Vehicle Description
Now THIS is how you build a station wagon the right way! Big 350 V8
power, great bodywork punctuated by an attention-grabbing paint
job, room for the whole family inside the bespoke cabin, and a
low-down stance all make this 1961 Studebaker Lark Restomod wagon
the coolest ride we've seen in quite some time. The fact that it's
also surprisingly affordable, was finished only 4202 miles ago, and
ready to rock right now is only icing on the cake.
Wagons are still hot and when you do them right, everyone sits up
and notices. The Lark shape was designed by Raymond Loewy, the same
brilliant guy who designed some of the best looking, most dramatic
cars of the 1950s and 1960s. It was compact and designed to be
practical, but there are plenty of dramatic elements that make it
really stand out. Up front you get the traditional Studebaker
trapezoidal grille flanked by big round headlights, and the side
trim takes a long stroll down the flanks - separating the two
dynamic colors on the body while making it look sporty, not frumpy.
The taillights are mounted in their own little sculpted pods and
the side trim just hooks around out back to give it a very finished
look. This no longer looks like an economy car, does it? The
two-tone Tangelo Orange and White (the latter of which was borrowed
from the 1969 Camaro color chart) paint is far from subtle yet
still sophisticated, making the otherwise reasonable Stude
practically demand attention, and obviously it was done by pros
because it's beautifully finished. It's a super-smooth finish that
looks miles deep and is very lustrous, especially when our lights
stream across all those straight panels, and although it's no
longer perfect (the wagon has been enjoyed for 4202 miles since it
was completed after all), any imperfections one might are very
minor. Indeed, this is a top driver-quality rig
through-and-through, and if I were a betting man, I'd wager this
beauty's trophy-winning days are far from over as well. The chrome
bumpers were polished to match the brightwork and seemingly hug the
body a little tighter than stock, the body has obviously been
lowered, and the side mirrors and badges were shaved, but those
seem to be the only deviation; it's the color and the stance that
makes this car look so awesome!
The interior got a dramatic makeover as well, starting with a pair
of tan leather bench seats, matching door panels, plush Mercedes
carpets, and all the creature comforts. Custom door panels
complement the exterior styling, and you'll note the billet
hardware that adds the perfect amount of flash inside. A custom
Con2R two-tone steering wheel on an Ididit tilt column makes it
easy to get comfortable and the original gauges have been replaced
by a set of Dakota Digital dials in the dash that keep a close eye
n the upgraded engine under the hood. Vintage Air supplied the A/C
system in the custom center stack below the dash, and the between
the tan pad and the two-tone paint, there's not a single part of
the dash that wasn't completely reworked to match the theme of the
build. An AM/FM/Cassette/AUX stereo head unit was neatly installed
and sounds great, an E-STOPP electric parking brake was integrated
with a button in the glove box, and all the electronics are
good-to-go thanks to a full Ron Francis wiring harness stashed
inside the cabin. A chrome shifter on the column manages a TH200-4R
4-speed automatic transmission, making this car easy to drive and
it feels quite modern from behind the wheel, and even the billet
pedals help improve the driving experience. It's also practical, as
you have a good-sized rear bench seat and plenty of room in the
rear cargo area that's been outfitted to match the rest of the
interior.
But the big news is the full drivetrain transplant, highlighted by
the 350 H.O. V8 crate engine under the hood. It fits so neatly in
the Studebaker engine bay that you'd swear it was born there and it
still delivers big horsepower on demand. And speaking of that
engine bay, it's a thing of beauty with smoothed and painted inner
fenders and firewall and the actual block itself that really pops
out with plenty of chrome and orange on the valve covers, air
cleaner, and even the plug wires. There's an Edelbrock 4-barrel on
top of a chromed edelbrock intake that helps build power, long-tube
headers that help it breather, and an HEI ignition that helps it
fire right up and run like a dream. It's backed by a TH200-4R
4-speed automatic transmission spinning a S-10 10-bolt rear end
filled with 3.73 gears, so it'll cruise as well as it did back in
the early days of the interstate, and with a pair of Flowmaster
mufflers, there's a fantastic V8 burble while you do it. A Fatman
Mustang II-style front suspension features power steering, disk
brakes, polished upper and lower stainless-steel A-arms, and
RideTech coilover shocks, along with heavy-duty air shocks out back
that help stance the stance, and because it's all been put together
the right way this wagon drives like a dream. Color-matched Wheel
Vintiques steelies are adorned with shiny beauty rings and center
bullet caps, and they come wrapped in 205/65/15 front and 225/60/15
rear diamondback whitewall radials that finish off the look
perfectly. From the Waterloo award for outstanding workmanship at a
Super Chevy Show, Dare to be different award at Goodguys event to
the 5 page article in Super Rod Magazine brings out the best!
Documented with restoration photos and build receipts and a full
magazine spread, this awesome restomod wagon is very easy to love.
Comfortable, quick, and ready for just about anything, it's a great
way to enjoy a road trip the old-fashioned way. Call today!
