New Studebaker Lark Advert

[Hallabutt]

I guess the proof in the futility is shown in AMC's failure. They were much more successful then Studebaker. Finally the Japanese imports brought them to their knees.

[studegary]

It's interesting to me to see the Big Three's response... were their compacts really in response, or had they also been working on compacts?

Anyway, The Falcon seemed to me like a pretty close knockoff, with their own spin: subdued lines and short overhangs. Ford seemed slightly updated though, with their OHV engine standard even in the base models, and slightly fancier dash. GM and Mopar went more radical, Mopar with the wildly styled Valiant and the Big Kid on the Block GM with the smooth looking Chevy II and the completely radical Corvair. The results are a matter of record, but to me the Lark was the best-executed initially; unfortunately they needed to innovate faster than they did, and quickly got left behind.

It would have been interesting to see what Studebaker would have come up with into the 70s had they the interest in trying. Of course, we will never know.

At least Chrysler had been working on the Valiant at the same time as Studebaker worked on the Lark. Chrysler took longer to come out with the Valiant. (It didn't become a Plymouth Valiant until the second year.) The Lark's grille was copied from the already designed Valiant grille.

For the time, to me a big plus for the Lark was the availability of a modern OHV V8.

[57pack]

Let’s not forget Studebaker’s stillborn Sparrow, the Lark’s little sibling.

[NCDave51]

Let’s not forget Studebaker’s stillborn Sparrow, the Lark’s little sibling.

Have never seen that car/concept before! Thanks for sharing.

[57pack]

Was developed with a flat four cyl engine. I think the Studebaker National Museum has the engine. Only design feature to survive where the wheel covers which were used for the 1964-65 Lark types. I have seen them used on 1964 Hawks as well. And they were used on International Scouts with the Studebaker “S” deleted.