I enjoy when friends and family send me photos of old cars found in everyday settings, and it’s hard to top this one. Not only is this a Studebaker, but it’s a rare Lark two-door wagon. Even better, this Lark has an Arizona license plate, yet my brother-in-law photographed it 1,400 miles away at a Missouri Walmart. This weathered car’s story, and its trip halfway across the continent must be quite a tale – but since that’s unknown, we might as well focus on this unusual wagon itself.
Studebaker introduced the Lark in 1959 to compete in the then-burgeoning compact car market. Satisfying customers’ desire for affordable, basic transportation, Larks sold well in their first two years, with over 130,000 of the compact Studebakers finding homes in ’59, and slightly less for 1960. Nearly a decade had passed since Studebaker had sold that many cars. Given Studebaker’s limited budget, its “new” compact was really a heavily facelifted (and shrunken) standard Studebaker, a model that had debuted for 1953. But the end result looked new enough to gain customers’ interest.
For its first year, Larks came in four body styles – a four-door sedan, two-door hardtop, two-door sedan… and the quirkiest variant, a two-door station wagon.
Though an unorthodox body style, the two-door wagon still accounted for one-fifth of total 1959 Lark sales. Larks were offered both six-cylinder and V-8 versions, oddly designated by Roman numerals. For 1959, the Lark VI accounted for about three-quarters of total Lark sales, wagons being no exception.
1960 brought two new models to the Lark line: A convertible, and a four-door wagon. That year also brought new competition, as GM, Ford and Chrysler all released compact car lines of their own. Studebaker’s head start still provided the Lark momentum in 1960; overall Lark sales dipped only slightly to about 122,000. Wagons still comprised about one-fifth of total sales, however, most wagon customers were drawn to the new four-door. Only 5,231 two-door Lark wagons left Studebaker’s South Bend assembly line for 1960. Even fewer were built for ’61, after which Studebaker pulled the plug and continued with only four-door wagons, leaving this car an orphan body style for a soon-to-be orphan marque. In other words, the perfect curbside classic a few decades later.
With that introduction out of the way, we can take a look at our featured car.
This was a fresh face – certainly devoid of pretension, but that was appealing during an economic downturn when customers sought new, practical products. Importantly, this design effectively masked that that the car was based on the familiar, larger Studebaker sold throughout the previous decade. Bucking late 1950s design trends, Lark debuted with just two headlights, though quad lights became optional in 1961, and then standard in ’62.
One can only guess about this car’s previous life, but the faded parking decal on the bumper appears to be from Naval Station San Diego. A lifetime in Southern California undoubtedly contributed to this Lark’s longevity and rust-free body.
Here we see the two-door wagon’s profile. While still compact, Lark wagons were 10 inches longer than the rest of the Lark flock, and rode on a 113″ wheelbase, 4.5″ longer than the others. In 1959, two-door Lark wagons were available in either Deluxe or higher-end Regal trim levels, but when the four-door wagon joined the lineup for 1960, the two-door was demoted to only Deluxe trim. Four-door wagons immediately outsold two-doors, even in the Deluxe trim level in which they were both sold. The 5,231 two-door Lark wagons sold for 1960 compared to nearly 19,000 four-door wagons.
While this example is a six-cylinder Deluxe, which presumably was a bargain purchase when new, this wagon does have one notable accessory – the rooftop luggage rack.
These luggage racks sold for about $40.00, available through Studebaker dealers.
Here’s where the Lark proudly proclaims its VI-cylinder engine. For 1960, 3,497 of the 5,231 two-door wagons were sixes. For the four-door wagons, not only were sales higher, but most of those cars were V-8 powered, too.
Seeing this front fender Lark badge is a clue that this car is a ’60 instead of a ’59. The fender badges on the ’59s said “Studebaker” instead.
Our featured Lark’s rear features relics from both recent and more distant times. A sun-bleached “Happy Birthday America” bumper sticker is likely a vestige from the 1976 bicentennial celebration. Meanwhile, as a license plate enthusiast, I’m drawn to the car’s “Live the Golden Rule” Arizona plate. This plate – available to Arizonans since 2008 – is sponsored by an Interfaith organization that promotes the Golden Rule’s message of doing to others what you would have them do to you. It’s the only license plate of its kind that I’m aware of, and the message is certainly something we could use more of about now.
