There's just so much room! We'll all be comfortable. And gas mileage? I have no idea what sort of mileage this car gets.
Click on image to see it larger.
Let's just say we're having a lark in our Lark. I'm sure nobody ever said that before. I'm obviously the first. I do think "lark" defines this trip across America, motel after motel:
lark noun
something done for fun, esp. something mischievous or daring; an amusing adventure or escapadeNow, I've got to go because I'm expecting a special call.
Click on image to see it larger.
Posts
Studebaker's Lark enjoyed a fine honeymoon in 1959, due to the fact that it had only one direct US competitor---Nash's Rambler American, which was quite old hat by '59. Lark stumbled in 1960 with the introduction of a plethora of relative compacts: Ford's Falcon, Chrysler's Valiant (initially it's own brand before being absorbed by Plymouth) and GM's fleet of BOP 'little' cousins: Buick Skylark, Olds F-85 and the Pontiac Tempest. Lark came with a choice of a six or eight cylinder motor, and theoretically the six with a standard shift three on the tree with automatic overdrive could deliver over 25 MPG on a road trip. The six cylinder had a long pedigree going back to Studebaker's new 1939 Champion---and in 1940 a fully loaded Champion won its class in the Gilmore-Yosemite Economy Run by averaging 29.19 MPG.
ReplyDeleteThanks Daniel!
DeleteWas the Valiant the one with the pushbutton transmission? I remember a friend having a car with the stupid buttons. She was a scary driver to begin with and the buttons just made it even scarier.
Yes, the Valiant had a push button automatic. Chrysler Corp introduced Push Button Torque-Flite and Power-Flite in '56 and held on to the concept a lot longer than necessary---1964, which means the all the 'road toad' Valiant bodies (60-63) could be equipped as well as the first year of the second generation more traditionally styled body. Packard had Push Button Ultramatic and Edsel had Teletouch in the center of the steering column. At first the buttons were simply Drive Low Neutral Reverse---Park came later. All these electric shift methods were problematic, which is why mechanical column and later floor shift became the industry standard.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. My friend had a light green Valiant which did indeed look like a road toad. I still remember driving on a two lane road in the Sierra's when she decided to pass another car at the bottom of the hill. It was terrifying, especially when we'd managed to make it around several cars and she happily boasted to all of us that "That was the first time I've ever passed a car!" Reading your comment has me thinking I'm lucky to be here.
Delete