Vehicle Description
1961 Studebaker Lark Deluxe two-door Sedan ?Final model year of the
first-generation models ?Riviera Blue exterior (code P-6112) and
blue and white interior ?170 CID Skybolt straight six-cylinder
engine (VIN code S) ?Three-speed manual transmission ?Rear fender
skirts ?Whitewall tires ?Documentation includes original owner?s
manual In its waning years, Studebaker launched the Lark, its
compact offering. We?re happy to present this little adorable Blue
1961 Lark Deluxe two-door sedan, the final model year for the car?s
first generation. Made in Studebaker?s South Bend, Indiana factory
and wearing Riviera Blue (code P-6112), the car?s paint and trim
are in overall excellent shape, with only the most minor of
blemishes visible at close range but there is some orange peel
found on the passenger side at the beltline. The car?s bodywork is
straight, its chrome bumpers look great and the engine bay is
extremely tidy. This independent rolls on American Classic wide
whitewall tires, size 205/75R15 at every corner. Each one is
mounted on a steel wheels, topped by a full factory wheel cover.
The tires and wheels are all in very good order. Under the hood of
the Lark is a 170 CID inline six-cylinder engine, dubbed the
?Skybolt.? For 1961, it received an overhead valvetrain instead of
the older L-head set-up. This netted the car a 22-horsepower
increase and slashed four seconds from its 0-60 time, according to
period road tests. Connected to this motor is a three-speed manual
transmission Inside, the white bench seats look great, as does the
contrasting blue carpet. The white headliner adds contrast, as does
the two-spoke steering wheel done up in body color. The inner door
panels and Riviera Blue and white metal instrument panel are all in
very good order, as is the column-mounted shift lever but the fuel
gauge operates but fluctuates. Completing the interior is a factory
AM radio but is inoperable. Although the styling was modified,
engineering enhancements were the big news for 1961, as the Larks
received a performance boost. Studebaker advertised as ?the compact
with Performability.? The bigger news, as far as the general public
was concerned, involved the six-cylinder engine. Studebaker's
engineers had long known that their little flathead mill, which
dated in its basic form to 1939, was falling farther and farther
behind the competition in both power and fuel economy. Lacking the
budget to design a completely new engine, the engineering staff
converted the 170 CID engine to overhead valves while retaining
much of the basic design. The ?new? six, which offered the same
displacement as before, went from 90 to 112 horsepower. The
redesigned motor, known as the ?Skybolt Six,? was marketed by
Studebaker extensively in 1961. Other engineering improvements that
modernized the 1961 Larks included the introduction of cowl
ventilation, suspended brake and clutch pedals (accompanied by a
firewall-mounted brake master cylinder) and revamped steering
systems. Nineteen sixty-one marked a busy year for the U.S. auto
industry. Everyone was still becoming used to selling, seeing and
owning more than one class of domestic vehicles. Until the late
?50s, full-size, with very few exceptions, was the only size. As
imports like Volkswagen?s Beetle began making serious inroads into
America, and Nash?s Rambler began climbing the sales charts between
1957 and 1960, Detroit realized this wasn?t a fad. The Lark had to
fly through a lot of compact competition in 1961 ? Chevrolet?s
Corvair 700, Buick?s Special, Dodge?s Lancer 170, Ford?s Falcon
170, Mercury?s Comet, Oldsmobile?s F-85, Plymouth?s Valiant V200,
Pontiac?s Tempest and Rambler?s American Deluxe. Documentation
include the original owner?s manual. Looking for a clean and solid
car that runs and drives great, while looking different than most
early 1960s cars? You should stop by MotoeXotica Classic Cars to
check out this Lark today! VIN: 61S26278 This car is currently
located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on
the odometer shows 63,246 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a
clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!? Note:
Please see full terms and conditions listed below that pertain to
the purchase of any said vehicle, thank you.
