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Chief Engineer Eugene Hardig is seen in a couple places in the film. I always read he was a cantankerous sort. When Nate Altman approached him to come work for him at Avanti II--when Stude HQ was still in South Bend but cars were built in Canada--he actually ordered security to get Altman out of his office, with all his "crazy talk". He eventually did go work for Altman. Supposedly Altman told him, "All your life you've had to worry about what a bolt costs. You won't have to worry about that with me".
Churchill's idea was the Lark. He was an engineer who'd worked himself up the ladder to CEO. When Lark sales started sliding south, he was replaced by outsider Sherwood Egbert in 1961 but remained on the board.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Dire Straits - "Telegraph Road"
But just believe in me baby and I'll take you away
From out of this darkness and into the day
From these rivers of headlights, these rivers of rain
From the anger that lives on the streets with these names
'Cause I've run every red light on memory lane
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1953-studebaker-commander-15/
I don't think this is a broadly held opinion, but I liked the old-style fendered pickup box on the Champs more than the Dodge box they bought to give it a more modern look. One thing I learned from the article was that Dodge sold them the tooling and had a deal with Stude for the company to supply Dodge with any service pieces they might require down the road, which of course went away with the shutdown.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I like the old-style bed, in short-box form, like the one pictured in what appears to be the opening to the article. Generally, I like the long, wide box. I really don't care at all for the short, wide box.
While volunteering at my hometown's historical society yesterday, came across the June 29, 1963 newspaper touting the town's 125th anniversary. This ad was in it.
You know how I always goof on fake vents and such, and this car has them up on the C-pillar, but I mind them there a lot less there than on the body, below the beltline. '69 Grand Prixs have similar chevrons up on the C-pillar and the nameplate down low on the front fenders. I like that. '70 has them reversed and for that sole reason, I like the '69 better! LOL
Their zone guy probably wasn't happy that they still had their "LARK" neon sign in 1966 as that name was only used in one place on '64's and that's only in the brochure for the two lowest trim lines, Challenger and Commander, and wasn't used at all after that. Of course most people still called them 'Larks'.
Simca slightly visible in the showroom.
I posted this pic yesterday in the FB 'Old Car Dealerships' page and a couple guys posted remembering going there for service, or going there with their Dad, which I love to hear about.
Last new Stude they retailed was a Timberline Turquoise '66 Cruiser, just like the one I own now except that it had white vinyl seats instead of turquoise brocade. Sold to a guy in Masury, Ohio, maybe fifteen miles away. He traded in a '60 Lark.
They, amazingly, sold two of the eight (!) 1964 supercharged Cruisers built, and also sold a new Bordeaux Red '64 Daytona convertible with black top, black interior, 289 engine, and 4-speed.
I knew this was going to happen, but feeling numb. Bob went pretty quickly as in late January it was determined that the course of chemo was not working.
Huge void in the international Studebaker Drivers' Club, for sure.
His March 2023 HCC column called "Aunt Bee's Studebaker" was the last he had written for them, and he had let them know he'd be doing no more.
The last paragraph of that column mentions that Frances Bavier's headstone reads, "To Live In The Hearts Of Those Left Behind Is Not To Die". Those words apply to Bob for sure.
Bob had had four white 1964 Studebaker Daytonas, one of each bodystyle, which he sold last fall. He also owned a very low-mileage 1973 Mustang convertible which he recently gave to his son, and a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda convertible (318) he sold last fall as well. To my knowledge, he still owned the 1972 Buick LeSabre Custom convertible and 1956 Packard Clipper Super Hardtop, the latter of which he had bought for his parents maybe 25 years ago or so--his Dad had sold those cars new and enjoyed them.
Sad to learn.
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
When he was a teenager, he and his older cousin would tour the Studebaker plant in the '62-63 years. Tours started in the Administration Building, but he had the best stories of being in the plant and deliberately trying to fall behind so they could see things that were off the tour. He remembers seeing a pallet full of Paxton superchargers! He also recalled eating breakfast at the Toasty Shop, a short half-block from the Administration Building. He and his cousin stopped there when they saw an Avanti in the lot. Here, Studebaker President Sherwood Egbert was at the counter drinking coffee and reading the paper. Bob said years later, that as hard as it was to believe, he was too shy to approach Egbert and tell him how his work was appreciated!
