1959 Studebaker Lark
Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 1:00 am
Without even trying, I recently stumbled upon the exact year model & the very particular body style Studebaker Lark... that I’ve wanted to own for many years now.
After attempting to import one via a sketchy agent/website, at substantial cost back in 2012/13, I gave up and went for an EK Sedan instead - that car was The HOF, the thread for that build is still up in the My FB/EK gallery and makes mention of my failed attempt at buying the Stude.
While I was surfing Ebay last week for a cheap roller/unfinished project car to house the ex-Chev Impala driveline that my brother and I have wound up with... I spotted this car under a listing titled ‘Collector Car’. I quickly figured out that his ad wasn’t appearing when I searched EBay using the words ‘Studebaker’ or ‘Lark’.... then wondered that it might go completely under the radar.
So I waited and watched and sure enough, the auction ended without there being a single bid. So I called up the owner.
Lovely older bloke answered, telling me how he paid a pretty penny to bring it over from LA last year but soon after, developed heart troubles, then decided he should move the car on before he starts pulling it apart, fearing he’d have a hard time selling it in pieces if his condition got worse.
Bit of a sad story, but I couldn’t believe what was unfolding: the precise car I wanted, already in the country, with the all important Federal Government stamped import papers included... and a bloke who straight out tells me how much money he wants for it. And I’m not telling how little that sum was - I feel guilty enough as it is.
So I hit the road in my little Mirage at 5am Saturday morning, balling the jack 8.5 hours cross country to find this scene waiting for me at the other end:
Oh and I’m not superstitious, but there is definitely something weird/serendipitous going on with the original California number plates being so close to the HOF plates of my aforementioned EK Sedan:
After a very thorough inspection (the only rust is in the LHF/R floorboards & bubbles in both lower front fenders) I bought it, no haggling, no hesitation.
Soon, I’ll be trailering the Stude home and putting it into storage until I’m ready. The shell on this car is so damn good, I reckon it’s gonna be my ‘forever after’ car. In the meantime, I gotta finish Leroy the Ute!
Anyway, there ya have it. Still can’t believe this is happening!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
After attempting to import one via a sketchy agent/website, at substantial cost back in 2012/13, I gave up and went for an EK Sedan instead - that car was The HOF, the thread for that build is still up in the My FB/EK gallery and makes mention of my failed attempt at buying the Stude.
While I was surfing Ebay last week for a cheap roller/unfinished project car to house the ex-Chev Impala driveline that my brother and I have wound up with... I spotted this car under a listing titled ‘Collector Car’. I quickly figured out that his ad wasn’t appearing when I searched EBay using the words ‘Studebaker’ or ‘Lark’.... then wondered that it might go completely under the radar.
So I waited and watched and sure enough, the auction ended without there being a single bid. So I called up the owner.
Lovely older bloke answered, telling me how he paid a pretty penny to bring it over from LA last year but soon after, developed heart troubles, then decided he should move the car on before he starts pulling it apart, fearing he’d have a hard time selling it in pieces if his condition got worse.
Bit of a sad story, but I couldn’t believe what was unfolding: the precise car I wanted, already in the country, with the all important Federal Government stamped import papers included... and a bloke who straight out tells me how much money he wants for it. And I’m not telling how little that sum was - I feel guilty enough as it is.
So I hit the road in my little Mirage at 5am Saturday morning, balling the jack 8.5 hours cross country to find this scene waiting for me at the other end:
Oh and I’m not superstitious, but there is definitely something weird/serendipitous going on with the original California number plates being so close to the HOF plates of my aforementioned EK Sedan:
After a very thorough inspection (the only rust is in the LHF/R floorboards & bubbles in both lower front fenders) I bought it, no haggling, no hesitation.
Soon, I’ll be trailering the Stude home and putting it into storage until I’m ready. The shell on this car is so damn good, I reckon it’s gonna be my ‘forever after’ car. In the meantime, I gotta finish Leroy the Ute!
Anyway, there ya have it. Still can’t believe this is happening!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
) and that number plate mate is just too much of a coincidence, congratulations, sometimes you just have to pull the trigger when the opportunity comes along.
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