Studebaker Built The Original Hellcat 60 Years Ago

While the Hellcat is widely regarded today as one of the most influential supercharged V8s of all time - some 60 years ago an unlikely brand built what could be considered the first real Hellcat on a shoestring budget. Andthat was the R2 Studebaker Super Lark...
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[@robertwilson6144]

In 1968 I was in college at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana and secondhand Studebakers were common and cheap. Because of South Bend winters and snow, Studebaker galvanized many of their body panels. They also had heaters that would cook a pizza! My winter car was a Lark with studded snow tires on all four corners..

[@barryknodel9654]

My grandpa had robins egg blue studebaker lark,289, 3 sp. It was fast

[@williamr.whiting6543]

Go Irish!!!!

[@DavidMitchell-qx9ne]

Nobody gives a shit where you went to secondary school. Did you serve in Vietnam ? Wa

[@WalterKowsh]

In 1959 when first announced I fell in love with the Lark convertible. While fishing off the Crossbay Bridge to the Rockaways I saw many of them top down passing bye. I guess my Studebaker envy came from a neighbor in Flushing Heights NY who purchased one new in 1954 or 1955. It’s low slung Raymond Lowey design with a roomy interior made it the jazz. I also fell in love with the Avanti. Recently I got to see one up close on numerous times while delivering Autoparts to a shop who’s owner had one in an aquamarine color. Looked new despite being over 50 years old. Interesting was that it was a 12 volt car using dual 6 volt batteries one on each side of the engine compartment to balance the vehicle out and achieve it’s sleek silhouette.

[@stevejarred6484]

Could you imagine (back in the day…) driving * just a little too fast * through a South Bend speed trap and being hauled over by a cop in an unmarked supercharged Studebaker cop car?! The mind reals…

[@bobdavis3357]

Dad owned a 63 Studebaker Lark R2, 4 speed. There were only a few R2 wagons ever built. And it had the limited slip axle with original 3:31 cogs. Dad GAVE the R2 Lark Wagon to my older brother JD. He threw 3:55 cogs in the rear axle, but it otherwise an original surviver with 34k original miles. Dad owned Eagle Transport at the time and sold it to my older brothers m. Today, it's ETA. And JD'S R2 sits in the climate controlled barn at his ranch. The car is well maintained by his personal auto techs and the off white R2, that we lovingly called "the bathtub", or the "Upside-down bathtub", still lives on. JD was also given Dad's car collection. He takes care of them, I still have Dad's 76, completely optioned out 76 GP with 3400 actual miles. Dad drove it once and parked it. Handed me the keys when I turned 17, years later. But Dad still drives and loves his Cadillac SUV, at 90, he doesn't put very many miles on it. BurDad regrets giving up his R2 wagon. Studebaker is his favorite car, so he kept his Golden Hawk(Black, gold trim). I think their cars are awesome. Thanks for making this awesome video.

[@stoveboltlvr3798]

That white one at 1:15 is nice. The side reminds me of my 65 Chevy II I had.

[@congerthomas1812]

Cool, Enjoyed the read. Dad put a 1970 42? Ford in a 65 truck. Smoked dad's buddy, with a big block Pontiac top end. Scary ride! Would burn up 3 gear in trans every time you flat footed it he traded it for a welder and a chain saw in 70.

[@NoferTrunions]

3:54s

[@Chris_A_]

​@@congerthomas1812I will trade you a weedwacker and some thermite for the BB Ford truck 😊

[@winstonelston5743]

8:12 The R3 engine was offered as an option on all '64 Studebaker models through the end of production in the South Bend plant in December of 1963, but only a handful of Avantis were so equipped, including the last Avanti. There were production problems with the Avanti fiberglass bodies, so to keep up the momentum, Studebaker decided to offer the Avanti-spec engines in all of their passenger cars. There was even a Daytona Wagonaire equipped with the supercharged R2 engine and a four-speed. The R3 started as a bare 289 block bored out from 3 9/16 inch bore to 3 21/32, and all the internals were hand built. The Lark name was retired at the end of model year 1963, in favor of the Challenger, the Commander, the Daytona, and the Cruiser. 1414 '64 Hawks were also produced, but among Studebaker's steel-body '64 models, only one Commander two-door sedan left the factory with the R3. It was said that Andy Granatelli wouldn't ship an R3 engine until it had posted 415 horsepower on the dyno. I'm not sure how many R3 engines were shipped, but there were some cars retrofitted with brand-new crate engines. The sad thing is, Sherwood Egbert, a young and energetic executive, was diagnosed with stomach cancer at about the time of the Avanti's introduction, and the Studebaker-Packard board of directors forced his resignation. Egbert died in 1968, if memory serves.

[@opera93]

Thanks, great memories: Studebaker…( WARSAW INDIANA, born here…..I seen & a few close Peoples worked there, etc. Anyways, MY Great Aunt’s Daughter ( at S Bend) traded her HAWK , For a 57 TBIRD, port hole Top, etc. actually SACRILEGIOUS.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

There were only 10 R-3 engines ever produced. While I'm not sure of the R-3 equipped Commander which you speak of .... to my knowledge, the bulk of R-3's went into Avanti's and ONE went into Andy Granatelli's personal GT Hawk. I have seen the car in person, nearly drooled on it. It is glorious.

[@TresLinguas]

@@That_AMC_Guy I've read the Hemming's article on what is apparently the sole R3 Super Lark ever produced. By then it was a surprisingly attractive car with an enormous amount of power. What a shame that Studebaker went down while producing some of it's most interesting offerings.

[@trainliker100]

The last two Avantis had R3 engines (R5642 and R5643). There were nine Avantis ordered with the R3. None with the R4.

[@opera93]

@ thanks, I have heard “” that””, etc.. Always so,interesting, as We followed AVANTI, EPECIALLY, IINDIANA my GARAGE FRIENDS…(( WARSAW INDIANA , born There: lots of STUDEBAKER & Peoples in my life:: ) .Interestingly, my GREAT aunt’s Daughter ( lived i. S. Bend),traded her HAWK (??),“” For a 57 THUNDERBIRD Port Hole”, auspicious & significant Day, & never got pictures, etc…..Though, my AUNTS, Grandparents **Should, have ** in 1957…!!

