1959 Studebaker Lark 6 Deluxe 6 cylinder L-head

Summary:

Not fast, definitely not sporty, but a truly memorable first car. I would like to find another one

Faults:

Fuel pump failed.

Window handle on the driver's door broke off, and I stupidly used vise-grips to roll the window up and down, which prevented the replacement handle from working when I finally found one.

General Comments:

My first car, bought for $375. Four door sedan with three on the tree stick shift. Had a radio and heater in it, but no other options.

This thing was built like a little tank. No power steering meant you got a workout every time you drove it. I drove it through my last two years of high school. It was definitely the oldest car in the parking lot, but I didn't care, I thought it was way cooler than all the Pintos, Vegas and Datsuns that everybody else drove. Even though it was not that old (15 years) when I got it, I never saw another one on the road in all the time I owned it.

I was determined to get a Studebaker after my first choice of car (a bullet nose 1950 Commander for $300), sitting in the back row of a dealer's lot, got sold to someone else after the dirtball dealer said he would sell it to me.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th August, 2004

26th Feb 2010, 14:12

The Studebaker Lark is just what name says, it's a lark. I had one too many years ago and loved it. Now I have another, but no funds to fix it up. I wanted to get back that cool feeling you just never find these days.

I guess it will be a cool hobby for someone else.

18th Jan 2019, 18:35

The Studebaker Lark station wagon that I drove was like driving a tank. The car was intentionally slow (my father's idea of keeping a teenager alive) but reliable. As a first car I can't think of a more rugged vehicle, a basic machine. An AM radio, white wall tires, two tone paint (deep green and white), ash trays, vinyl seating, fold flat seating, and a heater were some of the more heady options on the car, which was otherwise stripped.

The main thing about the Lark is that I could perform all of the services on it, which made it an excellent teaching tool for a young adult.

Exterior rust was detrimental to long-term ownership. We lived near the seacoast and salt spray was the death of it.

In reply to 18th Jan 2019, 18:35

19th Jan 2019, 13:00

I think ashtrays were standard, not optional. That is one of the distinctive features on cars from back then, ashtrays everywhere since smoking was so popular. And smokers still probably flicked their butts out the window just like now, but now at least they can use the excuse that ashtrays have mostly disappeared in newer cars.

One feature I do remember from that Lark was the glovebox in the center of the dash instead of on the passenger side; much more convenient for the driver.