For those who are interested, here’s an unobstructed view of the plate’s design, featuring the Grand Canyon and a saguaro cactus.
And of course, I can’t help thinking that whoever drove the Lark from Arizona to a Mid-Missouri Walmart’s Auto Care center is undertaking an epic road trip.
Studebaker produced these cars with periodic design upgrades until 1966 (ditching the Lark name in ’64), but the relatively good times of 1959-60 never returned. Unfortunately, by the early 1960s, both the Lark and its manufacturer were flailing. The two-door station wagon ended up as an unusual footnote to the Lark story, and its presence was a mere blip at the end of Studebaker’s long history.
Given the distance this car seemed to have traveled, and its location at a random Walmart, I assume the Lark is now in some other locale, hopefully continuing its road trip. Its driver won’t likely come across any other two-door station wagons… or Studebakers for that matter.
Photographed in Jefferson City, Missouri in November 2025.
Related Reading:
1959 Studebaker Lark VIII Regal Hardtop Coupe: Studebaker’s Last Hurrah by Paul Niedermeyer
The Short And Odd Life Of The Two Door Station Wagon by Paul Niedermeyer
Dang, a two-door Studebaker wagon was sitting a mile from my house and somebody else nabs it! :). That’s okay; I actively avoid this particular Walmart. Many, many thanks to OT for finding this – it was a great catch.
These are rather dorky looking but so endearing all at the same time. Really, whoever is driving this car across the country chose well. Eye-catching, roomy, and thrifty all at the same time; it’s a terrific combination that would be even better if this Studebaker has a factory overdrive system. This would be a really fun car to travel in.
Ironically, I’ve seen another Lark in Jeff City – a slightly later (quad-headlight) sedan. But this wagon really blew my mind. I’d like to know the stories of all the cars I write up, but especially this one!
I like this one. The patina on the hood is even enough that from the frontal view it almost looks like it has two-tone paint…
Besides one-per-side headlights, the Lark also bucked the 1959 trend by not having tail fins. And by not being huge.
Do the rear side windows slide open à la Chevy Nomad or just roll down? Or neither?
At first I thought the tires were ancient, dry-rotted whitewalls from a long-gone era, but on closer inspection they’re a current model, Travelstar 205/75R15 97S whitewalls, and what do ya know, they sell them at Walmart! We have a repeat customer here. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Travelstar-UN106-All-Season-205-75R15-97S-Passenger-Tire/1693647774
It was also one of the few domestic ’59s to avoid the elephant-on-roller-skates look of too much body for its’ wheels, along with the senior Ramblers and the “Wide-Track” Pontiacs, although those last don’t pull it off quite as well because they have the same too-horizontal proportions and too-small wheels, just closer to the wheelarches.
The Lark actually had larger wheels and tires than the longer ’58 cars it replaced, going from 14″ on the ’58s to 15″ on the ’59 Lark.
The rear side windows slide open.
Wow – that’s surprising. And I thought whitewall tires were tough to obtain. Looks like any Walmart can get them! Great catch.
the Hankook Kinergy ST H735 is a more reputable, mainstream brand that also offers whitewalls in that size (and several others)
Nice find, a simple useful wagon, not a throw away.
Cool find! I too get sent photos of cars by distant friends, although usually they’re of things like Cybertrucks or other not so uncommon vehicles that nevertheless seem uncommon to the photographers.
I love this Lark. It has that level of simplicity and boxiness that appeals to me across the ages. This one has several charming touches, such as the (golf ball?) antenna topper. Back in 1960, this wagon would have been one of dozens of cars in the shopping center parking lot with a similar accessory. (I never understood antenna toppers, but I do recall when just about everyone had them, thereby rendering them entirely pointless. It needs curb feelers to round out the early 60s surburban vibe.) Great desert patina too.
While I would never recommend taking a car to Walmart for service, I’ll bet this one has been receiving such service for 60 years and has done just fine. So much for my prejudices.
Finally, I really like the ads you feature. The “Landlubber” one is just wacky. At first I missed the point that the two people in the car were children and I wondered why the ad involved what seemed to be giants standing on the Lark’s roof. Well, even if they’re just standard adults, it still might not have been such a good idea to perch up there.