[@farmonious420]

I've worked a service job in the Hamilton Ontario area for 20 years. I know of at least 5 old guys who have bricks from the Studebaker factory here. They all went individually and got them from the site when it was being torn down. Studey's are still thought of fondly in Hamilton. Keep up the great content. Stay Happy and Healthy

[@davidellis7081]

At the 2:50 mark the narrator wrongly claims Studebakers of the late-50s were just "re-badged cars from the early-50s..." Not true! Y'all lost most of your credibility with your poorly researched script. I'll have to force myself to listen to the rest of this "report."

[@edwatts9890]

Andy "Gratelli"? Really? Andy "Granatelli" is one of the most famous names in American/world autosport!

[@tomryan914]

There's a story of Studebaker maybe rebadging Nissan imports. The head of their legal counsel didn't think it would be a good idea. That mans name, 'Richard Nixon'.

[@Beauxtrux]

The Stude was always way ahead of its time...the Hawk was a beautiful performer!

[@garyalford9394]

The stude 1953 54 & 55 coupes were beautiful cars also !!

[@Loulovesspeed]

@@garyalford9394 Yes they were and their styling was well ahead of the big 3!

[@davidstephenson7251]

I've always liked Studebaker different and unique straight up sleeper

[@JohnSample-h6n]

A sleeper? More like a coma patient!!

[@stewarta5993]

my father loved his stude. my first memory of a car. it was a 48

[@JohnSample-h6n]

@ My father’s first car was a 29 Studebaker. The cracked engine block was filled with steel wool and sawdust. He called it a Steady-Breaker because it broke down so much.

[@gordoncaha]

@@JohnSample-h6n My father's first car was a 28 commander, the only car he bought new. At our family reunion this last June (2024), we charged its battery, put some gas in it and drove it around for awhile.

[@JohnSample-h6n]

@ My father’s first new car was a 60 Rambler. Someone lest a disabled car in the middle of the road one a street with no street lights and my father rear ended it. Gotta love old car stories.

[@AndyPanda9]

My dad always had several Studebaker Larks when I was growing up in the 50's and 60's. He said they too advanced for their time.

[@sethmaki1333]

When I was a kid, my grandfather had a 1957 Golden Hawk with the supercharged engine, black paint/black interior, and the 16" wire-spoke rims. I used to love riding around in the back of that car, it was so fancy that I remember feeling like I was being chauffeured around by my own personal driver in a limousine.

[@ronniecramer1252]

Your grandfather had one of my all time favorite cars. Very cool !

[@dandahermitseals5582]

In 1962 my uncle had the Hawk with the supercharger and low gears for pulling an Airstream trailer. I was allowed to run an occasional errand in it and as soon as I got far enough from the house I showered down on it and it was crazy fast. ALLWAYS wanted one but never found one❤😢😢😢😢😢 Dandahermit

[@raytheguyinthechair2791]

My american history teacher had a Silver Hawk with the factory 289 and supercharger. I loved that car

[@rockets4kids]

He knew his American history well! I always preferred the 53/54 models, though, and I'd love one of those with an R2 engine.

[@kenpyle1716]

Had to have been a GoldenHawk

[@zachmena1700]

As a history major I can confirm this is a history teacher car.

[@kenpyle1716]

@@zachmena1700 ?????

[@johnsheetz6639]

I can't remember the model but they were the Bonneville top end Giants back in the day! 289, centrifugal that sounds like a top end giant to me!

[@hughwalker5628]

In 1963, when I was 5 years old, we moved to Canada from the UK. The first car I rode in was a red '61 Lark 4 door. It was a basic 6, but I still remember very clearly the sight of it rounding the corner and pulling up by the kerb. I've had a great affection for Larks ever since. Seeing what an incredible car it could be is actually heart breaking. They tried so hard and deserved better. Bursting with character, cute and phenomenally quick. A perfect blend.

[@steverolfeca]

Wow. Same story, except we came over from Birmingham in ‘64. My dad looked at Studebaker and American Motors, but went with a Renault R8 instead.

[@steverolfeca]

Ironically, he was testing cars in December- he liked the Lark, but then he tried two Rambler classics, a six and a V8. The V8 got stranded in front of our apartment, and had to be dug out. That got him thinking of his past experience with rear-engined/RWD and front-engines/FWD cars (Renault 2CV’s and R4, and a Panhard), and thus the R8. I’m sure the weight distribution helped, but I expect the fact the French cars rolled on Michelin radial tire also had a lot to do with it.

[@wilpotocki2453]

My family had a 1964 Studebaker Cruiser in dark blue. At the same time we had a 1965 Ford Galaxie 500. The Studebaker was much sturdier. I remember I was a little kid. I use to wash both cars. When I got on top of the Studebaker hood to wash it the hood didn't bend, but the Ford did. The Studebaker was our family's choice on long drives because the coil spring seats, air conditioning that was ice cold, and better than the Ford. It was beautiful and classy. The stainless steel hubcaps gleamed when clean, and the stainless steel bar between the tail lights/back up up lights combination, also though the red dash lights, padded dash, and plastic toggle switches, and glovebox vanity mirror was very modern looking. I miss that car. Later when I started collecting cars I bought a red and black vinyl roofed 1965 Cruiser.

[@DarkFlamage]

Wow. If ANY little kids around my neighborhood climbed on top of my Dad's cars, it would be the first & last time they ever did that!

[@JamesRook]

In my highschool years I had a '64 Lark with the 289 R1 V8 that I loved. My little sleeper Mustang killer.

