When did 6 Cyl. Flathead end?

[rodnutrandy]

I was at a cruise in tonight in SW Ohio and saw a 60 Lark 4 dr with 73,000 Original miles . Straight 6 with auto trans. It surprised me that the 6 is a flathead motor. When did Studebaker do away with flatheads? I am not knocking flatheads, but thought most manufactors had quit using flathead motors in the mid 50's. Just need educated some more on Studebaker. Thanks!!! Randy( saw 3 Studebakers at cruise in)

Randy Wilkin
1946 M5 Streetrod
Hillsboro,Ohio 45133

[gordr]

The flathead Lark (nee Champion) six was last used in '60 models. For 1961, they came out with an OHV conversion for the same basic block.

IIRC the flathead Commander six of 245 cu. in. was available in trucks up to that time, too, but no OHV conversion ever emerged.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[Pinchbolt]

I figure 1960 was the last year, for a flattie 6 Stude-O-baker, 'cordin to my Glenn's Auto Repair Manual. Maybe the experts will prove me wrong. I know this: the 1959 model year was the last for the Plymouth 6 flathead. Them engines were no screamer, but pretty smooth and reliable, plus simple to fix. Hope that helps you some.

[rodnutrandy]

Thanks for replys , that was a surprise as well as stopping in Milford at cruise in site to see if anything had started yet this year and finding well over 300 cars and trucks in attendance! Randy

Randy Wilkin
1946 M5 Streetrod
Hillsboro,Ohio 45133

[dictator27]

Officially, 1960 was the last year. Unofficially, flathead Champion sixes were available until 1963. Years ago there were 2 63 Wagonaires in our chapter with flatheads in them.

Terry

[dictator27]

64 Ramblers were the last to offer flathead engines.

Terry

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by dictator27

Officially, 1960 was the last year. Unofficially, flathead Champion sixes were available until 1963. Years ago there were 2 63 Wagonaires in our chapter with flatheads in them.

Terry

A Champion flathead will bolt in where an overhead was. I'm wondering if sometime in the past, the original overhead broke and was replaced with an available flathead.

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[dictator27]

Both of the wagons had been fleet vehicles when new. They were delivered from Hamilton with flatheads in them. The story was they were using up left over engines.

Terry

[56H-Y6]

Hi

According to the "Standard Catalog of Independents" the base engine for the American 220/330 was the 195 cid flathead six.

Hard to believe a flathead was still available that late, must have still found some market.

Steve

[Pinchbolt]

I believe it about Rammler. When I was a much younger boy, my ol' mom test-drove a used 62 Rammler American coupe sitting at a car lot, and I'm pretty darn sure that it had a flathead in it. I actually pleaded for them to buy it, but they picked up a 1960 Falcon wagon(144c.i. ohv 6, two-speed trans), instead.

[Roscomacaw]

Actually, 1965 was the last year for Rambler's flathead 196cu.in. engine.

Rambler's venerable 196cu.in. engine (like Stude's Champion 6) dated back to the 30s. It served with only minor changes until the mid-fifties, when it was modified to sport an overhead valve arrangement - much like Studebaker would eventually do for 1961. The Rambler mod worked better than the Stude mod did. More meat in the head, I would presume.
While Rambler's flattie disappeared for a short time in the 50s, it reappeared for 1958 as an "Economy engine" in the American series cars.
Even tho an all new 6 debuted in 1964 (232cu.in.), the 196 OHV and L-head engines served time in the Americans thru 1965! For '66, the Americans got a down-sized version of the new OHV 6 (199cu.in.) that had debuted in the Classics and Ambassadors for 1964.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[Transtar60]

I'd like to see the factory production order on those '63 wagons,
especially where it said substitute Flathead engines for the OHV type.[8D]


3E38
4E2
4E28
5E13
7E7
8E7
8E12
8E28

59 Lark
etc