Lark Vs Rambler article

[stall]

I found this an interesting "back in the day" article and thought those who are lucky enough to own them might enjoy reading the article.

http://books.google.com/books?id=MSwDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65&dq=Studebaker+Lark+and+Rambler&hl=en&ei=XUwrTKS5EsX7lwfyxYDsAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Studebaker%20Lark%20and%20Rambler&f=false

[Warren Webb]

Thanks for the great article! Intestesting seeing all the ads from that time including Onan, Gravely & South Bend Lathe!

[studeclunker]

The first car I owned was a '59 Rambler Custom, very much like the one in the article. I really liked it. If it had a V8, I'm sure I would have loved the car!

[raprice]

I remember that article in Popular Science. It, along with Motor Trend, were my favorite magazines back then.
It's interesting, that in 2010, I still subscribe to both magazines.
I hope all of you scrolled way down to "Gus Wilson and the Model Garage" story. Those stories were the first thing I read when my PopSci arrived in the mail.
Thanks for the memories.
Rog

[stall]

If you call up the article you can get much more info. Go to the top of the page and type in a few words like say Studebaker Lark and GOOGLE BOOKS will generate a lot of magazine articles.

Try it You'll like ir

Murray

[bams50]

Enjoyed the article- although the first thing I did was skip to the end to see which car they preferred in the summary, which they did not do.

I scrolled down a couple pages and smiled when I saw reference to 'seven-league' boots. I had forgotten a saying from my father's day: "If seven-league boots cost a nickel, I don't have enough to buy spats for a grasshopper."

Chew on that one, youngsters! <G>

[Jim B PEI]

I read the complete article, and even though I like the looks of that particular Rambler much better than that Lark (still do) and even though they had their favourites ie, the OHV 6, reading in-between the lines, The Lark was a better deal for parking length v capacity, gas mileage* (held stuff like the larger, more expensive Rambler, and got mileage like the smaller and less powerful and distinctly fuglier American (with a flathead 6, although it wasn't quite mentioned), as well as the overall range of the car line.

I was bemused by the re-inventing of the 170 flathead for 1959 and the stated reasons from Studebaker for that. Really, does it make ANY sense in hindsight for dumping the 185??? Was the 185 that unstiff and problematic??

[dirt.boy]

The article states that the Lark VIII has heavier gauge steel in the frame than VI frame......
Can anyone confirm or deny this??

Thanks!
Greg

[stall]

I thought only the 53 to 54 Stude frame had a steel gauge change !! I have wondered why they used light gauge steel in the 53 launch of the Lowey Coupes. Does anyone know what triggered it other than a mis-guided cost cut??

Murray

The article states that the Lark VIII has heavier gauge steel in the frame than VI frame......
Can anyone confirm or deny this??

Thanks!
Greg

[barnlark]

The article states that the Lark VIII has heavier gauge steel in the frame than VI frame......
Can anyone confirm or deny this??

Thanks!
Greg

Confirmed.

[dirt.boy]

Confirmed.

I am assuming you are confirming there is a difference in wall thickness not confirming that the article says there is a difference

Do you know the guage of each?

[StudeRich]

dirt.boy: See your answer on a correctly titled post in the correct forum:

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?42520-59-to-61-Frame-Thicknesses&p=471930&posted=1#post471930

[barnlark]

The article explained that the frame gauge for the former Champion frame was increased for the V/8 when they were designing the Lark, so it's actually accurate while not being thorough in explaining the 6 versus 8 similarities and differences. Depending on which Lark body one has, the frame's gauge of steel can be different. They are not all the same. For instance, my friend's 1960 6 cylinder 2 door sedan has a much thinner gauge frame than my '60 convertible and slightly thinner than a V/8 version of that same F-body. It was not an across-the-board 6 cylinder versus V/8 frame application, however. Most body groupings (6, or 8) had the same frame gauge, except for the W & F bodied cars. Both my 6 cylinder convertible and my V/8 convertible have the same frame gauge, 11...as would that '59 hardtop shown in the article.

[Bob Andrews]

Wow Dave I'll never keep that straight...

[StudeRich]

Frame Thickness

Wow Dave I'll never keep that straight...

You WILL Bob, if you read and or print my Technical Forum Post, it is in easier to remember form.

It IS required to be a Forum member you know, to memorize the body codes though! I Did read that in the rules somewhere, right?

F = 2 dr. Sedan (post)
W= 4 Dr. Sedan -short wheelbase
Y=4 Dr. Sedan -long wheelbase
D=2 dr. Wagon
P=4 dr. Wagon
J=2 Dr. Hardtop (Sedan Type Body)
L= Convertible
C=2 Dr. post Coupe (sport model, wheelbase ('53-'64 =120.5)
K=2 Dr. Hardtop (sport model, wheelbase ('53-'64 =120.5)
R=Avanti

I am wondering if it was of any help to dirt.boy or anyone actually.

His problem being new, will probably be finding what post he asked the question on, because he did not realize that it is better to start a new post with a new question, because it does not relate to Lark vs Rambler at all and is difficult to search!