The Studebaker Cruiser was a derivative of the Land Cruiser, long wheelbase luxury "Y" Body Studebakers built from the early 1930's to 1954, the 1955 President State, 1956-'57 President Classic and the 1958 President Sedan. The first Lark Cruiser, the '61, shared it's body with the 1959-'61 Heavy Duty Sedan, Taxi and Police car.
This small car "Lark" affiliation was a situation which Inglewood Calif. Studebaker Dealer Frank H. Afton a member of the Dealer Council, (as seen in the 1959 Lark Dealer announcement Corporation film; "Model X") did not like, and finally helped convince Management to correct on all models in 1964.
He went so far as to have most of the 1962 Lark Cruisers stripped of their front fender "Lark" nameplates, the holes filled and fenders re-painted to match, on the cars his Dealership sold, leaving the distinctive Gold "Cruiser" script proudly in place!
For the 1964 model year, they were changed from "Larks" to "Studebaker" Commanders, Daytonas, and Cruisers! [^]
I believe that the advertising agency or someone in Sales Dept. made a mistake on the Dealer showroom books and brochures that incorrectly listed the Commanders along with the Lark Challenger models as: "Larks". [V]
StudeRich at Studebakers Northwest -Ferndale,WA
This small car "Lark" affiliation was a situation which Inglewood Calif. Studebaker Dealer Frank H. Afton a member of the Dealer Council, (as seen in the 1959 Lark Dealer announcement Corporation film; "Model X") did not like, and finally helped convince Management to correct on all models in 1964.
He went so far as to have most of the 1962 Lark Cruisers stripped of their front fender "Lark" nameplates, the holes filled and fenders re-painted to match, on the cars his Dealership sold, leaving the distinctive Gold "Cruiser" script proudly in place!
For the 1964 model year, they were changed from "Larks" to "Studebaker" Commanders, Daytonas, and Cruisers! [^]
I believe that the advertising agency or someone in Sales Dept. made a mistake on the Dealer showroom books and brochures that incorrectly listed the Commanders along with the Lark Challenger models as: "Larks". [V]
StudeRich at Studebakers Northwest -Ferndale,WA
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