.

the car junkie daily magazine.

.

Why Dare To Be Different Matters: This 1964 Studebaker Daytona Would Be A History Lesson To Most Show-Goers!


Why Dare To Be Different Matters: This 1964 Studebaker Daytona Would Be A History Lesson To Most Show-Goers!

Most 1964 model year cars are well known, well documented, and most gearheads could rattle off the stats to you. The 1964 Ford Mustang, the year Ford stunned the world with what a simple rebody of the Falcon could actually do for sales. The 1964 Plymouth Barracuda, which Mopar-philes will happily remind you beat the Mustang to market by about two weeks. The 1964 Pontiac GTO, the car most people can agree was responsible for the whole “muscle car” movement. They can tell you about Rally-Pac gauges, Tri-Power setups, and the cost of replacing a ’64 Barracuda’s back glass like none other, but ask them anything about a 1964 Studebaker anything and chances are good that you’ll be met with a glazed look and a quiet, “What?”

daytona 4

In an era where a 1989 Honda Accord Coupe can wear collector car plates, explaining Studebaker to someone under the age of…oh, let’s just say 35, to be safe…will take some time. This 1964 Daytona is a great example of the final days of a beleaguered car company. Studebaker was not suffering, they were in death throes. 1964 was the year the South Bend, Indiana Studebaker plant closed, and two years later the Hamilton, Ontario plant shuttered as well as Studebaker left the automobile production game. And it’s hard to not take an initial look at a Lark-based Stude and think of any of the early 1960s compacts. There are distinct flavors of early Valiant, Chevy II and Falcon hints all over the car, and it wouldn’t be surprising…the Lark was a surprise hit for Studebaker, beating the other compacts to market by years.

daytona 3

This particular two-door Daytona hasn’t always been a blown small-block Chevy powered demon. Check out the paperwork: you can almost imagine Mrs. Mae Murray signing the last of the paperwork for this neat little car in the offices of Davis Motors back in the early days of fall 1964. As she takes the key, sits down in her little two-door and pulls out onto the streets of Butte, Montana, could you see the demon-child of that car that it is now? Explain that story to whoever is still confused by that “S” hood ornament…they’ll be more interested.

eBay Find: 1964 Studebaker Daytona

daytona 2


  • Share This
  • Pinterest
  • 0

5 thoughts on “Why Dare To Be Different Matters: This 1964 Studebaker Daytona Would Be A History Lesson To Most Show-Goers!

  1. ram50boosted

    and another sweet car ruined with a small block chebby. there are OTHER engines to use guy’s. you could run a 440 c.i. small block mopar and you would not have to use the huffer to make it run good.

  2. steve baker

    Minor Correction: Although some states titled cars sold in 1964 as 64”s, Ford considered all the first year Mustangs to be 1965 models.

  3. Bill Wilkinson

    My Dad bought this car. I drove from Knoxville Tn to Canda on 7-7-16 to pick up the Car. As of 7-9-16 the is at its new home in Maryville ,Tn. The car even looks better in person.

Comments are closed.