CAR DESCRIPTION FROM SELLER | |
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Last week it was time to take my Lark out of winter hibernation and get her ready for Summer. After changing the oil, checking the fluids, greasing everything, and putting a coat of wax on I decided that the next day was a Studebaker day. So today Lucy( what I have name her) was the only car I drove going to work, running to hardware store for work, groceries, etc. All and all about 75 miles today, it was nice. All the pictures where taken last week other then the main picture, Turning Wheel pictures, and the ones at TROG in Wildwood, NJ.A little bit about the car and how I became the owner. About 3 years ago I bought this from someone who was helping settle an estate which included this Studebaker Lark. The family bought this Lark new in 1961 for mom. Sadly, their mom passed away in 1975 and the family including dad did not want to let go which meant that this Lark sat in a garage from 1975 to 2017 when sadly the father passed and it was time for the kids to settle the estate. A friend of theirs was asked to pick up the Lark and get it ready for sale. They did just that and I saw it for sale soon thereafter with a new set of tires and a electric fuel pump. One problem for me was that the car was in Southern California but thankfully South Bend swap meet was around the corner and it was arranged to bring the Lark to South Bend,IN and I would take it the rest of the way home to Cape May, NJ. I had about 2 months of troubleshooting after I got Lucy home. First the generator failed and I swapped it out for a alternator. Next the fuel tank was leaking, ended up needing a new gasket around the sender but I saw that the tank was very clean inside while I was there. The brake lights didn't work, I traced that down to a bad ground. The engine ran but not great and felt like it was down of power. I happen to have a 4 barrel manifold so I ordered a 1403 carburetor because the stock 2 barrel that was on there wasn't acting properly probably from sitting sense 1975. Once that was installed I have never heard an engine start so fast and idled great. Power was back and I must have drove it 100 miles that day smiling the whole time and showing it off. By this time a car show was just around the corner in Ocean City, MD where my Grandfather lives and where I was born and raised. My Grandfather got me into Studebakers and I was eager to show him. We went for a nice drive that weekend and talked about his 55 Studebaker.Everything about Lucy is great with me putting her on a scale just above driver quality and I would even go as far as saying she is a Survivor. She is reliable and has a great engine, trans, chassis and suspension. The paint it good but as you can see in the pictures she has seen her fair share of the world with some paint missing here and there. Brakes work well, headlight and high beams shine bright, blinkers work and exhaust sounds nice via an extra long glass pack that give it a nice mellow tone. Lucy is definitely a runner and would hate to see her go but I have plans that involve a Packard 352/T85 combo that I have sitting on my bench so I thought I would play around with the idea of selling Lucy to fund those plans. Plus I think I will equally fall in love with the next one. Here is some information for the next owner and stuff I would do/change to make her as best as she can be. I would change the fuel pump set up. It works just fine but could be done better and safer with a roll over relay. This car does not have seat belts, it does not need them by law but i don't think I need to express that safety is important. The lights behind the gauges are not illuminating, could be as simple as needing a better ground or new bulbs. The heater valve that sends coolant through the heater core sticks open if you pull the cable. I don't drive in the winter so I've never had need to fix it. If you pull the heater knob you can simply pop the hood and push the valve back. I would put a set of electric fans on it if you plan to do a lot of idling at car show or city traffic driving. The stock engine driven fan is effective but there are better was of doing things in 2020.I reserve the right to take down the ad if the car sells locally before the reserve is met. Now to the Pictures! |
BASIC CAR INFORMATION | |
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Price: | 7500 USD |
Make: | Studebaker |
Model: | Lark |
Year: | 1961 |
Mileage: | 50075 MI |
Engine: | 259 V8 |
Cylinders: | 8 |
Transmission: | Automatic |