[@DEVINEFAVOR144]

I have a 64 Daytona that I absolutely love. And yes I is still a killer . Upgrades yes all of them worth every penny

[@brucebear1]

A buddy of mine had a similar Lark (not sure exactly which year). If I remember correctly, it had a 3-speed with an overdrive. He'd slip it into overdrive as he was winding out 2nd gear and it would run to one h*ll of a speed, then he'd shift it into 3rd and it would slow down. Great car. He rolled it before we got out of high school.

[@mikebrzostowski8183]

I also liked Studebakers. They were unique in desigen, engineering, and innovation. I especially like the champion, grand taresmo golden hawk, standard with the bullet grille. I liked the fact that the oil filter was at the top of the engine, ez to change. A wonderful car company. Would love to find a nice one now to enjoy. That's what cars are missing today, too damn complicated! One has to set up appointment with car dealer just to change a headlight! No thank you! Oldies but goodies forever! Im 74 so i guess that explains it. Lol. Happy motoring!

[@kenpyle1716]

Oil filters were on top before '63 because the oil was only partly filtered. They finally made the blocks full-flow(all oil pumped thru filter before entering engine) requiring filter to be on bottom of engine.

[@Thomas63r2]

My dad owned a '56 Studebaker pickup 3 speed with an overdrive, and I bought a '63 Avanti R2 4 speed. Even with the supercharger the Avanti was still just a 16 second 1/4 mile in as factory built condition. A couple of drag racers like George Krem and Ted Harbit could science out the suspension and driveline to turn a Super Lark R3 into a for real 12.7 second car at the drags, but for the most part no one else came close. The immortal Andy Granatelli deserves special mention because as far as I know all the R3 engines ever made passed through his hands - Andy was the not so secret reason for all of the Studebaker speed records set at Bonneville.

[@kenpyle1716]

My stock 289 (225hp) 4sp '63 Hawk ran 16.20s in street mode. Why was your R2 so damn slow?

[@Thomas63r2]

@@kenpyle1716 16.20's is very respectable. from your Hawk. When you tell me in street mode my guess is that your Hawk was not as factory delivered. Take a look at all the contemporaneous reviews of the day and you will find low 16's for an R2 Avanti. I'm sorry, but Studebakers were no street threat in as factory delivered trim and tune. Individual owners who spent time working on their R2's seemed to regularly run 15's, but very few ran in the 14's or quicker. I did buy a '69 Mustang Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet 4 speed and that one really hauled. I didn't hit 11's at the drags like the Cobra Jet stockers did at the NHRA Winter Nationals. But in true as factory delivered trim and tune, not optimized in any way it ran tire smoking low 14's at 102 mph. I later went with a highly modified big block street Chevelle that ran 10.7x's at almost 126 mph with slicks.

[@ErikDB6]

A 16 second stock 1/4 mile in a GT car like the Avanti was very respectable in 1962. The hottest Fuelie Corvette was only a 14 second car. As a GT, the Avanti would have out accelerated the Aston DB4, Maserati 3500 or even a Ferrari 250 Lusso. Very impressive.

[@kenpyle1716]

@@Thomas63r2 Absolutely NO changes from stock. Air cleaner on, no timing adjustment. The old Irwindale track, a Stude club meet to honor the late Gordon Williams a legendary Stude racer & father of a close friend. This in '73, drove in from Phoenix & raced. 2 runs both 16.20. Stock 289 cam.

[@kenpyle1716]

Wrong year, was 1977. Check out pure stock drags, michigan. Neil Laughlin's '64 Lark. Same combo 225hp 289 4sp, 15.48!

[@goldcountryruss7035]

In 1959 a neighbor bought a new 2dr. Lark, a new 348cu. Chevy crate motor, and a 4-speed. The result was a very clean, reasonably fast, dependable sleeper. I always loved seeing it driving around LA's Westwood Village area. It really was among the very best hot rods of that era. As I remember, his name was Cunningham. I created the exhaust systems for the cars that Studebaker, Paxton Products & the Granatelli's prepared for world record attempts at Bonneville. That included the primary race twin-supercharged Avanti which I snuck a drive in on the streets of Santa Monica. I think it set a 162mph mile record, one of the 29 world records Studebakers set at Bonneville in 1962. Fun times, I'm 80 now.

[@beatglauser9444]

I am a GM man with a strong love for orphan cars, specially Nash and Studebaker. I never liked the Lark, but I loved the finned Silver and Golden Hawk, the bullet nose generation and the finned Commanders. I think those cars are very underrated. Same is true for Hudsons and Kaisers.

[@blue_lancer_es]

We need Studebaker and AMC today.

[@turbinexman]

Only if they're powered by an LS-1; LS-9 or an LT1 Chevrolet V-8!!

[@VoodooChiliBlues]

We're not allowed to have interesting or fun cars anymore. Everything must appeal to everyone.

[@arthurfoyt6727]

We already have a thriving "classic car" manufacturing business in the USA. People will make you a brand new Mustang, Camaro, or whatever you wanna buy.

[@Hibernicus1968]

Automotive technology is so advanced, and you have to spend so much money to design engines and control systems and so on, and then spend even more millions to comply with safety standards, conduct crash tests, etc. -- none of which was a factor back when Studebaker was still around -- that's it's simply not economically feasible for a smaller company. Hell, the smaller independents couldn't compete with the big three back _before_ all of this extra cost was added to car manufacturing.

[@FoundonthestreetUSA]

AMC is absorbed into Chrysler Corp now a unit of Stellantis. They make Jeeps! Remember the AMC Jeep?

[@sambozeman5266]

I have a 64 Daytona with the 259 and 3 spd auto. It's a great car and I will never let it go

[@ericfredrickson5517]

My father-in-law was a mechanic at a tractor dealership that sold Studebakers as well, and he special ordered a Lark Daytona, with bucket seats, and a 4-speed stick, which was the first they built. He still has it.

[@NorcoRules]

Loved the video and thanks .. I have a R2 GT Hawk and goes pretty damn good although a bit heavier then the Lark based cars .. One side note is that Studebaker never folded .. They simply quit building cars and focused on their better selling products .. Business wise it was a very good move .

