1962 Indy pace car (Daytona convertible). What cost when new?

[Bill Pressler]

I'll say $3,616.09. My '63 Daytona Skytop R1 with factory air was $3,900-odd, and although I know the convertible body style cost more than a hardtop back then, I'm trying to factor the cost of AC, Skytop, and R1 engine out of the equation.

[Retired]

Highest price shown, Hand letterered Graphics had to add to the cost.

[SN-60]

To: studebakercenteroforegon,---- I get it --that ratio was used because of the car's intended use. I did think it was odd a nice convertible like that wouldn't have p/s. (no p/b either) Thanks for the info.

[Bill Pressler]

To: studebakercenteroforegon,---- I get it --that ratio was used because of the car's intended use. I did think it was odd a nice convertible like that wouldn't have p/s. (no p/b either) Thanks for the info.

I missed the no p/s and p/b. I retract my 'bid' and choose the first answer, the $3,400-odd amount (although I know I'm not the first to choose it!).

[BobPalma]

The first of your choices, Dick: $3,445.66

I don't have a 1962 price list (or can't find it!), but do have an early 1963 list, PD63-32, dated October 1, 1962. I spec'd out a comparable '63 as close as I could, guessing the exterior rear view mirrors at $8 each and the HD radiator at $20, because those items weren't on PD63-32. (Not that they weren't available; they just aren't on this folder).

Based on that, a comparable 1963 Daytona convertible early in the 1963 model year came to $3,530.80.

AFAIK, prices were not lowered for 1963, at least not across the board, so I would expect the '63 to be a little more than the '62. The first figure below my $3,530.80 is your $3,445.66; hence my selection.

Also, for everyone reading this thread, "everything you wanted to know about 1962 Pace Cars but were afraid to ask" is in the January 1993 Turning Wheels, including nine actual production orders and all the 1962 Lark Daytona convertibles by Serial Number that were built and tagged for use in the 1962 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

If you think yours, or one of which you are aware, was associated with "The 500," just look in the January 1993 Turning Wheels for confirmation and verification. Again AFAIK, the only confirmed 1962 Daytona Convertible within SDC that actually saw service as a Pace or Festival Car is the 259/Flightomatic Festival Car assigned to The Mayor of Indianapolis for the month of May 1962. That's out of 38 cars, so there are 37 yet to be located!

Hopefully, others have surfaced since the last update.

On a personal note, I've often regretted that we did not move to Indianapolis [from Paris IL] until July 1962, after the 1962 500 race and festivities were over. Had we lived here in the spring and, especially, during the month of May, I would have been fervently clipping and saving everything in the local papers -there were three local dalies at the time!- that had anything to do with Studebaker's extensive association with that year's 500 mile race.

However, cousin George Krem came down to Paris to visit us in May 1962. He and I drove our family's 1957 President 2-door from Paris to Indianapolis to one day of qualifications for the 1962 500-mile race....cool, in that I'd had my drivers license only 3 months at the time! A brand-spanking-new Avanti was on display on a pedastal(?) along pit row! While we couldn't get too close to it, I know it was the first time I had ever seen an Avanti in the flesh. Maybe George's, too, but he'll have to verify that.

Good times! BP

[LarkR2Clone]

This is the one across the street from me
James

[(S)]

Thanks for the pics, I really like the official program, got any close ups, or more info about it Bullet?? And counting the one mentioned that is getting restored, how many official and unofficial pace cars exist? A guess is close enough.... I know that official pace cars were supposed to be convertables, a tradition not always followed--- Were there any Skytops, lettered this way?

[BobPalma]

Mike:

1. We've got no way of knowing how many of the 34 Festival Cars (all 259/180/Flightomatic) or the two "prototype" Pace Cars (289/225/4-speed) or the two Actual Pace Cars (one for backup; both 289/225/4-speed) exist, other than the one documented Festival Car I mentioned in Post #20, accounted for within SDC.

2. I've been around central Indiana 50 years come July 2012, deeply involved in Studebakering here and in and around South Bend all that time. I've never seen or heard of a 1962 Daytona lettered up with 1962 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car graphics that was not a convertible.

"Never say never," of course, but I believe you'd be hard-pressed to find a 1962 Daytona hardtop, Skytop or otherwise, that Studebaker lettered up with Pace Car graphics...or did anyone else, for that matter! Certainly not Studebaker.

3. Here's an interesting piece of 1962 Pace Car exclusive literature I've had since 1962. This is the outside of a twice-folded mailer that has been unfolded once for this photo. If you unfold it again, it is twice this size.

How rare is it? When I showed it to Guru Dick Quinn within the last two years, he said that not only did he not have one, he had never heard of the piece, much less seen one! (When you have a piece of postwar Studebaker literature -or even prewar- that Dick Quinn does not have and wasn't aware of, I'd say you've got a rare piece! <GGG>)

[(S)]

Bob,

Thanks for sharing, I have seen alot of stude lit, and never seen one of those.

Pictures and history like this is making this thread pretty cool!

[62pacer]

Bob, That Pace Car piece is amazing!! I wonder if any members have any Press Kits of the 62 lark that they would like to sell. Since Jim and I put my Pace Car Clone together I am interested in anything I can get my hands on related to the Pace Cars.
Stan H.

[Studebaker Wheel]

Here is the p.o. for one of the two prospective pace cars. The other, 62V 39027, was identically equipped. I might point out a minor error in George Krem's article in the Jan 1993 issue of TW. In the first paragraph George mentions that the Avanti was originally selected but because of production delays the '62 convertible was chosen in its stead. The fact is the convertible was chosen as early as the Autumn of 1961 long before the Avanti was even conceived in its final form. The Dec 1961 issue of the Studebaker News has a large photo of the Lark pace car with Egbert, Charlie Stuart and Tony Hulman posed with a summery background that had to have been taken no later than Oct 1961. I believe the truth is that the Lark was the original choice but Egbert attempted to get it replaced with the Avanti when it became clear that at least a early production model would be available. Indy 500 officials rejected Egberts request but allowed the Avanti to be the "official car" of the Indy 500 though not the pace car. As everyone knows an Avanti was awarded to race winner Rodger Ward. The eventual disposition of the actual pace car has never been determined (at least so far as I know.)

[62pacer]

Richard, I purchased a copy of that Studebaker News on E-bay and after I read the article I wondered about the Avanti being the Pace Car. Your explaination makes perfect sense. Thanks for your post.

[Studebaker Wheel]

If you guessed #1 ($3445.66), you are a winner!

[BobPalma]

Mike, Stan, and others: The battery in my camera is too low to photograph and post the inside of the Lark Pace Car folder, which is twice as large as the folded piece in Post #23. It's Sunday evening and I've got the battery on charge overnight, so come back Monday the 6th and I'll post the inside of that folder.

(Congrats to The New York Giants, too! Well fought and well-played here in "Indianapolis.") BP

[JBOYLE]

I win....too bad this is not The Price is Right (is that still on?)