In 1960, Car magazine named Studebaker’s Lark sedan its best buy among American automobiles.
The magazine said the Lark “will do anything and go anywhere, at a lower cost.” In 1960, a customer could buy a new, two-door Lark for payments of about $43 a month for 36 months, assuming 6% interest on the loan. The Lark also offered great fuel economy for the time, 22 miles per gallon of gas.
Studebaker also sold the Champ pickup truck, which it described as “handsome and husky.”
Too bad the driving public didn’t buy enough Larks and Champs. By the mid-1960s, Studebaker had ceased production.
Still, in 1960, there were three Studebaker dealerships in Chattanooga, including Patten Motor Co. at 1237 S. Broad St., pictured in the accompanying photo. There were also Studebaker stores at 2435 Rossville Blvd. here and in Rossville, Georgia.