[@denniscarroll7696]

Just imagine, Studebaker has been making "vehicles" since horse and buggy days. Every time I think of Studebaker, I think of German-American ingenuity and know-how. ...they came a long way.

[@chas4life]

I thought I knew cars, but you just shared something I was never aware of. Thank you! I remember seeing Larks as a kid but they were few and far between and always memorable because of their styling. Had no idea about the insane power numbers they were offering.

[@tomcampbell6384]

My dad came home from his stint in the army in the mid 50's. His dad who was a well known employee at Studebaker took him up to the presidents office to look at a beautiful station wagon that would have been perfect for hunting and fishing trips . Unfortunately for my grandfather, there was a two tone coral speedster sitting next to it. Supposedly it had a paxson supercharger equipped v8. And from listening to my dad. It was the fastest street car in South Bend, IN! Back then the hot rodders would race from the intersection of Ireland Rd and Michigan south to Lakeville. My dad showed up with his newly bought speedster and blew them all away!!!

[@OneCharmedLife]

got pics?

[@bogee4u]

plenty of light to light street racing in South Bend on South Michigan cruising Azar's and Bonnie Doon's (the merry go round) back in the early 60's...had a high school friend who had the '63 Super Lark R1 4 speed convertible...from a 20mph kickdown it would hang with anyone

[@OneCharmedLife]

@@bogee4u that would be so cool to see pics or videos of those days! I wish I could have lived them.

[@bogee4u]

@@OneCharmedLife Watch the movie "American Graffiti" pretty accurate portrayal of what was happening in America on a Saturday night in 1962

[@tippimail1]

@@bogee4u Those times were just like that[i'm 80-we knew how to have fun back then.]I would have graduated in 1962 but i quit and joined the Air Force.Where were you in '62?

[@tommyau2006]

I owned a 1962 Gran Turismo back in the 1980s. Not a real performance car but a nice car to drive. I loved it................................

[@naneek2]

the studebaker 'r package' cars are so cool. Thanks for calling some attention to them. My family worked for studebaker in south bend. The labor costs were high because they had good pensions and treated the workers well. They were loyal to their workers for generations. Until the doors closed of course. The lark was very cute, and an impressive design and engineering effort in a crunch. They were doing good work up until the end- the incredibly ambitious avanti, 'remixes' designed on old platforms like the lark and hawk, and experimenting with unique design features like the sliding convertible roof on the lark daytona wagonaire.

[@Billschneider42]

Cal Litteral (Litteral Motors in Vienna, WV - a Mercury dealer) had a Studebaker franchise. Even after Studebaker shut down parts could be had overnight fro Allison Park, PA. A GREAT car. I bought my 1965 Comet Cyclone from Cal.

[@Slkguy230]

My friends brother has a 64 2 door Daytona with the R1, floor shift auto transmission and bucket seats. Their dad drives a 63 gt hawk with the R1 and a T10 4 speed. Both of these are surprisingly fast

[@godfreyberry1599]

Panoramic window expanse, phenomenal drivetrain engineering, 3 speed V8 with overdrive for cruising economy and power on tap - the exact package the Studebaker Lark presented in the 60's with cosmetic centred around body weight reduction would make it a winner 61 years later.

[@Xristoforos41493]

They had some good looking cars

[@davidstephenson7251]

The stude was a quality built car

[@johnchandler1687]

My late father-in-law was a Studebaker dealer mechanic from the 1930s until they went out of business. He and his fellow mechanic built their own garage and made a descent living fixing all the Studebaker s in our city. 😊

[@larrykelly8505]

My grandmother had a 63 lark she was 62 and no one wouldnt beat her of a light she had heavy foot that lark would fly i was her greatson who borrowed every now and then i was 16 then i would fly in it loved that car wish we still had it 😊

[@RandieRickert]

I had both a 60 289 Lark conv. and a 64 Avonti loved them both.

[@winstonelston5743]

9:00 No mention of the interior upgrades in the Super Lark Package? Buckets, console. tach, carpet trim, etc?

[@graemeday6305]

A lot of Larks were sold in Australia in the 1960’s, in the state of Victoria, the powder blue police pursuit cars were universally admired. Didn’t adversely affect sales!

[@adoreslaurel]

Yeah! I got pinged by one when I lead footed it back in '66.

[@blueycarlton]

Yes, I remember the Vic. cops and their Studies. My brother had a white Lark in the 70s. There is a GT Hawk not far from where I live in Victoria Australia.

[@kurtvanluven9351]

When I was a kid, my babysitter had a Lark. It had the straight 6 and 3 speed manual. I remember the sound of the starter, definitely from Chrysler.

[@cheyennestandish7599]

What a loss. Studebaker was an Iconic American company. My Dad had a 50 Starlight Coupe. Man what a cool car, I still keep my eye open for a decent one.

[@don66hotrod94]

A neighbor kid had a 63 Hawk, black with a red interior and 4 speed on the floor. I remember the plaque on the dash that said, "This car built expressly for Doug ******* Beautiful car. The Studebaker dealer was a small repair garage that had a spot for 1 new car as their showroom. It is still a car repair shop today.

[@MrTommyboy68]

When I was in middle school in the mid 60's I would walk to my mothers work after school if I had some thing or another after school activity. We lived in a very small (clannish) town and VERY conservative. One afternoon I took a different route and parked next to an old duplex was a 1957 Golden Hawk. Black. Spotless. Very well kept. I walked around it a few times and went up to the house to inquire about the car (I was 14 and a car nut) and this proverbial grumpy old man came bolting out the door screaming at me that I was trying to steal his car (and he was VERY hard of hearing) and was just raising a ruckus and I was trying to explain I only wanted to know if I could take pictures of it the next day after school and that my family was all Studebaker. His equally old sister came out to see what all the fuss was about and after I told her my interest in all things Studebaker she invited me in for a glass of iced tea and told her brother to shut up. She was able to calm him down (in a loud voice, I must add) and she told me he was hard of hearing and didn't like hearing aids. After he realized I was a Studebaker nut, he told me how he bought it new in 1957 from a local dealer and had all sorts of paperwork from day one which he pulled out and showed me. He then took me outside and got the keys and took me for a ride. I was thrilled beyond belief. It was a loaded car for the time with every option except A/C (because of the supercharger) He kept it immaculate and in the garage. He told me to come back the next afternoon and take all the pictures I wanted. I only had a simple Kodak camera but took 3 cartridges of pictures. I wanted it so bad, but he said his grandson wanted it and he had first dibs on it and I was so disappointed. I knew his grandson from school and when grandpa passed away he inherited it and PROMPTLY trashed it before totaling it in a drag racing incident. That brings back such memories. Studebaker had the inline six and a 259 as a base 8 cylinder and the 289 was available on the Hawks from 1959 on but could be special ordered in Larks and Police Packages.

