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All fintails are identical in body and suspension relative to their chassis code (W110/111/112), but there were some minor changes over time. Production started in the late summer of 1959. ~1962 saw the 4-speed automatic offered - early cars could be fitted with Hydrak, but I have heard of only a couple survivors, and have never seen one in person. 1963 saw the introduction of dual circuit brakes. 1964 was the last model year where wide whites were offered. In the summer of 1965, higher trim fintails migrated to the new W108/109 chassis, and middle to lower cars remained as fintails (until 1968). All of the fuel injected cars, like mine, moved to to W108/109 at that time. The only real body or trim change was the introduction of bullet style front turn signal lenses, I think in late 1961, and the side mirror moved from the fender to the door in 1962, I believe.
The card filled out by the dealer has a space for the purchaser's occupation, but it was left blank in this instance. I guess the dealer probably knew there'd be no more future corporate marketing efforts going on.
https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/almanac-designer-raymond-loewy/
There was a very funny part where they came across a digital clock that only lit up when you clapped your hands together - like a clap-on, clap-off light! Loewy didn't like that digital clock even though the film crew seemed to find it amusing.
I remember that Loewy pointed out a simple but still-classic design wall clock with a legible face and traditional hour, minute and second hands. And I wonder what Loewy would have to say about our tech obsession with everything now.
In the Studebaker world, he was known somewhat for taking credit for his underlings' work, but that's OK--I have to believe he approved whatever was done below him. Besides the Avanti, his studios were responsible for the '53 Studebaker coupes, and also the '47 Studebaker line, which of course were in very direct contrast to everything else being built domestically at the time.
The '53 and the Avanti were especially non-mainstream, probably generally not a good thing in making money, but for the '64 model year Studebaker tried to capitalize on all that by making their slogan "Different...by Design". I like that, but it did them no good for U.S. survival of course.
My best man worked for Avanti after it moved to Youngstown, OH in the late '80's. Loewy's wife Viola used to call them from France to order parts.
Loewy was the right guy in the right place and time (post WWII America) to influence the most people. Whether it was Loewy's non-mainstream design approach or GM's mainstream success in the 60's, the results speak for itself.
Seems like today's car designs are looped into a perpetual 1958 loss of direction.
I seem to remember my friend saying that when one word, "Viola", was spoken, everybody knew who she was.
I heard Virgil Exner, Jr., speak at the Studebaker National Museum probably close to a decade ago. He had worked on Studebaker design for awhile a decade after his father. He said it was no accident that a '59 Lark grille and a '60 Valiant grille were similar.
Only one of fourteen 1963 Larks built with both a Skytop sunroof and Avanti power. Owned it 23 years and I do miss it. Although I complain about white being too common, I do like it with the red vinyl interior.
http://www.studebakerskytop.com/billpresslerpics1.jpg
To my eyes, the '63 Larks had the biggest similarities with--or maybe better, 'reminders' of--Studebaker being the U.S. distributors of M-B at that time. I think there are a couple 'Mercedes bends' here and there.
It appears to be from Greenville:
They had numerous other American rigs, not surprising as they are cheap and often unwanted at home, yet exotic and cool to those in the hobby here. I saw the town name, and knew I had seen it somewhere.
The Buick-Olds dealer in town, Stevenson Motor Co., was also a Mack dealer as I can remember the lighted sign in their window!
Thanks so much for posting this!
I root for my old hometown, as I think anyone does.
There were no factory two-tones (coves) in '62.
Thanks for posting though!
I've posted the link to show the fire engine to some folks I know back there. Most are surprised. Someone must know how it ended up there!
I suspect that fire engine was sold as surplus maybe 20-something years ago and somehow ended up going across the pond. And now it sits in a big technical museum (site here) with some fellow expats and many Euro oddities.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1963-studebaker-lark-daytona-r/
Desirable among the Stude faithful, but at that price I'd expect it to be drop-dead authentic; e.g., "LARK" lettering on front fenders, bumper winguards (wraparound pieces), solid red vinyl interior.... These are all small-dollar things. The winguards should be available cheaply NOS (they were for my '63 in 1993) and the letters were available cheaply as reproductions.