Studebaker Lark

The Studebaker Lark was a compact car built by Studebaker from 1959 to 1966, at South Bend, Indiana, and from 1959 to 1966 at Hamilton, Ontario, with export and knocked-down kit assembly in other countries. President Harold Churchill conceived it as a rescue for the struggling Studebaker-Packard Corporation, building it on the core shell of the full-size 1953 to 1958 cars with shorter overhangs and wheelbase while keeping seating for six. It was sold as a six or V8, in Deluxe and Regal trim, and was the first car of its size to offer a V8. Sales were strong in 1959 and 1960, then fell as the Big Three launched their own compacts. Restyled by Brooks Stevens for 1962, the Lark name was phased out from 1963 as the cars were renamed Commander, Daytona and Cruiser, and Studebaker ended car production in 1966.