1962 Studebaker Daytona

1962 Studebaker Daytona Lark There is some myth and mystery circling around the use of the Studebaker Lark as the 1962 pace car for the Indianapolis 500. It revolves around a falsehood that the Avanti was going to be the pace car and at the last minute, the Lark was substituted. PR photos showing dignitaries at the Speedway next to the Lark were taken months before and so were all the decisions that go into the graphics on the pace car. So anytime you hear the Avanti was going to be the car, and at the last minute was scrubbed, this is patently untrue, due to the timing of the taking of the photos with the Lark and the graphics which had been painted on months in advance of the race. For consignment, a 1962 Studebaker Lark convertible with painted on graphics of the 1962 Indianapolis 500 pace car. Owned by our consigner for the last 30 years, this car has beautiful paint, no rust, a recently rebuilt 289ci V8, a like new interior, and of course the graphics. A not oft seen example and with the graphics makes it highly desirable even if it isnt one of the real pace cars. Exterior Our Lark for consignment arrives with dual headlights in a nicely chromed bezel and overhanging chrome trimmed visors that are molded from the front quarters. In the center of the egg crate grille, and it has some of the likeness of the Mercedes Benzes of yore with its wide chromed surround the rounded off square design. A pristine bumper is below. As the front quarters turn the corner from the dual headlight visor, to a side trim spear that widens with a flair just aft of the door handles and continues on in thin mode to the back of the car. The white paint is all excellent with no rust seen and gaps aligned fairly nicely for its age. A polished stainless windshield surround is framing some gently curved front glass and windows and door sills sport the chrome as well. A power top in black canvas needs some help going up and down but does achieve both positions. On back, the squared off trunk deck rolls between the rear quarters and their rounded top edges create the shiny bezel for the visored taillights in their round form. Just below is the oval backup lights and another pristine bumper that frames the bottom rear roll pan of this car. S T U D E B A K E R badging runs across the trunk lid and a centrally located fuel filler cap in in the center just below the badging. Studebaker S badged dog dish wheels are wrapped in wide whites on all 4 corners. Of course, the star of the show is the painted on graphics in all its two tone black and red glory. Interior Talk about classy 60s design, the interior, for which Studebaker has been known to use innovative materials and textures, makes no mistakes about it as it is swanky with its black and white door panels and shiny handles and cranks. These frame the front buckets which are low back, nice and wide, and have white smooth vinyl inserts with black bolsters. A rear bench is mimicking these buckets, and all is just looking great as to condition and cleanliness. A small black vinyl covered center console is an armrest, and the ash receptacle holder. Upfront is a faux wood grain dash front housing a trio of round gauges in front of the original steering wheel. A ribbed stitched rounded front padded dash in black vinyl is above this panel, and in the center the dash front changes to more of this ball smooth padded paneling and it houses the radio. The wood continues over top the passenger side where it forms a glovebox with the black padding above and below. White pulls and knobs are seen lining up below the instruments and all is well with this simple but effective dash. Black carpeting in excellent condition floods the floors. A shout to the back of the buckets also styled with black stitched horizontal ribbed vinyl, and a shiny ash receptacle built right onto the backs for the rear passengers...smoke em if ya got em! Drivetrain Peering under the hood, and within a pristine carefully restored engine bay is a black painted block with yellow valve coverings 289ci V8. A single 4-barrel carburetor is atop, and a correct 3-speed Flight-O-Matic, (dont you just love these 60s transmission names!), automatic. A 3.07 axle is bringing up the rear. Undercarriage Nearly all rust free, save for some surface rusting on the pipes for the exhaust. All nicely painted black X framing, floor pans and rockers. Front suspension which is an independent coil spring design all clean and nicely presenting, as well as the rear leaf springs and all around drum brakes are seen. A glass pack style exhaust system is on. Drive-Ability This wonderful cars test drive came from a lark my decoder and I had about driving around the test track with the top down! So, we did and it did just great on the performance front, all functions working swimmingly, and the top moved but needed assistance. Bias free panic stopping, and good handling with little body flex despite it being a convertible. Plenty of WOW factor with this snazzy pace car graphics, convertible top and 60s Studebaker styling. A rust free example, with wonderful shiny trimmings, and wide whites all around, drivers start your engines!