one family 61 lark

[61LarkVIII]

So we inherited my wife's grandfathers 61 lark. He had a few studebakers in his life but this is the one he saved and never got rid of. He did small restorations as he went and today we think he would be very proud of it.

its a 259 2 barrel 3 speed w overdrive. Apparently he ordered the OD, and when it was delivered it was not on the car. We "think" that he said there was a shortage of units and the offered for him to pick the car up and they would add the OD when it came in. This is probably what the dealer told him anyway who knows they might have actually just ordered the car wrong.

[62champ]

Very nice car! Looks like your grandfather-in-law really must have like the car to have kept it. Hope you guys enjoy driving and sharing it with others on the road. It was probably produced the first month of production for the 1961 model year - the 606th V8 four door deluxe sedan body welded together. Also curious about that heater on/off valve - does it actually go down into the wheel well like it looks? Thanks and keep sharing photos!

[61LarkVIII]

Thanks for the kind words....That heater shut off valve is all above the inner fender. I definitely think some part is missing where you can see the two cables bolted together.

It's kinda weird they lived up in Halls TN and bought the car at Studebaker, Memphis, which is about two blocks from where we live now (it is an "urban outfitters").

There is also a story about when they all got laid off by the railroad that they loaded up in a studebaker previous to this one, and drove up to the factory to see if they were hiring. It turns out that they were not.... so they drove back down to this area... the railroad eventually hired everyone back...

[62champ]

Don't know if you have done some research, but '61s are probably one of the most unique years from the Larks from '59-'66. They had many items carried over from the first Larks but had a lot of new innovations that would last through the end of production. That also means there are many "one year only" items on '61s - one of those being the water on/off valve - the original would be handing on the lip of the cowl - probably where those cables are pieced together.

This a link to a car a friend was helping someone sell last month. I helped by posting some photos for him and it looked like a pretty original car, down to dash and rear seat covers.

[studegary]

Nice car. I have owned four 1961 Larks. One was similar to this one. It was a 1961 Lark VIII with standard transmission in the same color as yours. Mine was a two door sedan that I sold with 56K miles on it (IIRC).

[jetboat]

That is the perfect color for that car, Beautiful car.

[tsenecal]

It's a great looking Lark, and it's nice that it is staying in the family. I have a 61 2 door hardtop here, but it will need a lot of work to be as nice as yours. It looks like Grandpa took very good care of it.

[StudeRich]

That IS Beautiful Emily, it truly does look like it just rolled out of the Dealership!

But you gotta Fix your Lark Flying UPSIDE DOWN!