Studebaker was striving to survive in the 1960s, teetering despite the Lark’s success just a few years before. To juice sales, it introduced the “Daytona” variant of the Lark, with bucket seats, a console, and special trim. But the company’s financial slide had gained unfortunate momentum: it closed its South Bend plant late in 1963, about the time this Lark Daytona convertible, advertised here on craigslist, was produced. The seller is asking $11,000 for his car, and it’s located in Anacortes, Washington. Curvette sent the tip over – thanks!
Appending “Daytona” to the Lark nameplate synched up with the popularity of racing, and in fact a guy named Harold Smith started a Lark at the back of the pack in the 1959 Daytona 500, managing to finish 31st. Street cars were equipped with either an inline six-cylinder, or one of Studebaker’s V8s. Later cars could be had with a supercharger, turning these lambs into wolves. This car has a 259 cu. in. V8 coupled with an automatic transmission. Output can range up to nearly 200 hp, depending on carburation. The seller notes that a Turner disc conversion kit has been installed; Turner has a great reputation. Overall, the underhood appearance here is quite tidy.
Despite its economy underpinnings, the Lark’s interior was on the swanky side – particularly in Daytona trim – and this owner has kept up its appearances. The aftermarket velour upholstery is in good condition – we can overlook the slight color mismatch to the original vinyl – and the trim is present. Even the windshield frame where the convertible top settles is bright. The only nit to pick is a stain on the passenger’s side of the dash. By 1963, the instruments and their presentation had been upgraded to the multiple aircraft-inspired gauges you see here, surrounded by vinyl-clad padding.
A word to the wise: see those triangular back-up lenses beneath the tail lamps? Uh huh, those are one-year-only items, and the left-hand driver’s side lens is just about impossible to find. Right-hand lenses, no problem, they make ’em all day long. I tried resin-casting a left lens out of desperation – it wasn’t a great solution, but it had to do until someone posted a used lens on eBay one day. It wasn’t great either, but any port in a storm. Back to the car at hand – it’s a lovely example, and if you have even an inkling toward owning a Studebaker, this one looks like a good prospect.
This is a very nice studebaker. I just picked up a 1964 Lark cruiser today 6/16/2026. It’s a four door with 31.000 miles on it. It has the V8 with power steering, power brakes and factory A/C. They have over a hundred cars left to sell. there are studebakers, willys, Kaisers, Frazers, Packers, and more. There are 22 at Lee auction service in Menomonie WI. that sell on 8/19/2026. There are phone numbers on there to call for more info.
Wow, thanks for the tip! I sent the Lee auction site to the local Rambler car club, we have Studebaker owners too.
Those all look like cars that didn’t make it into the barn.
Why BF staff has to continue to down play the little Studes and never never mention GM makes that died off is beyond me. If they – the staff writers – would mention something about these old Stude V/8’s from the early 60’s that held the stock car record thru decades per cubic inch after they stopped production – think it was a 1992 Camero that finally beat the records – that would be nice.
They could also mention how the comapny paced the 1962 Indy 500 race in yes – a 1962 Daytona Convert….guess the name Indy couldn’t be had so the next most popular race – The Daytona 500….Bonnieville was already taken…that would also be nice. This is a nice car at a great price – what’s the production figure on these Michelle ?
Show us some pics!!
Wow , someone had the stud bug !
“Wiiiiilllllbbbeeeerrrrrrrr!”
There’s a non-running 4 door near me for $750
Alot of nice here… and much of it is unobtanium…
As to easier items… it is missing the passenger side footwell trim.. the reported stain on the dash may be a shadow… footwell trim is much easier to deal with. It also sports an aftermarket fuel cap…. It was remarkably easy to forget the factory trim ones at a gas station back then.. ask me how I know…. It’s also missing sunvisors… the Sun chews them up… No pictures of the top… other than that.. very nice and very uncommon…. good luck !
You say Studebaker “closed its South Bend plant late in 1963, about the time this Lark Daytona convertible, advertised here on craigslist, was produced” but 1963 cars were replaced by 1964s in September of 1963 so this car was produced a year before the shutdown. Actually, at the shutdown, 1964 cars had been for sale for 3 months. 1963 model year was Sept 62 to Sept 63
The 1964’s were produced in the states until late in the year – then onward to Canada.
Is this the same car that Dick Solomon drives on “Third Rock From The Sun” ???
Nope, that was a Rambler American.
Why the in the shade pictures? Hiding something? Don’t get me wrong, I love the car. AND, why upgrade to disc brakes and still keep a standard “single” master cylinder! That makes no sense to me. Other than the disc brake conversion kit was cheaper than having to replace original style Studebaker brake parts. (Which is hard to believe as the Studebaker crowd is still very prolific and parts generally (evidently left hand backup lenses are not one ofcthem) reasonably priced. But possibly new brake drums and wheel cylinders supply has dried up?
A return trip to Anacortes Washington to see some whales and a drove home with the top down sounds like fun.
The 1963 power disk brakes from the factory were single master cylinder – and if we are bragging – Stude along with another manufactor were the first to offer a dual master in an American car in 1964……
AMC and Cadillac had standard dual master cylinders starting in 1962.
That AMC Guy – Only on the Larks. Hawks and Avantis still has single master cylinders through the end of their runs.
Neat car! Very reasonable price. It won’t be around long.
It’s a 289.
How can you tell ?
Ad reads 259
Easy fix, change the hub caps! I know you think there cool but there not.
…those hubcaps with the checkerboard behind were popular in about 58 in our area… my brother put the 3 spinner version on his 53 Plymouth coupe.. which looked good… I was 8… thought that the 4 bar type were overkill.. too big… . They had a place…. and JC Whitney was happy….
What a cool car! Drop top, V-8, reasonable price, rare, what’s not to like?
Some years ago I saw an early Lark parked at one of the “club houses” in the retirement community of Laguna Woods, CA. It had slot mags, a ratchet shifter, aftermarket A/C and (as I learned later) a Chevy small block (it might have been a 6 originally). It turned up on craigslist some time later for $9,500, IIRC. Struck me as the ideal retired-guy hot rod runabout.