1963 marked the last year of Studebaker car and truck manufacturing in the U.S., and yet a unique station wagon like this was offered. The Wagonaire had a rear roof panel that slides forward to accommodate tall loads as the tailgate is lowered and also slides outward. A Lark four door sedan could have a sliding sun roof also. There were four Studebaker models this year starting with the Lark Six, then Lark Eight, Gran Turismo Hawk, and the Avanti. Studebaker came in two and four door sedans, with the names of Standard, Regal, Cruiser and Custom, plus a convertible and this station wagon. This Lark Six Wagonaire had a base price of $ 2,700 while the Lark Eight Wagonaire had a base price of $ 2,835. All Lark's had a wheelbase of 113 inches and this Wagonaire has the 289 cubic V8 with 195 horsepower. A four speed automatic transmission becomes available on select V8 Larks which this example also has. Power steering and power brakes are also included. As unique as this Wagonaire is, the sliding roof was prone to leaks, but remember that these are the last days of Studebaker and time, money, and engineering were degraded. However, Studebaker began installation of front seatbelts in March of '63 ahead of other automakers following suit staring in the following year. Sad days for the iconic Studebaker brand for this year the company posts a net loss for the year of $ 28 million and production declines more than 20 % as Studebaker sells just 69,555 cars for the model year. I guess one could consider this sliding roof wagon almost like a good-bye gift from the iconic and historic Studebaker legacy. Thanks for viewing.
