I've been looking at 1959-1963 Studebaker Lark ads, and saw that the Lark could seat "6". I then saw a Lark on Capitol Hill, a 1959-1960, and realized it was tiny! Could the Lark have actually fit 6 people with a bench seat?
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How many people could the Lark REALLY seat?
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The interior dimensions of all the last generation Stude cars and trucks were laid out during WWII, back when, as Anne said, people were smaller. The average male of that day was 5'8" and 144 lbs. So yes, six of those little guys could easily fit in a Lark.
For today's larger guys, including myself, the C-cab truck is a size too small. At least, with cars, the driver's seat can be moved back. In a truck, there's no more there there.
OT, but the epidemic of obesity in this country is well-documented; auto manufacturers, airlines, theaters and other seating areas which have to accommodate today's fat derrieres are having to supersize the seats.
jack vinesPackardV8
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Note also, the compact appearance of the Lark was achieved by lobbing off some excess steel in the front and rear, not by decreasing the size of the passenger compartment which pretty much retained the dimensions of the pre-59 sedans.Brad Johnson,
SDC since 1975, ASC since 1990
Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
'33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight. '53 Commander Starlight
'56 Sky Hawk in process
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Originally posted by texbodemer View PostI've been looking at 1959-1963 Studebaker Lark ads, and saw that the Lark could seat "6". I then saw a Lark on Capitol Hill, a 1959-1960, and realized it was tiny! Could the Lark have actually fit 6 people with a bench seat?
Remember the VW Beetle cramming competitions?Bez Auto Alchemy
573-318-8948
http://bezautoalchemy.com
"Don't believe every internet quote" Abe Lincoln
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This reminds me back about 1990 or so. While athletic director our volleyball coach had a conference meeting one evening and Mary Ann and I was to pick up the coach and take her to the meeting. She owned new car at the time and when she got in the back seat of our '63 Lark, she commented, "My gosh, you could LIVE back here!"
Ted
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How Many Could You Fit in a 59 Lark? ( not safely I might add)
Originally posted by texbodemer View PostI've been looking at 1959-1963 Studebaker Lark ads, and saw that the Lark could seat "6". I then saw a Lark on Capitol Hill, a 1959-1960, and realized it was tiny! Could the Lark have actually fit 6 people with a bench seat?
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Having been driving my 63 Lark for about 5 years now (Not as long as many of you, but enough to know) I would say that yes, 6 is a good safe max number for one of those. The rear legroom is excellent for the size of the car. I am 6'2" and weigh about 210, and I would say it would be a bit tight, but not uncomfortable to fit six of me in there. The most I have personally had was 5, but two of them were borderline obese. As a comparison, I learned to drive on a 68 Pontiac catalina, which legally seated six as well...but I personally had nine of us teenagers in there, which would be impossible to do in a Lark! So, yes it is smaller than what the "full size" offereings of Detroit were, but true to its advertising. I have recieved many comments about the passenger compartment size of my lark at shows, all of them amazed at the room in the rear seat.
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Originally posted by texbodemer View PostI've been looking at 1959-1963 Studebaker Lark ads, and saw that the Lark could seat "6". I then saw a Lark on Capitol Hill, a 1959-1960, and realized it was tiny! Could the Lark have actually fit 6 people with a bench seat?
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Do not forget the seven and eight passenger station wagons with the third row seat. Before someone asks - the seven or eight depends on buckets or bench in front.Gary L.
Wappinger, NY
SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer
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In 1987, senior year of high school, I had 8 in mine. This was after some seat modification; no one could ride with me on the bench seat since I needed to sit under the dash to reach the pedals. My dad installed buckets seats from a mazda, mounted on wooden blocks so I could see over the steering wheel. Anyway, there was a good gap between the 2 seats and someone would sit on the cooler between those 2 seats. Some were in each other's laps and we made it work to cruise around town. Also made it easier to have more people when we had to push it out of the way!
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Originally posted by rockne10 View PostNote also, the compact appearance of the Lark was achieved by lobbing off some excess steel in the front and rear, not by decreasing the size of the passenger compartment which pretty much retained the dimensions of the pre-59 sedans.Originally posted by Chicken Hawk View PostThis reminds me back about 1990 or so. While athletic director our volleyball coach had a conference meeting one evening and Mary Ann and I was to pick up the coach and take her to the meeting. She owned new car at the time and when she got in the back seat of our '63 Lark, she commented, "My gosh, you could LIVE back here!"
TedOriginally posted by tutone63 View PostHaving been driving my 63 Lark for about 5 years now (Not as long as many of you, but enough to know) I would say that yes, 6 is a good safe max number for one of those. The rear legroom is excellent for the size of the car. I am 6'2" and weigh about 210, and I would say it would be a bit tight, but not uncomfortable to fit six of me in there. The most I have personally had was 5, but two of them were borderline obese. As a comparison, I learned to drive on a 68 Pontiac catalina, which legally seated six as well...but I personally had nine of us teenagers in there, which would be impossible to do in a Lark! So, yes it is smaller than what the "full size" offereings of Detroit were, but true to its advertising. I have recieved many comments about the passenger compartment size of my lark at shows, all of them amazed at the room in the rear seat.
My 1962 Lark 4 door looks almost 'silly' with its borderline limousine size interior vs. its (relatively) stubby nose and tail-------------which I'm OK with since the car is still short overall.--------------------------------------
Sold my 1962; Studeless at the moment
Borrowed Bams50's sigline here:
"Do they all not, by mere virtue of having survived as relics of a bygone era, amass a level of respect perhaps not accorded to them when they were new?"
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