At first glance this may look like any old station wagon, but this all original 1963 Studebaker Lark Daytona Wagonaire is definitely worth another look. It’s a very unique hauler which located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and is listed for sale here on eBay with bidding at $900 with no reserve.
First off, this Lark is a Daytona which was the top trim level in 1963. The car features a V8 with a 3-speed on the column with over drive. The only thing that could be better here is to have the optional Avanti engine installed. The engine is said to run well and all the maintenance records are included.
The interior is a little rough and could use some freshening up. Still it doesn’t look too bad when you take its age into account. Could that be an air conditioning unit under the dash?
The seller claims that the paint is original and that there is very little rust. The condition is amazing considering that this car is 48 years old. It only has 68k miles though and it looks like the previous owners took great care of it.
Here is the most unique feature of this wagon. The roof above the cargo area actually slides forward to make more room. This would make it possible to carry tall items which would normally be territory for trucks only. These roofs can leak though, so you will want to check for rust under the carpet in the back.
Check out this old commercial to see the Wagonaire in action. At first we didn’t take much notice of this car, but after learning about what make it so special, it is actually sort of appealing. We just hope that the next owner is able to preserve this great wagon for many more years to come.
Studebaker was still innovating right up to the end. The compact ’59 Lark was the perfect answer to the surging import market (VW Beetle, of course) and got the jump on the Big 3 (Falcon/Comet, Corvair and Valiant) by a year.
Love how the kids rode in the back
Great cars! I’ve owned several Stude’s, and currantly have a ’61 Wagon in the mix. That’s a factory appearing AC unit on the car as well, not a very common option. One little note, the Daytona’s were NOT the highest trim level in ’63, that was only on the station wagons. Almost the same body, just as a sedan with a different name, it would be the Cruisers that took the cake for the highest trim level in the sedan lines :)
Are you kidding me studabaker sorry guy but have you ever heard of a lemon well this is the biggest one of the auto industry have you ever heard of chevey well that’s why these car died before the took off the mileage is so low cause that’s as far as the car got I like the back though until my kid falls out then I’m suing
Ever had an Avanti? With the 327cin Corvette engine?
What ever Kevin, I have never been stranded with my car (I daily drive my ’61), and get good gas mileage (I have a 259 V8 with a manual 3 speed overdrive. 15-18 around town, 22-26 on trips). You bringing Chevy into the mix on a ’63 Studebaker is unfounded, they had no connections at all. The only reason people correlate the two is because in ’65 and 66, Studebaker closed down the engine plant (It was running at extremely low production) and installed MkKinnon built engines. Regardless of the production numbers on these cars, they are extremely well built, very reliable, and a pleasure to drive.
Regardless of what Kevin believes these where great cars. I especially love the disc brakes in production earlier than anyone else. I also love that it took ford 40 years to copy the tailgate step on their pickups. Studebaker was always ahead of the competition when it came to engineering. The styling may have left a little to be desired but if you wanted a long lasting, economical, practical car then Studebaker was the way to go.
To each to there own why aren’t ther any more then. Pay 1,000,000.00 for it then if it’s so great I gotta ya on the breaks though that was innovative my father was a world war 2 vet air plane mechanic went to school to become auto mechanic was I’n this era and he had like ten studabakers in a feild that he farmed for a living he said that that car was crap and he used to take cars that were junk and make runable cars from other old cars and he would not touch those studabakers said was not worth it
With your poor spelling and grammar how can anyone possibly take you seriously?
Kevin, look around your keyboard. There are keys that relate to punctuation, and capitalization.
I Love it, as a mopar man all my life , I still remember those old studebakers and them ole V-8 -s were hard to beat ,,, even stock lol ,,, Thats the reason they made Hot”Rod parts for Chevy”s So they could keep up !!!!!
Kevin, you really should at least try the punctuation, capitalized letters, and maybe try the spell-check. Aside from your third-hand hatred of a car you’ve never owned or driven, the run-ons and misspellings make you sound unintelligent. Maybe you could just comment on car you like. I’d be interested to hear what you think about a ‘Barn Find’ with which you’ve had experience!