[@OneCharmedLife]

I hope you get one. A 259 53 Commander Starliner was my first car, and I have had a half dozen other Studes since. Now I have a posted 54 Champion, with the flathead 6. The 53/54 Champions and Commanders are still amongst the most beautiful cars ever built, anywhere, anytime. And in the early 50's there was NOTHING that came close to it in design. The closest comers being the early 'vettes. I LOVE driving my Champion every weekend.

[@AMCmachine]

Not to forget the non-supercharged dual 4-barrel R-4, a rare piece indeed.

[@winstonelston5743]

Also the 304.5 displacement. Two installed at the factory, both in Avantis. Studebaker didn't offer air conditioning in supercharged Avantis, Larks, or Gran Turismo Hawks. The R4 closely matched the horsepower of the R2. My choice among the Studebaker Avantis would be an early R1 with factory air and the three-speed floor shift, sixty three-speeds built between June and August of '62 when the four-speed became the standard manual transmission. At least one three-speed was dealer-swapped for a three-speed overdrive.

[@MrTommyboy68]

I remember a car mag in 64 that ordered a Lark Convertible with the R-4 engine and all they did was gripe about how expensive it was and you could order a Ford with a bigger engine for less money. That is the only R-4 that I can find documented.

[@AMCmachine]

@@MrTommyboy68 And the irony is if that test mule turned up today it would possibly be six-figure material as a probable one of one. 💰💰💰

[@MrTommyboy68]

@@AMCmachine I don't remember which car mag it was and I am pretty certain the car was returned to Studebaker and then destroyed. If it wasn't the Studebaker Museum would have snatched it up and put it on display. That would have for certain be a "one of one" vehicle.

[@hughjass1044]

A somewhat quirky old woman who taught music and lived around the corner from us when we were kids had a Studebaker and I always associated them with people like that. It was only later on when I became a car nut that I found out about some of their performance cars that my perception changed. Love to have that old music teacher's car today!

[@johnprice867]

Columbus Ohio by any chance?

[@hughjass1044]

@@johnprice867 Nope. Red Deer, Alberta Canada.

[@johnprice867]

@hughjass1044 okay well thank you for taking the time to answer anyway I appreciate it so I will quickly tell you why I asked my great-grandmother's sister so my great-grand aunt Alma taught piano out of her home all through the 1950s 60s and 70s the last vehicle that she owned was a 1963 Studebaker Lark 6 mint green, garage kept its entire life, she drove it in till she was 96 years old and when she passed away in 1997 at the age of 99 I got the Studebaker if I remember correctly it had less than 40,000 original miles on it, I kept it and enjoyed it for a few years and then sold it but aunt Alma was a bit of a quirky odd elderly woman so your description fit my aunt and her vehicle so I thought I would ask it again thank you for answering and have a wonderful day and it's interesting that I just received I just noticed your response as I was listening to broken cowboy by the dead South which in case you aren't aware is a group of your countrymen who do some wonderful things with a unique sound which is difficult for me to describe a class all I can say is it's of a country measure similar to bluegrass in some ways unique that's for sure but I really enjoy it thanks again TTYL music is everything music is life and remember.... Love wins always, every time, no matter what. Peace Love light and blessings to you and anyone else who happens to read this. Namaste 🙏

[@hughjass1044]

@@johnprice867 Wow! Small world, eh?

[@dddevildogg]

I once bought a 1963 Lark,flat 6 three speed-It was $15....I put 90 weight gear oil in the motor but it was still burning at least two quarts a day.One night in a blizzard I got three flats and abandoned it I never saw it again It ran great on 90 weight- I guess nobody ever changed the oil

[@Loulovesspeed]

@dddevildogg - Sorry, but Studebaker never made a flat six engine. They did make flat head inline 6 cylinder engines.

[@dddevildogg]

@@Loulovesspeed Sorry Lou-that's just plain wrong. Studebaker's first six, excluding the 1910 Model H Garford, was the rugged 288.6 cubic inch Model E introduced in 1913. Google "Studebaker Flat 6" Corrected...my 63 Lark was OHV

[@Loulovesspeed]

@@dddevildogg - Some guy named Addam Santana has a video where he refers to a "flat six" but that clearly is an error. The video is quite strange as there is no commenting, just 8 minutes of looking at the bottom end of an engine crankshaft and rods moving. Use the Copilot search and you will see that they never made a flat six. Porsche makes a flat six with opposing cylinders on a horizontal layout.

[@Davey-Drums]

Those Studebaker Hawks were very fast cars - not to mention the Avanti. Just too rare.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Studebaker started making muscle cars in 56 with the 56 golden hawk, which had the 275 hp packard 352.. 57 they supercharged the 289 in the golden hawk which was rated at 275 hp but was around 310.. they owned McCullough/Paxton.. then came the Super Lark R2, and the Avante R2 which had the updated Paxton supercharger and made well over 300 hp. The Lark didn’t use any hawk or Loewey coupe parts, they were an all new stamping.. they were the first all new compact car.. had Egbert not gotten cancer he would’ve saved studebaker

[@danielulz1640]

You are mostly correct, but the Lark DID use a vast number of existing stampings from the Champion sedans and wagons. The new stamping were the external sheet metal from the firewall forward, on existing inner structure, and the quarter panels, trunk lid and rear panel, again on mostly existing inner structure. The doors, greenhouse and roof date from 1955, slightly modified from the 1953 originals.

