Studebaker lark drag car

[canadianal]

I came across a studebaker lark yesterday, body and glass in good shape no drivetrain. Its a 4 door but a neat little car .
What does anybody know about these cars, re frames suspension ect.
The guy wants 300.00 for the car .
I have a evil idea about stripping the thing down,building up the 454 i have ,put a cage in it and take it to the track.
They seem to be a very light car to begin with and i wonder how much one could pare it down to completly stripped.
I admitt its a fugly car but i think it would look cool with a hood scoop and some rubber under it.
A hambster t bucket it would not be but if i could get it light enough i think a mild 454 or 496 would make it move pretty good

[techinspector1]

I raced a '59 2-dr hardtop when I was a kid. Have seen all kinds of motors in them, including the big Cadillacs. You need another 500 in your stable Al. No frame, unibody.

[Bob Parmenter]

Dave Koffel did it...........

[hotrodstude]

all studebakers have frames under them,stude never made a unibody,never. if its a 6-cylinder car the frame is thinner steel that a v-8 car.i ahve a62 lark 2-door sedan witha r-1 engine in it. just about any engine will fit . but i'm keeping mine stude powered.they are a preety tought engine.

[techinspector1]

all studebakers have frames under them,stude never made a unibody,never.

You could be right. It has been 45 years since I looked at one and my mind could have made a few turns since then. Thanks for responding.

[Matt167]

local mechanic in town has a '63. think it's a 2dr.. completly stock, never been restored but it doesn't need restored. it's been well cared for.. nice car...

[MrWizard455]

I always liked the Stude Lark, even once had a chance to buy one AND had 1 friend who HAD a Golden Hawk, which just an upscale or top of the line Lark called the Golden Hawk.
as i recall the Golden Hawks were a lil runner, could b had with a paxton supercharged 289 Ford mtr and the lil buggers would flat scoot, watched my friend spank a whole lotta folk with his EVEN after it began to smoke n use oil, after he rebuilt/built the engine and went to a Ford Top Loader 4spd, he would either break the rear or fry the tires or bog the car to keep from doin either in order to get the car off the line, and the lil sucker would actually go get BIG BLOCKS on the top side, i think i may have made as much money bettin on the car as he did....if u like it, buy it, especially at 300 bucks, lil buggers are kinda lite too!!!

[dmw56]

I've been around Studebakers since day one. I still a 50 Champion and a 54 3R pu. I'd buy that lark in a second. Any V8 will fit in there, they are pretty light and suspension parts are available at NAPA.

Studes had a 289 but it was not a Ford engine it was a Stude!! They did use Chevy SB their last years though.

[shoprat]

Not to be negative, but the 289 was not a Ford mtr and the Golden Hawk was
not even close to a Lark. There's a Black Lark out here running a 500 Cad that runs
in the 10's.