It doesn’t sound like Kevin has ever had a drivers license, they cannot let folks that have a flailing hand that hits their chest uncontrollably drive an automobile. Hows THAT for second hand hatred ? Not usually one to sling mud but……like many have stated, hate on what has burned you, not on what you know little of. Studebakers will always have a place in many peoples hearts, and many others are fans of the hoars of “orphan cars” [ Stude, Rambler, Kaiser, Frazer, Desoto, Hudson, etc ]…appreciate everyones elses taste I say,
I meant to say “hoarDs”…btw, thats what I get for being a wise guy !
Kevin your dad was a WWll era mech? If he was you’d know better and have better manners. No I’d say your about 16 and stumbled onto a place where you thought you could be a problem. So please knock it off… my daddy is GS Patton! Uh look that up okay? :)
BTW My grandpa had one of these and let me tell ya if you ever road hunt….. :)
seriously have you guys tried face book
Seriously, have you tried spell check ?
put it back in the barn and close the door forever
Put Kevin back in the cell and close the door forever…….
I had a 60 Lark 8, 2 door hardtop,3 speed . Bought from the org. owner with 89,000 miles. Great car with the bottom of the front seat being the only thing not original. A great running car, quick too. Only one of about 200 cars i’ve had. Streetroding my 47 Chevy Conv. now, which was my first car, bought in 1963 when i was 15. Have a 38 Pontiac street rod with a 64 389 and a 56 Continental MKII.
A shame you guys wasted so much time answering “Kevin” when this car offers so much potential. I am sure, by the way, we all know that Chrysler and Corsley (same year, 1949) were really the first with “disc” brakes on their cars years before Studeys or any other American cars. Kinmonts, on Chryslers, look ’em up. I saw my first set on a ’50 Chrysler that was being worked on in Harrisburg PA back in about 1958. It took the oldest guy in the shop, an aircraft mech, to get ’em to work – they were contracting discs.
That Stude wagon desreves to live. And Kevin needs to learn to let his parents’ prejudices go, as do we all….
I purchased ’63 Daytona Wagonaire 289V8, 4BBL, Duals and Chrome luggage rack with burgandy and cream interior, champagne gold exterior, with only 27k at Ben A. Begier Studebaker Dealer in San Leandro, CA. in July ’65. This car was my 4th Stude V8 that was a great family car with sliding roof. three kids, 2 large dogs and off we go to the mountains and high sierra lakes. Kept it for 4 years and a Stude mechanic purchased it from us.
Other Studes were; ’53 Commander Coupe 420hp, 5.0 liter Stude V8, since ’55-’60, then ’56 Sky Hawk Hardtop 289V8 R1, Flight0Matic, PS, PB,. Purchased new by my buddy, I bought in ’62 with 39k miles. Drove Blue Bird for 21 years and great, worry free 498,891 miles. ’61 Hawk w/BorgWarner T10 4spd, bucket seats, light yellow. ’63 GT Hawk w/ R1 specs, 4spd
power disc brakes, power steering. Was our RV puller for all over Pacific NW territory. ’64 GT Hawk (last year for Hawk). Currently have a nice “Green Hornet” Pontiac supercharged Bonneville and kind of reminds me of driving a 64 GT Hawk R2.
Saw That Dealer Ship In Summer Of 1976 I Was Driving A 64 Barracuda
That The Front Right Wheel Popped Off While Driving Up The I 5 While On My Way To San Francisco.My First Wife & I Stayed In San Leandra While
Our Barracuda Was Repaired It Took A Few Days .The Dealer Still Was There Selling Studebaker Cars Used Of Course Out Of The Show Room.At That Point Studebaker Was Gone 10 Year’s 1966.Always Thought It Was Strange How This Dealer Kept On With A Defunct Brand.PS I Loved Studebaker Cars As A Kid In The 50s
Till There Demise In 66.