Grandpa's Supercharged Packard 1959 Lark

My Grandfather had a 59 Lark built for him by the Studebaker engineering department back in 1959. His had a plaque on the dash that stated something like this, "This 59 Lark was built for David Wieduwelt #37 out of 50".

Has anyone heard of these 50 models built or have any info on any still around. His had a supercharged Packard with a 3 speed column shift w/ overdrive. He lived in Illinois at the time.

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by JBrotor
Has anyone heard of these 50 models built or have any info on any still around.

I haven't heard of these. You would think since 50 were supposedly built that at least one would have surfaced by now. It would be a pretty neat car!

Studebaker built supercharged engines in '57, '58, '63, and '64. They were all 289 CID. No supercharged engines in '59..in fact, no 289 CID engine in '59.

It would be great if you had a serial number (off an old title or registration?) that would enable you to get the production order from the Studebaker National Museum.

Good luck in your search.



Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by JBrotor
Has anyone heard of these 50 models built or have any info on any still around.

I haven't heard of these. You would think since 50 were supposedly built that at least one would have surfaced by now. It would be a pretty neat car!

Studebaker built supercharged engines in '57, '58, '63, and '64. They were all 289 CID. No supercharged engines in '59..in fact, no 289 CID engine in '59.

It would be great if you had a serial number (off an old title or registration?) that would enable you to get the production order from the Studebaker National Museum.

Good luck in your search.



Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[JBrotor]

quote:Originally posted by Dick Steinkamp

quote:Originally posted by JBrotor
Has anyone heard of these 50 models built or have any info on any still around.

Good luck in your search.



Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

Thanks, I will propably need. These were built for a select few people hand picked from Studebaker.

[JBrotor]

quote:Originally posted by Dick Steinkamp

quote:Originally posted by JBrotor
Has anyone heard of these 50 models built or have any info on any still around.

Good luck in your search.



Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

Thanks, I will propably need. These were built for a select few people hand picked from Studebaker.

[JDP]

I've heard of a few very limited production models like the supercharged Champ pickups, and 57 cop cars but never a Lark. If 50 such models were built with a blower, we'd surely have some documentation.
Perhaps the supercharger was added later to some kind of 50 car promotion that has been lost to history. We have a few experts on here that might know something.


JDP
Arnold Md.
Studebaker On The Net

http://stude.com

My Ebay Items

http://www.stude.com/EBAY/

64 GT hawk
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black)
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black) #2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
62 Lark 2 door
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starlight
52 Starliner
51 Commander

[JDP]

I've heard of a few very limited production models like the supercharged Champ pickups, and 57 cop cars but never a Lark. If 50 such models were built with a blower, we'd surely have some documentation.
Perhaps the supercharger was added later to some kind of 50 car promotion that has been lost to history. We have a few experts on here that might know something.


JDP
Arnold Md.
Studebaker On The Net

http://stude.com

My Ebay Items

http://www.stude.com/EBAY/

64 GT hawk
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black)
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black) #2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
62 Lark 2 door
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starlight
52 Starliner
51 Commander

[Roscomacaw]

JBroter,

How long have you been looking for this car or evidence of it? If not long, let me explain to you that the Studebaker Driver's Club has been around since before the demise of Studebaker. We've had documentation of every thing that the company built - even one off editions - until the last day of auto production and even after that. There's been NO mention of these "Special Larks" that I've heard of and I can't fathom a scenario wherein one of the conditions for ownership would be to keep silent about it. 50 Larks aren't many against the total built, but at least ONE or the lore of these "special edition" Larks would've kept it's head above water after all these years.
Each years offerings have been analysed model for model - first to last and the production orders exist for each and every car they built and sold. Not once has mention been made of any 59 (or 60 for that matter) Larks specially fitted with hi-performance options.
Look back at recent topics here. We've just seen the re-emergence of a specially modified 59 Lark that's been known about since it was built. This wasn't built for some one, but rather as a testbed for a proposed engine that never came to be. We know of this car, we've known about another test Lark that fitted with a diesel engine as well as a 60 Lark station wagon that was the 100,000 Lark to be built with special, gold-plated trim. That's 3 one-off Larks that we've known about for years and still exist today.
There were '58 Golden Hawks that may have been built with a plaque on the dash. I can't find mention of it in a quick search. They could have been 3-spd O/D as well. All 58 Golden Hawks were supercharged. Studebaker DID use those "Built for ........." dash plaques on '61 Hawks and some GT Hawks as well, I believe. Even could have been installed by a dealer to make a customer feel special. Any jewelry shop can engrave a brass plaque to suit.
Dig thru Grampa's desk drawers and find a registration or some paper with a serial number on it. Then go to the Studebaker museum's website and order the production order for THAT particular car. Exactly HOW it was equipped will be spelled out on that order.

