Nicely preserved original car. No-nonsense, but dead reliable with a 170 cubic inch six-cylinder engine and 3-speed manual transmission. Beautifully preserved interior, lots of recent service work, ready to drive and have fun!

We love original cars and we love the unusual, so when this funky 1961 Studebaker Lark station wagon rolled in, we were instantly smitten. It’s one of those honest old cars that doesn’t have much to hide and thanks to many years with conscientious owners, it’s very well preserved. We believe that most of the Green Jade paint is original with some touch-ups here and there. It isn’t hiding anything and was surely done decades ago, so the car still has a consistent look throughout. Styling isn’t sleek, but the funky, off-beat look is a big part of the Lark’s appeal and it will certainly stand out at any event, even against some much more expensive machinery. We like the no-nonsense attitude and the distinct lack of frills—this was transportation at its most basic in 1961 and that’s very appealing today. Add in some nice chrome bumpers, shiny stainless trim, and correct emblems and badging, and you get a car that looks very much like it would have in, say, 1967. It’s not trying too hard, it’s just happy to be itself.

The interior is where this car’s originality really shines—aside from new carpets, it is all 1961 componentry. The seat covers are in fantastic shape with no signs of distress or age, and aside from some slight stretching on the driver’s lower cushion, it’s almost like new. Correct reproduction carpets were just installed and it helps keep the wagon cool and quiet inside. The no-frills attitude extends to the dash, which has two round dials, one for speed and one with temperature and fuel level, but that’s it for instrumentation. A few knobs control lights, wipers, and heat, and this car is so basic it even has radio delete—imagine how difficult it might be to find that block-off plate! The steering wheel looks surprisingly upscale and is in great shape and the dash pad hasn’t been cooked by the sun. The cargo bay is cavernous with spare tire storage underneath and the back seat folds down to carry exceptionally big items. This is one collector car that’s still practical fun on the weekends!

Power comes from a 170 cubic inch OHV “Skybolt Six,” which was the standard engine in 1961. Thanks to recent service work, it starts easily and idles well once it’s warmed up (it’s a little grumpy when it’s cold). Given the Lark’s featherweight bodywork, the 112-horsepower engine feels energetic and the inline-6 is buttery smooth at speed. Wearing a bright orange rocker cover, the engine looks crisp in the mostly original engine bay. It’s not detailed to perfection, but it’s clean and there are plenty of signs of recent maintenance, including a full tune up, rebuilt carburetor, new water pump, belts and hoses, and some new wiring, all of which help the Stude maintain its reputation for bulletproof reliability. After all, there’s not much to go wrong here!

The 3-speed manual transmission is a lot of fun to row through the gears and makes the most of the Skybolt’s modest output. It belongs around town, where just the right gearing makes it feel agile and you can just let the torquey little engine pull it around in high gear. Floors are exceptionally clean with one small patch at the base of the driver’s A-pillar, but it was done many years ago and presents no issues today. There’s a newer NOS muffler for just the right sound and while everything’s a bit grungy, it all works just fine and the thing drives quite nicely. At this price, just leave it alone and drive it without worries. Big 15-inch steel wheels with hubcaps and new 165/80/15 blackwall radials look suitably low-tech, but just imagine this car with a set of flashier period rolling stock—an easy improvement that would make this Lark really sing.

Extras include some spare parts and a copy of the original Studebaker-Packard Corporation production order.

You can still have inexpensive fun that isn’t ordinary. By virtue of its funky look, a wagon’s versatility, and the durable mechanicals, this Lark represents fun with no strings attached. You’ll always have the only one and you’ll discover that it’s just as economical to own today as it was in 1961. And with a few upgrades, it could really be a standout without any kind of major investment. That’s exactly the kind of hobby car we like most. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.