Skytop Sunroof! 1961 Studebaker Lark Regal

Though U.S.-made compact cars would become all the rage in the early 1960s, it’s often forgotten that American Motors and Studebaker got there first. For AMC, they resurrected the Nash Rambler and called it the American (in 1958), and at Studebaker, their entry was the Lark (1959). Both companies saw a surge in sales that lasted for a couple of years until Detroit caught up. The seller has a nice 1961 Studebaker Lark Regal with a rare option – a rollback canvas sunroof called the Skytop. Located in Sandy, Oregon, this driver-quality sedan is available here on Hagerty, where the current bid is $1,961 (no reserve).

Larks were offered with both inline-6 and V8 power, and the latter displaced 259 cubic inches in 1961, the car’s third year. If you wanted more than a basic set of wheels, the Regal was a step up in the trim department. The demand for smaller cars may have been stirred by the arrival of the VW Beetle, but was more likely caused by the growth of suburbia and families needing more than one car. Because Studebaker’s pockets weren’t that deep, the Lark was developed from the existing platform used for the company’s other products.

This Studebaker is being offered from an estate where the car was added about three years ago. The odometer reads 54,000 miles, and besides the 259 V8, the Lark also has an automatic transmission and air conditioning lifted off a later Studebaker. Overall, the body and paint look good, though a bit of corrosion can be found down below. The paint was redone in the original finish, Autumn Haze, but not recently. And the tan interior presents well.

One of the coolest options is the Skytop sunroof, as those were rare in those days on anyone’s car. Convertibles were still selling well, so most manufacturers hadn’t bothered with them – yet. A Sanyo cassette tape deck was added for extra tunes to be played while you were out cruising. New or newer parts include dual exhaust, control arm bushings, and reupholstered seats. The automobile isn’t perfect, but the car should impress those folks at Cars & Coffee who have never heard of a Studebaker Lark. Thanks for the tip, “PRA4SNW”.