[@karlbishop7481]

I am a big Studebaker fan. I had a couple of Studebaker pickups. They were far better than the big three's models in the 50's. The V8 was bullet proof.

[@FRLN500]

You are kidding, right? If they had been any good, they would still be manufacturing pickups. They were crap and that's why the consumers wouldn't buy them.

[@mikeryan2319]

Hello, Rare. My gosh, you make just about the highest quality car videos that I've ever seen. I love this Studebaker history and some of these cars were great looking. Thank you. Peace out from Taipei

[@richardfroiland695]

I rode to school in a green 2 door Lark. Our friend Jim's father bought it for him as an early graduation gift. I always liked Studebakers after that. that was in 1960.

[@daviddavis4444]

My Aunt had a 59 Lark when I was a baby in the early 60's she drove that little car from Arkansas to Ohio for many trips and never had an issue.

[@brianlove8413]

They were assembled here in Australia, lots of mods done to them to suit Australian customers, the last of them were offered with a 283 Chevrolet engine, 3 speed auto. The Police used quite a few of them, mainly in Victoria and New South Wales..

[@jamesparker1338]

Featured in early “ Homicide “Television episodes. A beautiful powder blue paint job

[@MrElapid]

I think the Lark looks great, better than the competition. Remarkable as it was a parts bin car.

[@kirbywaite1586]

The Lark used the center section of the Hawk with new front and rear fenders.

[@JeffDeWitt]

@@kirbywaite1586 No, it used the center section of the sedans. The Hawk (C & K) bodies, were totally different cars.

[@kirbywaite1586]

@JeffDeWitt Yes, I think you're right. Thanks.

[@danielulz1640]

​@@kirbywaite1586center section is from the standard Studebaker sedans and wagons, not the coupes.

[@brice5414]

In 1963 I took Driver Ed at a High School just east of Mishawaka IN. For that class, we had Studebakers. They were fine-driving cars. When Studebaker shut down, severance packages for some employees were R2 and R3 engines and a friend of my father's got one. He had to sell it though because, he didn't have a job and jobs were all-of-a-sudden scarce. When Studebaker was doing well in the late 40's, they faced a decision of whether to invest in R&D or reward their employees. the company chose the later path and the UAW rewarded the company by striking on every contract renegotiation. It seems to be a way of testing the waters of Unions at the big three in Detroit. I got to drive a Studebaker Police Special and it was a REAL sleeper. It was also a '63 and It would haul! Thanks for the Documentary.

[@darrellbedford4857]

The Larck R2 & R3 price might be close to the Corvette but it had a bigger trunk and a back seat.

[@philipfm]

My dad bought a new 63 Lark V8 that was in the back of the store parked in the dirt. The store was changing from Studebaker to Chrysler. Gave him a good deal. I used it a few years later for my drivers road-test.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I'd rather have a 6 cylinder Lark than a modern Hellcat. Simplicity beats power in my book

[@RichardNagle-d5u]

My grandfather had every model cars trucks except an avanti. Outstanding early hot rods real sleepers❤

[@goochi5544]

The Lark is a beautiful car. It drives nice. Very quiet with plenty of power.

[@tomj4506]

Thanks for giving Studes some air time ! LFOD !

[@edkudray2060]

Nice...never knew this about Studebaker learning something new today. Just don't see to many around today. Man that R3 with 4spd seems like it would be a fun drive.

[@robertsnyder5149]

I raced an R-3 Lark in Vancouver, Wa. one day light to light and I got beat. I was in my 1966 Comet GT 390 4-speed and wondered what the hell that little Lark had in it.

[@strangersgt5632]

Supercharged Studes absolutely dominate pure stock drag races to this day! There is an R3 powered Daytona (Studebaker Daytona was before Dodge used the same name) that beats up on a Yenko Camaro.

[@davebrown9725]

Thanks for the details about this part of Studebaker history. My dad bought new a 1960 Lark V8 wagon with overdrive that he kept until 71. Coming from a 54 Chevy coupe with maybe 40 hp, he lit the tires a few times until he recalibrated his right foot. Always looking for Studes on the road, never knew how wild they could be.

[@OliviaCsT-z9w]

I really appreciate your hard work! Your videos are always so interesting and informative. Keep up the good work!😎🏄🌒

[@doorguru168888]

My first car, a $100.00 1955 Studebaker Champion Starliner Coupe two door.. It had a flathead 6. I wish I still had it !

[@stewarta5993]

my father had a 48 Studebaker when i was born. one of my favorite memories.

[@BangTheRocksTogether]

I had a '64 Lark VIII in the late 'eighties. Still my favorite car ever.

[@lioninwinter9316]

My grandfather had a super lark. It was an absolute bomb! Neck snapping acceleration.

[@jebsails2837]

During all this (1958?) Studebaker entered into an agreement with Mercedes-Benz. Studebaker mechanics would be trained on the repair of M-B cars and their dealerships would also provide sales for M_B. The agreement also provided that should either entity fail, the remaining firm would assume the other. Sadly with the fold of Studebaker, MB found it self with a dealership network in place. The downside was too many former Studebaker dealers in a geographical area forced a sell off of many of them. Our local Studebaker dealership, Park Motors, Middletown, RI was kept going by the trained M-B mechanic, until he built his own Garage. The dealership became a filling station, and now houses a Domino's and Tuxedo Rental. Thanks for the story on one of my favorite makes. Narragansett Bay

[@miketype1each]

That $3,700 then is over $36,000 in 2024 dollars. Even so, driving it must have been good fun.

[@joshm3342]

My Dad owned a used Lark for a brief period in the late 60's, but sold it before I got my license. I still recall the distinctive 'thup' sound the clutch pedal made when it returned to its up position and hit the stop. Wish I could have had a chance to drive it. Even in Southern California, I don't see many Studebakers.

