sized, motor so smooth when pulling up to the only light in town folks laughed thinkin it had stalled. The coin on the VC proof worked too. Sat there w/o movin! Love to have this’un~

    Like 0

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