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Roscomacaw]

JBroter,

How long have you been looking for this car or evidence of it? If not long, let me explain to you that the Studebaker Driver's Club has been around since before the demise of Studebaker. We've had documentation of every thing that the company built - even one off editions - until the last day of auto production and even after that. There's been NO mention of these "Special Larks" that I've heard of and I can't fathom a scenario wherein one of the conditions for ownership would be to keep silent about it. 50 Larks aren't many against the total built, but at least ONE or the lore of these "special edition" Larks would've kept it's head above water after all these years.
Each years offerings have been analysed model for model - first to last and the production orders exist for each and every car they built and sold. Not once has mention been made of any 59 (or 60 for that matter) Larks specially fitted with hi-performance options.
Look back at recent topics here. We've just seen the re-emergence of a specially modified 59 Lark that's been known about since it was built. This wasn't built for some one, but rather as a testbed for a proposed engine that never came to be. We know of this car, we've known about another test Lark that fitted with a diesel engine as well as a 60 Lark station wagon that was the 100,000 Lark to be built with special, gold-plated trim. That's 3 one-off Larks that we've known about for years and still exist today.
There were '58 Golden Hawks that may have been built with a plaque on the dash. I can't find mention of it in a quick search. They could have been 3-spd O/D as well. All 58 Golden Hawks were supercharged. Studebaker DID use those "Built for ........." dash plaques on '61 Hawks and some GT Hawks as well, I believe. Even could have been installed by a dealer to make a customer feel special. Any jewelry shop can engrave a brass plaque to suit.
Dig thru Grampa's desk drawers and find a registration or some paper with a serial number on it. Then go to the Studebaker museum's website and order the production order for THAT particular car. Exactly HOW it was equipped will be spelled out on that order.

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[JBrotor]

Mr. Biggs,

Thank you for your response, I am trying to get his old film of the car. I have seen it once and it brought chills to see my Grandpa 18 yrs old with his Lark. I will talk to him tonight to try and get some more details to help narrow my search.

[JBrotor]

Mr. Biggs,

Thank you for your response, I am trying to get his old film of the car. I have seen it once and it brought chills to see my Grandpa 18 yrs old with his Lark. I will talk to him tonight to try and get some more details to help narrow my search.

[raprice]

I wouldn't be surprised if Studebaker custom built that Lark. Over the years, Studebaker did a lot of special orders for customers. Try that today with any of the makes being sold in the good old U.S of A. It'll be like walking into a brick wall. Most of the car builders of today have a take it or leave it attitude. They're too busy selling cars to even paint a special color, even for a cost premium.
My 2 cents.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop

[raprice]

I wouldn't be surprised if Studebaker custom built that Lark. Over the years, Studebaker did a lot of special orders for customers. Try that today with any of the makes being sold in the good old U.S of A. It'll be like walking into a brick wall. Most of the car builders of today have a take it or leave it attitude. They're too busy selling cars to even paint a special color, even for a cost premium.
My 2 cents.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop

[JDP]

I would be surprised since the 57-58 blower will not clear the hood for one thing. It could be done, but we would know if they did one, certainly 50.


JDP
Arnold Md.
Studebaker On The Net

http://stude.com

My Ebay Items

http://www.stude.com/EBAY/

64 GT hawk
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black)
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black) #2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
62 Lark 2 door
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starlight
52 Starliner
51 Commander

[JDP]

I would be surprised since the 57-58 blower will not clear the hood for one thing. It could be done, but we would know if they did one, certainly 50.


JDP
Arnold Md.
Studebaker On The Net

http://stude.com

My Ebay Items

http://www.stude.com/EBAY/

64 GT hawk
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black)
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black) #2
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
62 Lark 2 door
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starlight
52 Starliner
51 Commander