National Museum Cars

[barnlark]

Like I said and asked...what condition is it in right now? Are those the original tires? What's missing and how far from trailering it to the proving grounds is it? Not sure it needs licensed for that drive; insurance, yes.
It would be a pain to get it to that point, yes. Fun and a nos car drive of a lifetime, yes. The other side of of my brain that respects purists says leave it there and stare at it forever, thus my conflicted post above.

[Bellingham Studenut]

George,

I had no idea the R1 carb, or other parts are missing on the Daytona. It surely should have the proper set-up and be able to show what's under that hood all dressed with R1 factory chrome.
I have an original spare R1 carb I can donate if someone is willing to complete the installation.
We have an exact twin to that car with an interesting story.
Perhaps some other members have everything else needed.
They deserve to be preserved.

James Bell

The Bell Collection
Bellingham, WA.

[Bredehoft]

I don't want to start something no one wants - I'm a new guy and all - but since people are offering parts and many have stated the missing parts should be replaced by a club or such...what if the forum members were the sponsor of the "restoration", either through donations of parts or donations of money?

--george

1963 Lark Daytona HT - 63V J8 175

[JGK 940]

quote:...what if the forum members were the sponsor of the "restoration", either through donations of parts or donations of money?

--george

Seems to me the Museum has an "Adopt a Project" program already in place. Kind of hard to lend a hand from out here in the middle of the Pacific, but if somebody's willing to do the research to get this car set up as an adoptable project and/or willing to get in there with some parts and turn a wrench or two I'm sure there's at least a handful of us who'd be more than happy to pitch in some bucks.

Keoni Dibelka / HiloFoto
In Hawai'i; on Hawai'i; on the Windward Side
If da salt air never chew 'em up bumbye da lava will...

[8E45E]

quote:Originally posted by Bellingham Studenut


James Bell
The Bell Collection
Bellingham, WA.

Hey James & Stephanie!! Great to see you've finally posted here on the Forum! Hope to hear from you some more!

Craig

[studegary]

The 1966 was not restored. An SDC chapter took on the project of making the car more presentable for museum display.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[studegary]

quote:Originally posted by Bill Pressler



Man, that Daytona always makes me weak in the knees when I see it! What a beautiful car, and basically a NOS Stude! I'd put that up against any '64 Falcon, Valiant, or Chevy II (and Rambler Classic, IMHO, although I know others disagree) for styling that has stood the test of time. What a great (and economical) facelift from the '63 model.

Bill Pressler

It is a nice car, but I think that you are off the mark comparing it to a Falcon, Valiant, etc. The price on that '64 hardtop was about the same as the price on my fully equipped '64 Fury hardtop with 330 HP 383, Sure Grip, Torqueflite and much more. I will agree that the styling has stood up well. I just disagree with what you consider to be the contemporary comparables. I only kept my '64 Fury for one year and three days, so the test of time was not important to me then.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[StudeRich]

I still think Bill is correct, after all those WERE the Lark Type's competition! I think if you loaded up a Falcon Sprint Hardtop with as many options as your full size Mopar, the price would be pretty close.
But regardless of the price, a top of the line Compact is a top of the line compact, and that is what they had to compete against, certainly not an overgrown tank like a Satellite or Fury.

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[bams50]

I think the point is the money. If you could get a more substantial, stylish car like a Fury for roughly the same money as a smaller Lark, for the average buyer it's a no-brainer. And- if you're talking size, should you pay more than the other comparables for a car with a stodgy reputation that looks like it's about to go out of business?

I agree, the styling stills shows well 45 years later; but unless you were a hard-core Studebaker devotee, styling would not be enough to make most people buy... imagine this motto:

Studebaker... small-car size, big car price!

Tough to overcome.....

Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

"Some people live for the rules, I live for exceptions"- 311

"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?"

[BobPalma]

Not to confuse this discussion with facts, but I believe the MSRPs support StudeRich and Bill Pressler's position.

Base MSRPs from The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975:

1964 Studebaker Daytona V-8 2-door HT: $2,443

1964 Ford Falcon Sprint V-8 2-dr HT: $2,425
1964 Ford Fairlane 500 V-8 2-dr HT: $2,430

1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu V-8 2-dr HT: $2,484
1964 Chevrolet Nova 400 2-dr HT (six cyl): $2,271

1964 Plymouth Fury V-8 2-dr HT: $2,706

While Studebaker had some destructive price differentials in the middle 1950s, they were in line with their perceived competition by 1959 and following.

(Rich and Bill win.) BP

[Bill Pressler]

Gary, a '64 Fury Hardtop is to my 50-year old eyes one of the best-looking Mopars ever made--along with any coupe variant of the '68 Belvedere/Satellite lineup. I also like the '64 Fury's instrument panel with the four large round instrument pods.

But in size, and pricing, that Daytona is closer to the other manufacturer's top-line compact hardtops. I think the R1 option really packs a wallop, comparatively-speaking, on that window sticker. Other than a 327 Chevelle (available only beginning mid-year), none of those other compacts could be had with 240 hp, in my memory, anyway.

Bill Pressler
Kent, OH
'63 Lark Daytona Skytop R1

[bams50]

I made my post based on what I've heard said over the years on this board. I didn't have the interest to go to a library for research, and don't have one in my home. I commented based on some overall impressions (mostly gathered here) that, head to head, Studebaker had problems being price competitive with the Big 3. Sorry, BP, and thanks for getting right after my 1:24 AM transgression

Of course, that still doesn't overcome the fact that the competitors mentioned had much newer, fresher, exciting offerings for the money, with no threat of becoming orphans literally any minute- and the accompanying unavailability of parts and folks to work on them which would surely follow (in the average buyer's mind). I'm saying this based not on my feelings, but what I'm betting would be the view of the average buyer in 1964.

I was 3 years old in 1964, but had I been 23, I can't imagine I would have opted for anything Studebaker, whether I loved the cars or not


Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

"Some people live for the rules, I live for exceptions"- 311

"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?"

[A1956GoldenHawk]

Since we've been kicking around the "LAST" Studebaker automobile produced in South Bend; when was the "FIRST" true 'Studebaker' automobile produced in South Bend[?]

What model was it[?]

Does it still exist today[?]

The older I get ...the better I was!

[barnlark]

The first Studebaker automobile was made in Cleveland with Garford and there is one in the Crawford Auto Museum here, but it's not the first. Not sure about the first South Bend made.

[8E45E]

quote:Originally posted by BobPalma


1964 Studebaker Daytona V-8 2-door HT: $2,443

1964 Ford Falcon Sprint V-8 2-dr HT: $2,425
1964 Ford Fairlane 500 V-8 2-dr HT: $2,430

The Daytona would be more comparable in interior appointments to the Mercury Comet Caliente as opposed to the Ford division's range of compacts. Remember, Studebaker had to compete with the GM and Ford's entire range of cars with one line that was broken up into two or more with the others. I don't have the list prices handy for the Comet, or the Pontiac/Olds/Buick A-body cars, but I bet they might be a bit more than the Daytona.

Craig