1960 Lark - forum registry

[studegary]

Fixed my original post but for the sake of saving time scrolling through, the tag reads 60S-60992 and I noticed they used two different fonts for the number fonts, anybody know why this might be? The 6 in 60S is much more curved whereas the 6 and 9 in 60992 have smaller rounds and straight legs.

The first part (60S) was stamped into a large quantity of tags. The individual car numbers were individually stamped for each car. Also, the 6 and 9 in the number part are the same die, just turned over. That is my thinking on this subject.

[bread_and_water]

The first part (60S) was stamped into a large quantity of tags. The individual car numbers were individually stamped for each car. Also, the 6 and 9 in the number part are the same die, just turned over. That is my thinking on this subject.

ah makes sense, thank you

[62champ]

60S-61680 / 60S-F4, On Ebay - middle of November, 2015

Climitizer, Regal dress up kit, and regal padded dash.

[62champ]

60V-1509 / 60V-W4, For sale on Ebay, December 2015.

Automatic, climitizer, Regal kit, full wheel covers, and oil filter

[Tiggum]

This is my first post; I joined SDC in 2015 but have only just become registered so that I can communicate with the membership. Please add my 1960 Lark Deluxe 2-door sedan to the registry. Production Order from the National Museum indicates that it remains an original, numbers-matching car, as follows: 60V-22202; engine # V 476168; body number 3102. Assembled 12-17-59 and shipped to St. Joseph, MO on 12-22-59. The car is pretty basic with the only options being Flightomatic, foam front cushions, Climatizer, manual radio and antenna, and (thankfully) undercoating, so that it remains generally rust-free and a good looking 10 footer. One repaint in the original White Sand color, but several years ago. Needs replacement of all hoses and cleanup beneath, due to much accumulated oil (and dirt). It's a pretty little car who shares a garage bay with my 1993 BMW R100R (motorcycle). Now that I am on-line, I will figure out how to post photos and send them to you folks.

Tom Martin
Brentwood, TN

Update - Early June 2020, I saw this very car on a car hauler in Dickson, TN. Older gentleman said it was his son's car and he had passed away. He was going to keep it for Tom's children, but since has put it up for sale on Ebay. Photos of the car below. RIP, Tom.

[8E45E]

This is my first post; I joined SDC in 2015 but have only just become registered so that I can communicate with the membership. Please add my 1960 Lark Deluxe 2-door sedan to the registry. Production Order from the National Museum indicates that it remains an original, numbers-matching car, as follows: 60V-22202; engine # V 476168; body number 3102. Assembled 12-17-59 and shipped to St. Joseph, MO on 12-22-59.

Welcome to the Forum!

Sounds like a nice car, and a double to a similar '60 Lark 2-door Deluxe the next province over from me. I posted of a photo of it here --------> http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...n-Am-Zone-Meet when it was still 'under restoration'.

Craig

[62champ]

Thanks Tom - welcome to the world of Studebakers! Love to see some photos of the Lark when you get to that point.

[Tiggum]

Thank you to both 8E45E and 62champ. I have enjoyed lurking around the fringes here for a while and am so much impressed with the accumulated experience and knowledge of the "inmates" that I had to join to be able to ask stupid questions which have begun to occur. As you might imagine, I am working on a list now.

One thing I now think I understand through re-reading this thread is the answer to the question "What the heck is the meaning of the last item on my production order, reading: 80 1337071 F4?" Now I think, having reviewed several of the above posts that it must be a Regal update kit for the Deluxe. I assume that there were multiple choices, since the second post at the beginning of this thread showed a production order with "80 1337070 W4" for a Deluxe 4 door and it had not only the exterior brightwork (as on my car) but also the padded dash within the car (which mine does not have). It would be interesting to see if anyone on this site has a breakdown of these odd permutations to the regular production cars; there must have been a number of them. It is also interesting to read about the special order for 80 Lark Marshall sedans for the Milwaukee Police Department, and to see how the company's order system could even be adapted to some very specialized (and even hand-made!) non-standard features, as shown there. Great stuff, guys, for us old car "Geeks"; thanks!

[62champ]

Although not 100% positive, I think the regal kit might have only added the stainless around the front and rear windows and probably did not change anything else. My W4 is mostly original and it never had a padded dash or other regal interior items like carpet or pleated seat covers.

[StudeRich]

After you have once seen how beautiful these 1960 Regal Interiors and Dashes are, I don't see how ANYONE could live with the Standard "Deluxe" Trim cars.




This is an absolutely Sweet example of a Great one, and I do not even like most Greens!

[Tiggum]

Agree entirely, StudeRich, and I see your point, 62champ. It would be interesting to find out more about the W4 package contents, but it occurred to me the other day as I read through this thread again that most of us will ever be able to know for certain how our cars were delivered.........I am the fourth owner (as best I can tell) and there is no way of knowing how many additions to or deletions from the original trim were made by the previous owners. All I can tell you is that my Lark has the more ornate grille, the chromed vent/parking light trim and bright headlamp surrounds, bright windshield and rear window trim and no bumper guards. And yes, unfortunately, a plain (i.e., unpadded) dash and simple fabric interior. Still, I like the appearance of the car just fine, and swapping in a Regal dash (even if I could find a pristine one) would be a monster task.

What I would like most of all would be to find some of the original brown rubber floor covering, but I simply doubt that it is even available; mine has the original and let's just say that it is barely "servicable". Never have seen it listed, and I wouldn't really care to carpet the car.

Thanks,

Tom Martin

[Hallabutt]

The easy answer to Rich's question, how can anyone live with the Deluxe trim cars is simple, it is the way the car was produced. The historical value of these cars is far more important then the value of any spurious upgrades. The early Larks were never a style leader, and trying to make a silk purse out of a...... is hopeless.

[StudeRich]

If you are a young person Today or just not familiar with Studebakers who has never seen a Lark, let alone grown up with them, had them in your family and known what the "Better" options were and looked like, I agree that is how they were built and you would think the "Cheapie's are very Cute and Cool.

However if you are the opposite person who does know, you just want the best performing, most dependable and good looking cars you can get, the price is in most cases the same.

[8E45E]

The easy answer to Rich's question, how can anyone live with the Deluxe trim cars is simple, it is the way the car was produced.

And the drag racers LOVE them!!

Craig

[wheels777]

Resides in York, Pa. 60S-47306. I will have to chase the number another day