Then again, sheet metal was definitely thicker in 1960.
I almost took a photo of a black-wrapped Cybertruck a few days ago, but it was well after sunset and the photo would not have captured the context. The truck, very dirty, was picking up a load of organic fertilizer at a backyard fruit tree growers’ event at our local Grange. The parking lot was actually quite eclectic but there were no Studebakers.
I can oblige…bit of a contrast!
I love that Landlubber ad too – just completely goofy. The ad department must’ve run out of relevant ideas that day.
That’s so true about some people getting their cars serviced at Walmarts for years and doing just fine. Kind of like my neighbor who told me that in the 1980s he impulse-bought a new roof for his house at Sears. He’s the kind of person who tends to have good luck with that kind of thing.
A less eccentric semi-Exner than my ’62 Valiant V-200 Wagon. Nice Find!
Imagine one of those with the R-3 or R2 Avanti Supercharger Setup swapped into and lurking under the hood!
I bet that if anyone were going to hot rod now, they would use the well-proven 3G Hemi or an LS.
Given the very visible dual exhausts at the rear, this undoubtedly has something other than its original flathead six under the hood. We can only speculate…
What a great wagon! Although we could speculate for days, I truly want to know how a wagon with an Arizona plate ends up in Missouri. Sadly, it’s probably something boilerplate; the owner probably bought the car online, had it shipped, and is getting new tires or something before getting a new plate.
I hope it’s on a long journey though.
A great find of a very endearing little car. As I mentioned in another comment, it obviously does not have its original engine, but it’s in lovely shape otherwise.
As to the “anachronistic” two door wagon body style, it might be useful to remember that 2-door wagons were very common in the ’50s. Actually, they were the dominant variant in the early days of the wagon’s ascendancy; Ford only had 2-door wagons until 1952, Willys throughout the whole decades, and Plymouth’s 1949 2-door all-steel wagon really kicked off the affordable family wagon boom in the ’50s. Chevrolet actually added 2-door wagons starting in 1955 because of their popularity.
The reason that the Lark used a 113″ wb on these wagons was because the whole rear part of the body borrowed heavily from their 2-door wagon that arrived in 1954. They couldn’t readily cut it shorter like they did with the rear of the sedans.
I know it probably wouldn’t be worth the cost in added value, but I think it would be cool to see it fully restored.
Hoping for 3-on-the tree …..
I like it! A nice right sized 2 door car with lots of storage in the back, and still room to fit it into the carport at home.
Love that Lark! That little part of the vintage ad is still relevant today.
I would love to know the reason for the change in the rear greenhouse section on the 2 door wagon from 1959 to 1960. It looks like they re-used the original (1954-58) 2 door wagon body for the 1959, but with 2 and 4 door variations for 1960 this version must have been the cheapest adaptation.
The biggest problem with photos sent by friends is that they almost never get a picture of the interior. Oh well. Here is one I found of the top trim Regal version – Studebaker did a really nice job on these interiors. They lack the typical late 50’s American car vibe, and have more of an upmarket German look to them.
Thanks! That’s a nice twofer shot, with an Impala SS in the background!
I knew the rear greenhouse looked a bit airier than I remembered, but didn’t notice there was actually a difference. The barely-there C pillar helps the look a lot actually. My signifier for ’60 vs. ’59 (other than being a 4 door wagon or convertible) was the grille badge on the ’60, unusually positioned at the bottom center.
I would love to know the reason for the change in the rear greenhouse section on the 2 door wagon from 1959 to 1960
The rear windows did not open at all on that older ’54-59 station wagon (image of ’59 below). That was probably an increasing liability, so they just changed the panel that surrounds the rear side windows, removed that pillar and that made the rear side window a slider. Not really a big or expensive change at all, just a single panel that fit between the rear quarter panel and the roof. Everything else stayed the same.
In general I find the post Larks dowdy looking .
This cute little sportabout looks nice, pleasing lines throughout .
I couldn’t handle the rust through the paint as RUST NEVER SLEEPS ~ maybe it could be clear coated to maintain the patina without allowing it to rust away .
-Nate
I didn’t realize that these came in a three-row version. Makes sense.