He and his cousin had snuck onto the Proving Ground west of town at least a couple times too. There was a place where they could actually climb under the fence and did so one night and climbed a tree near the test oval. A pre-production Avanti was making the track rounds. He said once it went by him, then he saw the brake lights come on, then the backup lights. The driver had seen Bob's legs danging from a tree limb. He and his cousin were escorted out to the main gates, in a pre-production Avanti! He said that driver probably couldn't wait to get them out to the main gate, as they were peppering him with questions.
Bob said that he remembered the Hawk assembly line being off-limits during tours. He said "Maybe they were pre-salting the Hawks", LOL.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
https://www.ericmdbellfuneralhome.com/obituary/RobertBob-Palma?fbclid=IwAR1qOx8xQq0lZ3EudNgivbDeK5xqZNkKojZbZZGtkBTuJp31aHGlD9qRp4Y#tributewall
I'd have never paid that.
There are authenticity areas--especially inside--that are giving me tics!
Well, at least a couple of people really wanted it.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1963-studebaker-lark-daytona-convertible-v8-4/
Note the rear vents in Cruisers only, opened.
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Here's Mr. Ed.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The rear door windows did in fact go the whole way down.
I wonder why they bothered putting operating vent windows of the rear doors of Cruisers through '65. I can only guess for smokers.
The Skytop sunroof is very rare. I owned a '63 with one and it was a nice feature, that stopped traffic at Stude meets. Especially rare on four-door sedans.
As a kid, I enjoyed "Mister Ed". Must've taken place in northern Indiana, with all those Studes in the neighborhood!
Funny thing, Mr. Ed was in syndication even when I was a kid. "Willlllbur"
He said that in 1973, the SDC National was at the Proving Ground, owned by Bendix at the time. He said Bob looked at him and said, "We're here...legally!". LOL
His cousin also told me his first job out of college was teaching music at a religious school. His '63 Lark had lost the one "L" letter from the front fender. He was kidded for driving an "ARK" to that particular school.
a nearby small city. It was in front of a funeral home. I surmise the departed was a classic owner. Further
extrapolation is that was his car and would follow the hearse if there's a burial. Only reason
I could figure for having it sitting there.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I am in love.
Totally authentic restoration, in a color I like. Only 1,767 1964 Hawks built (compared with 92,000 '64 Thunderbirds, in coupe and convertible). This is an early car, built in August '63 and is the 212th 1964 Studebaker V8 serial number.
An older friend of mine has a '64 Hawk with the same R1 engine and complete 'Super' package which the car here for sale doesn't have (suspension bits to go with the engine). It's similarly in beautiful shape. I'll be curious to see what this car goes for in a week.
At the Stude Museum, they'd have the name of the original owner, what he did for a living, and what he traded in, too, all cool stuff to know.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1964-studebaker-gran-turismo-hawk-9/?fbclid=IwAR10KpuEp1Ze1zW8e6tlcxLIeQzV2PLpBiC-VMyhpRgPXySt84EeDG9PfcY
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1964-studebaker-lark-daytona-wagonaire/?fbclid=IwAR1Tbn7Zvi9GybcaSQ5Yt9Ni6mOjYh8roM661J9GqP-sK0BKC9fhmyDCiXw
Re: Hawk, do it!
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Had a next door neighbor who had a new one of these when I was in high school. His was red and I don't recall it having a vinyl covered top, so I assume this was an option back in the day.
His regular daily transportation was a Mercedes diesel sedan, a 190 I think; and as I recall they both came from the same dealer. Good luck with your auction, it's a nice looking Stude!
I feel you re: working on old cars. There's only so much I can do on the fintail before I need professional help (maybe in multiple ways). Tragically, the tech at the shop I was taking the car to passed away, and they are now not working on cars of this age. Another Euro specialty shop was also refusing oldies, but I see they expanded, so I am going to try them again, and a couple others. I could always take it to the dealer, but aside from expense, I know their techs tend to be young, and I don't know if things would go well.
Secondly, only the cars with the complete 'Super' High Performance Package had the red/blue grille badge. This car doesn't and the badge doesn't belong there. Honestly, I think that badge 'busies up' the grille too much too.
But I'd still take it.
It's in the 'Video Gallery' section of the ad, titled "GT Hawk Driving".
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1964-studebaker-gran-turismo-hawk-9/
Hawk sold for $40,500.