1959 Studebaker Lark Wagon on Bring a TrailerBring a Trailer (Bring a Trailer)Tired of colorless modern traffic? Here's a Studebaker that's in the pink.Not just a cheery face, this wagon also has some potent upgrades under the hood.The car is located in Napa Valley, so there's an opportunity here for a fly-out, drive-back wine tour.Have you tried to order a car in an interesting color lately? You've likely got a choice of black, white, gray, dark gray, maybe blue or red if you're lucky. Even the lively little MX-5 Miata saves its brightest hues for special-edition variants, and the movie title Fifty Shades of Grey pretty much describes an Audi showroom.There was a time, though, when car shoppers could choose from all manner of colors, even brave choices.Bring a Trailer (Bring a Trailer)Take, for example, this little Studebaker wagon, a 1959 Lark VI Deluxe for sale on Bring a Trailer. Finished in Tahiti Coral, it's the color of a 1950s bathroom, the kind of thing you could imagine a Mad Men character driving while wearing white gloves and a dress straight out of Vogue.Bring a Trailer (Bring a Trailer)Nobody involved in the design or engineering of this car ever even heard of the Nürburgring, let alone used the words "aggressive new grille" when writing PR copy. This is a happy car, as joyful as the tune of the songbird it's named after. It's the exact opposite of one of those frowny-faced Jeep Wrangler builds.AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, this Lark packs a bit of a punch. Under the hood is a Studebaker Champion 169-cubic-inch inline-six, paired with a three-speed manual transmission. It's no V-8, but this example has been fitted with a high-compression head, Offenhauser dial intake manifold, and twin carburetors. It's also been ported and polished, with overbore pistons and ceramic-coated headers.Bring a Trailer (Bring a Trailer)Total power output isn't listed, but figure a significant bump over the stock 100 horsepower, and these engines are known to be overbuilt. Given that this car weighs around the same as a modern Honda Civic, that's plenty punchy with a three-on-the-tree shifter. Highway speeds should be no problem.Bring a Trailer (Bring a Trailer)Even more fun is this car's location: California's Napa Valley. The winning bidder could easily fly out, then tour around picking up crates of wine to take home. A sparkling rosé would make for the perfect apéritif after a drive in this little Studebaker.If you want a modern car with this much personality, well, you could always do a vinyl wrap. Meantime, this wagon is ready to put a smile on its new owner's face, cruising on down the road. After all, driving a vintage car should feel like a lark.The auction ends on May 27.You Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029
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