[@jaswmclark]

I had a 1959 Lark, flathead 6, 3 on the tree, and since it had 15" wheels it had much better brakes than the competition, as well as much better handling. I wish I still had it.

[@catjudo1]

Where would the '57 Rambler Rebel fit into the greater picture? That car was a beast in its day. It was also a four door monocoque like the Charger. A muscle car before muscle cars.

[@I-Libertine]

The super Lark looked like a Benz!

[@OneCharmedLife]

Studebaker was the official distributors for Mercedes back in the Lark days and before. There were stories about Stude designers "stealing" the grill idea from MB as well as some insignia concepts.

[@kevincruz4045]

Great video! By the mid 60s Studebaker would have needed to create a completely new car to compete. The steering and suspension was completely obsolete by 1966.

[@ThomasMcClung-h5m]

I owned a 67 Cruiser but it had a 283 Chevy motor with studded heads and the Borg Warner trans it did well above 120 mph it would shift at 90 mph and still climb . I bought that car used in 1973 for $200 . I raced a GTO and won

[@nucleargrizzly1776]

I had a Avanti R2 manual. Stupid fast. Sold it because every time I needed a part she was down for 6 months.

[@kenpyle1716]

?????

[@PeterMcInnes-ti8ou]

Avanti great!

[@JIMMIESOULES]

My dad was finally able to obtain a’63 about 10 years ago. He had owned and restored hundreds of Studebakers and a few Avantis (after Studebaker folded in ‘64). His first original. On the way driving it home (about an hour and a half drive) the fan went through the radiator. This car was all original. He ended up having to have a custom radiator manufactured, which took forever. He only held onto for a couple years. It was a beautiful automobile, though!

[@kenpyle1716]

@@nucleargrizzly1776 you must not have looked very hard.

[@nucleargrizzly1776]

@@kenpyle1716 Where did you get parts for yours 22 years ago?

[@whiskeyrunner43]

I had a 59 Golden Hawk when I was about 17. It wasn't in very good shape, but the front seat back folded flat. It was the size of a queen mattress. Best drive-in car ever.

[@Hibernicus1968]

I have a supercharged Avanti. It's enormous fun to drive, and head-turner wherever I drive it. I'd love to own a Lark as well, but I just don't have the space for another antique.

[@OneCharmedLife]

That's great! What part of the country do you live in?

[@Hibernicus1968]

@@OneCharmedLife Virginia

[@snoopychrysler]

I gotta get a '62 Super Lark convertible, if there's one out there, it'll be a groovy soulmate to my new Nissan Z!

[@edwardmckenzie3402]

Studebaker was always ahead of their time.

[@the_Texas_Bandit]

Uncle had a Hawk, 57?58? that we put a 352 hemi out of a Chrysler New Yorker in. Kept the Torqflite trans. Was an awesome little pastel green frog.

[@UberLummox]

Studes are way cool! The company started WAY back around 1850-1880 in the carriage industry.

[@desertdenizen6428]

And wheelbarrows for the gold rush miners, built in Placerville, CA.

[@BogattheMoon]

Supercharged inline 6 was available in the 50s in the Kaiser Manhattan too

[@ivaneberle3972]

The Stude history this video fails to mention is the tremendous race heritage of the 1953 Champion style bodies at Bonneville Salt Flats. These extremely aerodynamic bodies are still gorgeous 70+ years later. Too, the Avanti at 172 mph held the title of World's Fastest Production Car, in the early-mid 1960's. In a World of Jaguars and Ferraris that's no small feat. Hellcat is not fastest production car in the World, last I looked

[@OneCharmedLife]

Well, those Studes deserve their own videos. I've got a 54 Champion and it is still very much a head turner. Love the lines and proud of its heritage.

[@gohawks3571]

Wow! What a channel! Just came across this video right now... TY for existing 👍👍👍

[@guypehaim1080]

My 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk had a 5:11 Twin Traction differential. I know this because a man running a body shop raced Studebakers and he wanted to buy my rear axle because he raced on short dirt tracks and wanted it because it would give him better acceleration out of the turns.

[@teacherguy5084]

My mom's first car was a '48 Studebaker, purchased new when she was a year out of college. My dad met her on July 4, 1951 at a Hanford Dorm Club weekend trip in the Blue Mountains of Washington, and managed to talk her into having someone else drive her car home so she could ride with him in his '49 Ford. Their first new car after they got married four months later was a '58 Studebaker Silver Hawk 3-speed, which I learned to drive in, in the summer of '69. My dad (an engineer) had purchased the lap (seat) belt option from the dealer (belts weren't standard) for the front seats. I don't think we had belts in the rear seats. The buckles were a friction design, which you had to thread the other side strap into and then mash the lever down on to be sure they would hold - no click-in sureness. The car was all white, and the fins and front end were very stylish - one of the coolest-looking cars in town. But he sold it for $800 in 1970 without even asking me if I wanted it. The seller repainted and restored it and brought it back to show us a year later, looking like new - it was about the most pissed I ever was with my dad, although I didn't say anything, because he was otherwise a great dad.

[@andrescer]

I had never really known about Studebakers before. This was really good. Thanks!

[@TalenGryphon]

An older coworker of mine was a young man and a hot rodder back in the early 60's when these Larks first rolled onto the scene. Apparently one of the most feared cars in Everett Washington at the time was a Studebaker Lark with a blower where the owner had swapped the stock carb for a Rochester unit. Apparently everyone in the local scene quickly learned not to race him and NEVER race him pinks. It occurs to me from what Fred described that guy's car was probably either an R2 Lark, or he had pieced one together from mostly factory parts. I had no idea this was something Studebaker did from the factory. Its pretty rad

[@FrankCaruso-k6n]

There was a Super Lark "R4" dual 4bbl, 280hp featured in a Car Life magazine. FCC in Arizona

[@scottydouglass1892]

I saw that drive train in a pickup once, very cool. Studebaker trucks were cool already.

