Bob Carlberg of Rialto, California (and his dog, Rambler) took three full years to build and paint his 1963 Studebaker Daytona Lark Wagonaire, and handled the entire process himself, except for the front seats.
It runs a Chevrolet Small Block and TH350 and send power to the rear with an uncut ’58 Chevrolet driveshaft. This rare car has appeared at many car shows and participates annually in the San Bernardino Classic Car Christmas parade.
Bob tells us that the two-tone paint took him two tries, “but it’s a lot better than just white”, he says. “When people see the roof, they think I did it!”. The wheels were annexed from a 1996 Ford Mustang Cobra and are wrapped in 245/17s.
About the 1963-66 Studebaker Daytona Lark Wagonaire
Combining Pickup truck utility with passenger car comfort, this innovative vehicle was the first mass-produced station wagon to offer a sliding roof over the cargo area. Fabricated on a convertible frame for maximum rigidity, the Wagonaire originally featured a standard 259-cubic inch V-8 engine, overdrive, power front-wheel disc brakes and a fold-down, rear-facing third seat.
Advertisements pitched the Wagonaire as “three cars in one.” It could function as a work wagon, a family sedan, and — with the top rolled forward — a convertible. Properly equipped, the Wagonaire boasted a fourth personality: muscle car. The standard 170-cubic-inch in-line six was nothing special, but 259- and 289-cubic-inch V-8s were options.
Wagonaire wagons were often used for long-distance family camping trips where its reliability and carrying capacity could be fully appreciated.
Photos of Bob Carlberg’s 1963 Studebaker Daytona Lark Wagonaire as spotted by Roadkill Customs at the 2017 LA International Auto Show…
Studebaker Lark Daytona Wagonaire TV Commercial
Here’s something for you to see… The swingin’est wagon that’ll ever be… You’ve never seen a car to compare… To the Lark Daytona Wagonaire!
