The 1960s started with optimism at Studebaker-Packard Corporation. In 1959, the company had launched its new compact, the Lark, and it was selling well. But as the new decade unfolded, competition would soon displace the Lark as a leader in that niche and the later, much-ballyhooed Avanti didn’t reach sales expectations. 1965 would be the next-to-last model year for Studebaker, including this Daytona Sports Sedan which has been in the family since new. It’s been stored since 1984, starts and runs, and is in Conifer, Colorado. The now-rare car is available here on craigslist for $5,250. Gunter Kramer gets kudos for bringing this interesting find our way!
Studebaker closed its South Bend, Indiana manufacturing plant in the middle of the 1964 model year, so all 1965s were built in Hamilton, Ontario. The Sports Sedan was Studebaker’s only 2-door Daytona available that year, produced along with the 4-door sedan and Wagonaire offerings. Just 1,627 of the Sports Sedans were built in ’65 and all but one used a 283 cubic inch ‘Thunderbolt’ V8 made by GM of Canada.
Before it was put into storage, this Daytona’s family managed to put 133,000 miles on it. The car looks good for having been in hibernation so long. We’re told it cranks, so we’re guessing someone went out to the garage periodically, started it up, let it run, and then went back inside the house. The orange paint and cream-colored vinyl top look good and there is no mention of rust. The black interior, complimented with bucket seats, looks no worse for the wear.
A stellar example of one of these cars shouldn’t go past $20,000, according to Hagerty. And the seller’s edition looks nicer than its asking price. If it doesn’t take a lot to get this car back on the road, it might be a good buy. The Chevy V8 should be easy to finds parts for and you won’t see one of these cars at a show very often unless it’s a Studebaker-centric event.
I like the lines on the 64 and 65 Daytona’s. The Chevy small block gives you endless options for performance upgrades however the Studebaker 289 is one tough engine. I believe they all had forged internals. So if you were to modify this one would you add a blower to a Studebaker 289 or modify a SBC? In stock form they run pretty well. Here is a drag race with a stock 64 Daytona with the Studebaker engine.
https://youtu.be/V3O2aXIqfpw
For $4500 that would be a really nice purchase. If it was closer I would seriously consider, very cool car, even though there are no power windows.
One of these is a vintage racer in England/Europe.Was seen at Goodwood maybe 2yrs ago.You tube Goodwood revival.
Has the requisite underdash 8-track deck, complete with the big clunky mounting bracket that let you slide it out and hide it in the trunk when you parked, so no one would smash a window to steal it.
Nice looking car. IMHO, it’s the best looking car since the 1959-61 Lark. Assuming the car runs and drives like it should, and everything on the car works like it should, I’d be willing to pay at, or near, the $5,250 asking price. If only more pics were posted. IMHO, 13 pics is nowhere near enough to show a car you’re trying to sell.
If only I had the available space, the available cash, and the available understanding wife, I’d snap this right up.
South Bend plant shut down in Dec. 1963. After that there were no trucks, Avantis or Hawks.
I had one of these (4 door) about 30 years ago. Nice car but rarely got driven because of constant issues with the front disc brakes.
It seems they were a combination of Girling parts, mostly similar (but not identical) to Jaguar parts of the era.
Spent weeks (and dollars) in one of the better brake shops in Milwaukee and never did stop leaking pistons, sticking slides, etc.
Sold it to a kid that had a real rusty one, but with drum brakes. He swapped everything over was was a happy camper.
This appears to have power drum brakes.
Isn,t it a 2 door post instead of ad saying hardtop?
I just sold my Champ manual steering In my city plus being mountainous made it too hard to run about, clutch roll back on little hills that are everywhere just made a drive too hard.The guy that bought it knows
more about mechanics than me so it is in better hands now.
When this was new it would have been advertised as a 2 door sedan. That would have a full frame around the windows. Without the b column and window frames it would be a hardtop.
Dang – why does it have to be orange one of my favorite colors ! If I didn’t already own a 1964 hardtop with factory 4 speed – I’m still so tempted !
1964 was the last year for the hardtop with 1965 and 66 being a post car.
Nice! Got a SBC in it! Need to update to a 383 and 4L60E for some serious fun.
Nice Stude. It looks like the master cylinder is for a split system. Did 65 Larks come from the factory like that?
Yes, they did come with a split master cylinder, unless it was ordered with disc brakes then it would have a single reservoir.
Great post, Studebaker’s last year was 1966. And the South Bend factory closed in December 1963