[@robertwatkins364]

My father had a 1963 R1 Lark when I was in high school. He got big ideas for another build, and stripped the Lark running gear & Junked the rest. I told him at the time, he was making a big mistake! That R1 was still on the shop floor when he passed in 2011!

[@bradbyers7505]

I rode to high school with my cousin in his 1964 Studebaker Lark. It was more than just a car; it was a chariot of freedom. No more crowded school bus with its 40 mph top speed, plus we could smoke a Camel on the way.

I own both a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk with a 64 R1Avanti engine and a four speed transmission and a 1963 Studebaker Avanti with an R2 engine that has been rebuilt by a Studebaker specialist before I bought the car. The Avanti is no modern Hellcat, but when the Avanti was built it was considered to be a muscle car and still a force to be reckoned with.

[@godfreyberry1599]

The front end styling cue of the Avanti has always struck me as a concept not conclusively solved with Studebaker design concepts being simply iconic for generations. Strainer and the Hawk series being absolute tops. The Lark embodied design cues prevalent in the '60's - standing side by side with a '60's Mercedes they're almost family.

[@peterroper7471]

Many years ago I belonged to the Studebaker drivers club I owned a 1949 Studebaker truck

[@hughbrackett343]

Back in the 70's, my friends and I went to see a supercharged Golden Hawk that a guy was selling. We were up front about not wanting to buy the car, but just to come see it. The guy was happy to show it off and even took us for a ride. It could definitely get out of its own way.

[@chrisblood7395]

When my family was stationed in the UK in the mid-late 1960's, we lived at RAF Feltwell; my dad worked at RAF Mildwnhall; and I went to High School at RAF Lakenheath. Anyway... one of our neighbors had a Studebaker Lark station wagon; a moss green, blah-looking family car. But, under the hood? He SAID it was an R3 289; all I know for sure, was that it definitely had a centrifugal supercharger, and it actually snarled when he goosed it. I was pit crewing for a pair of fighter pilots who raced track-only Jaguars at the time; I knew raw horsepower when I heard it. It also had a 4-speed transmission - with an electric overdrive. He loved to take it out on the then - unfinished M-1Motorway that circles London, on the weekends - and hunt Jaguars. I'll never forget the unholy glee in his voice, every time he told me "I got another one today! Gawd, I love the way those things blow up..." And, I'll never forget the way those twin 3" tailpipes rumbled, either...

[@barrykochverts4149]

The Valiant was the last big 3 compacts to come on the market, a year after the Lark. The only real similarity between them is in the squarish radiator opening and headlight eyebrows, and there is no agreement about "who came first" in the design studio. But the early bird gets the worm, and Srudebaker got to the market a year earlier. More likely the front end represented a truncated version of the Hawk's 1956 prow.

[@DulcyDailey]

I am the proud owner of a 1949 2R pickup with 4 on the floor. I'm currently rebuilding the engine.

[@irritablearchitect]

What a shame. Stude had some real lookers during their waning days, not to mention the Avanti. The Packard sourced V8's were really good too, if overly heavy compared to other manufacturers. It'd be great to see that brand relaunched, somehow.

[@winstonelston5743]

Actually, the Studebaker 232.6 cube V8 in 1951 weighed a bit over 600 pounds, and when stroked and bored for 289 cubes and the added weight of the supercharger, it came in about the same weight as the Packard 352.

[@winstonelston5743]

Raymond Loewy, leader of the Avanti design team died in the late 1980s as did Studebaker designer Bob Andrews. Tom Kellogg worked on a beautiful Avanti revival design (based on the final generation Pontiac Firebird) that saw limited production in Villa Rica, Georgia. Mr. Kellogg died early in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Studebaker engineer John Ebstein, the last surviving member of the Avanti team, passed about 2020. What a dream team!

[@OneCharmedLife]

@@winstonelston5743 Thanks for that history!

[@vernebrown4441]

I grew up in the family service station. In 1964 we had a customer that own a 64 Lark that was Advaiti powered with the 4speed, as a 14-year-old kid it WAS COOL. A schoolteacher no less.

[@GregoryStevens-hm4ix]

At age 15 I saw and fell in love and was mesmerized by an Avanti sitting in a parking lot a block or two from my house. I'm too old now, but if I had some extra money. you would see a used one sitting in my driveway. To me, they were the car of the future, and if I remember right, they even had some gauges overhead of the driver along the side of the windshield, similar to an airplane to me. At age 78, I have been through many cars, a couple of which I kick myself for getting rid of, one being a '66 SS Impala with the 396 engine and Muncie 4 speed in it . The other an unassuming '69 Chevy Nova, 350 with a 4 bbl QuadraJet carb, and 3 speed turbohydramatic non-coasting auto trans in it, very quick off the line, hard to keep from getting scratch if you pushed just a little harder on the gas pedal. Those were the days, now I/we (wife and I ) have a '17 Buick Envision, just a 4 banger, but a lotta power for a 4 banger, also hard to keep from scratching with a little more gas pedal than normal, but at 28-29 mpg and a lot of comfort in it. Yes, it was made in China, but at a GM plant over there where they just ship all the parts and use cheap Chinese labor to assemble them. But with jobs at a premium over there, the little buggers made sure that they put everything together right, as we have 110,000 miles on it and not a speck of a problem pop up yet. Which is also a testament to my easy driving at my age, no hurry to get anywhere being retired for several years now. One story here that is probably a rare one I bet, but I dunno, Buick has always stood for quality, and to help it, for many years now, the Chinese has always loved Buicks too, another reason to build high quality ones over there.

[@RK-zg4en]

What a fantastic channel. No bs AI narration, straight forward and well put together. Well researched and informative. Thanks. Subscribed.

[@OneCharmedLife]

Yes agreed. Particularly overrun on the AI voices. Should be a condition to post here that AI generated voices be not allowed IMHO.

[@Todd-o8n]

I remember as a kid growing up in the 60s, Larks were everywhere. Rust buckets they were, but they were everywhere.