The ultimate cool, hip surf wagon may be this 1962 Studebaker Lark Regal wagon. I could imagine driving this car as it looks here and being pretty happy. The seller has this rad ride posted here on Craigslist in Orange, California, about 25 minutes from the Pacific Ocean. They’re asking $4,800 or best offer. Thanks to Pat L. for submitting this Studebaker!
Unfortunately, the two-door Lark wagon went bye-bye at the end of the 1961 first-gen model year and for 1962, the Lark was reworked by Brooks Stevens. The company had much more success with the restyled car. I’m a sucker for the two-door wagons but they just didn’t sell as well as the four-door wagons did. They say about this Lark body and paint: “Not original paint was repainted before I acquired this car. Have Rust spots in the usual places.” The seller listed a YouTube video link showing this car, it’s worth a watch.
The seller doesn’t hold back when they talk about a few areas that will need work: “Body very straight has a 1 dent in the left hand side quarter panel. I got that dent recently form [sic] moving the car I backed into a pole. Paint is faded with a nice patina, will buff out shiny but only lasts a few days and fades back to patina paint”. They also say, “Ford 8.8 rear end from a ford ranger 3 years ago This made the car much more drivable, gas mileage is better, you can find the rear brake drums and the gearing is much more workable. Disk brake conversion using ford mustang parts and a F150 Master cylinder. Was a complete kit I repurchased on ebay. Newer exhaust system with flow masters nice. Deep tone not loud not obnoxious.”
The interior looks good from what we can see other than faded carpet. Whether the red and white upholstery is to everyone’s taste is up in the air, it’s not my favorite but as long as it’s in good condition I’d probably leave it. The seller has quite a few photos posted which is great for a CL ad, including one showing the cargo area door and hatch open. They say, “The doors all close and latch well except the pass side the striker plate ins worn out and sometimes needs ads and extra push to Latch it, Glass is in nice shape the windshield has a small chip in the center”.
This is Studebaker’s 259 cubic-inch V8 which should have had just under 200 hp. The seller again lists a few things that need sorting out, “The carburetor is not very good I have had it rebuilt 2 times. The choke sticks. The car starts and idles fine. The Butterfly has to be closed by hand have the car starts on the second turn of the crank. I got tired of his so I purchased a 4 barrel manifold form a 1957 Golden Hawk, had it powdered coated and it is ready to mount. The Idea was to install a Edlebrock 4 barrel. I never purchased a carburetor. The manifold was the hard part they are hard to find and expensive.” So this is a bit of a project but one that should be a head-turner once it’s a reliable driver. Are any of you a fan of Studebaker’s four-door wagons or are you stuck on the two-door models?
This is a very cool find. I would install the four barrel intake and carburetor, buff out the paint and apply a couple of coats of quality wax. This way it would stay shiny for more than a few days at a time.
Cool car at what seems like a reasonable price. This would make a great swapmeet or yard sale cruiser.
Steve R
I would gladly drive this Family Truckster anytime. Especially with the four barrel intake installed. It would sound mean and have the umph to go with the growl. Neat vehicle and would turn heads and be a crowd favorite on cruise night. I don’t see any negatives, someone needs to buy this.
I’m a huge fan of wagons and I typically prefer the off-brands, but this one isn’t calling to me at all. The proportions are dumpy and awkward, and I don’t think any efforts at stance or powertrain could make it cool. The condition is great, though, for those that find beauty in this beast.
Neat-o……
Didn’t see many Larks in Wisconsin, even though, they were made not far away, as if to say, “this is AMC town, beat it”. The ones I did see always had this faded paint, followed by a cloud of smoke. Be cool if this had the optional sliding rear roof, although, I heard it was a nightmare and leaked profusely. Larks were great cars, many features not found on other cars. Had I not lived in Wisconsin and being “Rambler loyal”, I,,would have bought a Studebaker, and Mr. Ed would certainly approve, “right Willllllbur?” ( being an avid vintage tv nut, I’m surprised the author made no mention of that)
Larks were cut-down full-size Studebakers, so they had the full array of Studie options available, like V8 engine. I don’t think the station wagon sliding roof came in until the 1963 models though.
I am in LOVE!!!
I’d want a better transmission than that Borg-Warner automatic. How hard is it to swap in either a manual or a late-model GM automatic with overdrive?
There are at least 2 suppliers of an adapter to install a GM (Chevrolet) Auto Transmission. I am doing one right now in a ’63 Lark Wagonaire with sliding roof. Check studebakervendors.com
I always liked the rear end treatment on the 62’s, with the round lamps vs. `59-`60 Lark unites. This one is unusual, in that it also has reverse lamps! Not sure the last time I saw that option on one of these.
This must be a pretty decent car if Steve R. didn’t leave any negative comments.
Refreshing to have a pretty honest walk thru by the owner. Neat project for anyone with metal fab skills and welding.
The carburetor is not very good, the choke sticks, the Butterfly has to be closed…
It reminds me of this song… lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wmhOFvMiOM&list=PLSrXnp3i_EbtXZO4y1deWwfqVsuwMUz4-
There is no such thing as a 4 barrel intake manifold from a Golden Hawk. They were supercharged and use a Stromberg 2 barrel carb.
Actually that’s not quite true– 1956 Golden Hawks had the gigantic Packard 352 engine with 4-BBL. carburetor. 1957-58’s were Studebaker 289’s with supercharger and 2-BBL. carb’s.
Kenny
You are right but it had the Packard engine. The intake will not fit on the on the Studebaker engine.
Supercharged. Way cool. How scarce are the Golden Hawks?
Well, they were pretty scarce– a little over 4000 ’56’s, a little over 4000 ’57’s, and a few more than 800 ’58’s. Compare that to the production numbers of any Chevy or Ford and you’ll see just how rare they are…
Thank Kenny. A Golen Hawk with a supercharger must be worth some big bucks.
Were all Golden Hawks supercharged?
Chuck
If I had continued to read, you answered my question about supercharged Golden Hawks.
I knew a guy back in the day (c.1962) who had a ’54 Ford with a 352 Packard in it and 3 speed on the floor.
I used to hang around the family gas station, repair, and Hot Rod shop in 62 and 63 in Detroit.
They built some serious street cars for back then – like a 55 Chevy post car with a 1960 389 4bbl Pontiac Bonneville engine in it. Three speed, 4:11 axle
It ran hard. I think the 54 Ford with the 352 4bbl Packard was at least as fast.
This place was car Heaven for a 12 -13 year old kid!
You may find it interesting to know that the ’56 Packard-powered Hawks were the fastest of the breed. They, as well as the supercharged ones were rated at 275 H.P. The difference, however, was that the Packard had far and away more torque– nearly 400 ft/lbs. I own one, with rare dual-quad carburetors. It’s a total
“tyer-fryer” and will “get loose” even at freeway speeds.
Some folks are also surprised that you could again get Superchargers on Studebaker V8’s (even Stationwagons!) optionally in ’63 and ’64. Still 289’s, but by then were 290 H.P. They are pretty rare, however…
Put on one of the 4bbl manifolds, which usually were topped by the Carter WCFB, and bolt on one of the new EFI replacements – all you need is O2 sensors, the “brain” is inside the throttle body, and they are “self-learning” > Far superior to a carb for both performance and fuel economy.. That being said, at 60 mph in overdrive, my 57 Studie pickup with an Isky cam & WCFB gets about 22mpg on the highway. You could probably get away with the old 2 bbl manifold and the new 2bbl version of the EFI, which will support up to about 400 hp.