STUDEBAKER 1963 LARK CRUISER R1 AVANTI POWERED - A genuine performance Sleeper

STUDEBAKER 

1963 LARK CRUISER - R1 AVANTI POWERED

A GENUINE SLEEPER

This is a rare beast. 

Back in 1963 Studebaker decided to offer customers the option of having motors from the newly released Avanti installed in the Lark and Hawk range.

They took a bunch of cars to Bonneville Salt Flats in late 1962 and broke 360 production car speed records. The Avanti became America's fastest production car topping out at 161mph on the flying mile.

The Larks and Hawks were not as sleek as the Avanti but managed 132mph for the Lark and 140mph for the Hawk in supercharged form.

Not many Avanti Powered Larks were built. I can't find my book with the exact numbers at the moment.

I bought this car from San Francisco in 2014. I did have it registered but stored the car whilst I worked on my other Studebakers.

This car has always been a driver quality machine. It's a good honest car that hides nothing. 

As such it's a great introductory car to the hobby.

The Lark Cruiser was the 'Top of the Line' model in the Lark range. 

This car was ordered new in San Francisco with an R1 motor. All R1 motors had chrome rocker covers, 4 barrel carburettors and return fuel lines to the petrol tank. 

All R series automatic transmissions were Heavy Duty and more rugged than the standard automatics offered.

Painted in the original Studebaker colour of Green Mist, this car has a 289ci V8 with automatic transmission, power steering, air-conditioning, tinted glass and radio. 

These are great driving options. Everything works, except the AM radio which is a bit dodgy.

In the past year I have been preparing the car for the road again. 

I have gone through the braking system with new master cylinder, slave cylinders, flexible brake hoses, rubber fuel hoses, installed new front springs and shock absorbers, added a new seal kit to the power steering ram, and had the front end apart to check for ware. Rebuilt the central Bell Crank with new pin and bushings and replaced one tie rod assembly with an excellent used one I had in my spares collection.

When the rear brakes were apart the rear half shaft axles were removed to grease the outer bearings. A new set of genuine white wall tyres have been fitted to the American Racing mag wheels. A multiple of little jobs have also been done

I do all my own work as I have been playing with Studebakers in the three countries I have lived around the globe, including North America for 38 years.

Before I bought the car the previous owner had the automatic transmission and torque convertor rebuilt at a cost of US $2500.00 

The exhaust system was replaced around 2005 and I would guess the American Racing wheels were added at the same time.

The previous owner, Bill Carlson had about 20 Studebakers and owned Jack's Bar in Fisherman's Wharf. Many jazz greats played in that bar over the years.

All his cars were used and always parked on the street behind his bar. As such this Lark is probably the most photographed Lark on the planet.

This is not a perfect car by any means, but it is an excellent driver and sounds awesome. The paint and chrome are not perfect and show their age, but have plenty of life left in them. Two of the doors have some very minor rust bubbles in the lower edges.

It's a car set up so you can drive it home and improve if you wish.

All the hard technical work has been done to this car that will let you drive this car for many years to come.

In my experience, it is always hard to find well prepared, functional and very original cars here in Europe. This is one of them.

More detailed images are available on request. The V5 is in my name.

I am also the Editor of the Studebaker Owners Club UK, so if you need any advice on Studebaker's I am always available.

Contact Greg Diffen 44 774 803 6035

See pictures for details.

SHIPPING INFORMATION

Viewing can be arranged by appointment from the CV34 5PJ area.

Payment by direct transfer with release of car on cleared funds.

I am happy to help with shipping anywhere world wide or into Europe

Thanks for looking.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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