Multi millionaire investor prefers his Lark to his Rolls!

[Studebaker Wheel]

I happened to be reading a copy of the April 28, 1961 issue of LIFE magazine over lunch today (I have an almost complete collection from 1936 on). In an article about a gigantic financial tussle between Allan Kirby and the Murchison Brothers of Texas over Alleghany there was an almost full page front view of a Rolls-Royce (as shown below). The caption reads Further in the article it states that the Rolls was a gift from his children as Kirby himself eschewed public displays of wealth. Interesting to know that a man worth in excess of $300 million in 1961 dollars preferred the Lark to his Rolls! Wonder if he had the V-8 or Six?

[LarkTruck]

Goes to show money cannot buy happiness- Happy As A Lark! Get It?
JS

[DougHolverson]

Maybe he's like the spiritual predecessor to Warren Buffet and his used mud brown Oldsmobile station wagon. Although, I don't know if he still has it since that story goes back to when they were still making Oldsmobiles.

BTW, I've heard that a Rolls requires a few thousand dollars in skilled dealership maintenance per year. So I'm guessing that it's conspicuous consumption in that somebody can brag that they have so much money to burn that they can deliberately buy and fed a white elephant year after year.

[studegary]

This reminds me of a local man that I know. He was a founder of a very large organization that we all know, but will remain nameless for his privacy. He used to buy and drive new Mercedes. He got tired of the problems/repairs with the M-Bs and in recent years he bought new Honda Accords and is happy with them. Both dealerships are within a few miles of where he resides. Just in money that I know of, he gives away enough each year to buy several new M-Bs.

[8E45E]

I've known a few who drove unassuming, low-key vehicles, despite their wealth. One individual I knew owned a lumber yard including the land it sat on, and several buildings nearby that were fully leased on both sides of a major thoroughfare. His car was a base model Valiant 4 door sedan with slant-six.

Craig

[Hallabutt]

If you drive a Lark today you sand out in a crowd.

[8E45E]

If you drive a Lark today you sand out in a crowd.

That's for sure! Not sure if it includes all areas of the nation, but I am seeing a LOT more Porsches, Ferraris, Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, RR's driving around than I did 20 years ago!!

Craig

[lschuc]

Wonder if Donald Trump would drive a Lark?

Goes to show money cannot buy happiness- Happy As A Lark! Get It?
JS

[Guido]

My father went to Lawrenceville with Clint Murchison, he never mentioned him much other than his dad being an oil baron and owning the Dallas Cowboys.

[Son O Lark]

Sounds like Allan Kirby was the King CASO!

[raprice]

Goes to show money cannot buy happiness- Happy As A Lark! Get It?
JS

It's true that money can't buy happiness. It can't buy poverty either.
Rog

[41 Frank]

Hedge fund managers!

That's for sure! Not sure if it includes all areas of the nation, but I am seeing a LOT more Porsches, Ferraris, Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, RR's driving around than I did 20 years ago!!

Craig

[48skyliner]

Here in the Puget Sound area, we have probably the highest concentration of exotic cars, or at least the highest concentration of those purchased with legitimate wealth (I have never been to Miami). Microsoft and other cyber industry firms have created an amazing number of millionaires. What I don't know is what these guys drive to work every day.

If I were wealthy, I think I would still get the most satisfaction from driving these vehicles that I have created or modified myself. I think many of the owners of those very exotic super cars would not know how to change their own spark plugs.

[Cowtown Commander]

Do you have a picture of the Lark? Does it have white wall tires?ccc

[JimsLeadCommander]

While talking with a Tesla assistant manager a couple weeks ago, I learned that very wealthy people come in and shop for a Tesla. He told me a man spoke with him who had a Rolls. He recently took it in for scheduled maintenance and the bill was $13,000!! The Rolls owner told him his car is/was wonderful and very luxurious but, wasn't happy with his ownership costs. Goes to show people are people and car expenses do matter (to some of them at least). So, sure the subject of this post would rather drive a Lark if for nothing else than to NOT draw stares from other motorists plus the Lark was most likely more economical to operate.