Studebaker Lark Wagonaire Roof

Aside from the avanti the biggest product news for studebaker in 1963 was the introduction of the novel sliding roof wagonaire.

Studebaker lark wagonaire roof.

Especially when you consider this 1964 studebaker lark waonaire station wagon s rear retractable roof. The studebaker wagonaire was based on the standard lark station wagon body that was modified above the beltline. This top of the line daytona wagonaire sold for 2 835 and had the base v8. This sliding roof wagon again shows how studebaker engineers were always attempting to offer more innovative products.

The roof was designed with a panel over the cargo bay that manually retracted into and then locked into position in the forward section of the roof above the rear passenger s seat. Located in scotts valley california it is available here on craigslist for 6 850. The 1960s studebaker lark wagonaire was the first crossover the 1960s studebaker lark wagonaire was the first crossover billed as three cars in one it had features including a sliding cargo area. The wagonaire was a restyled lark that had a distinctive rear roof that slid forward greatly expanding the cargo space.

Studebaker advertising promoted their unique roof feature by showing families loading up in the open cargo area with kids dogs and even a playground slide. Actions that would get you pulled over nowadays. A fixed roof delete option was rushed into production in january 1963 and the sealing system was improved but by 1966 the lark wagonaire name applied only to fixed roof wagons. Designed by stevens the wagonaire was perhaps the greatest advance in station wagons since the late 1940s introduction of the all steel body.

Stevens who also redesigned the lark s exterior sheet metal for 1963 seamlessly integrated the sliding roof panel into the four door wagon body shell which rode on the south bend automaker s longer 113 inch wheelbase chassis. Base models of the wagonaire had fixed sheetmetal in place of the sliding roof. A rare and cool car retractable roof for surfboards. As created by studebaker s last ditch design savior brooks stevens the wagonaire was an imperfect car with clear compromises made in the name of cost savings.

It s a go anywhere take everybody go have fun kind of vehicle.