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If you learned to drive in a Studebaker, you are, more than likely, somewhere over 50 years old. I learned to drive in a 1962 Studebaker Lark. It was a tank of a car with a big steering wheel and an AM radio. But it was automatic and, amazingly enough, it had an air conditioner.

The Studebaker Company was founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company. Studebaker built an outstanding reputation for reliability and quality in everything they built. Production stopped on December 20, 1963 at the original South Bend plant and the very last car made by Studebaker rolled off the assembly line at the Hamilton, Ontario plant on March 16, 1966.

My dad had a 1961 Studebaker Hawk that he drove almost until the day he died. Now that was a car! It had an enormous engine and sounded like an airplane taking off as you pulled away from a stop light. And the Hawk was a real looker. In its latter years, you could not drive it anywhere without someone offering to buy it.

But enough reminiscing. If you are one of those people who have a fondness for Studebakers, whose ears are tuned to the sound of a Bendix starter, then you are not alone! There are a number of blogs dedicated to “Studebaby” devotees and you can chat about them to your heart’s content.

There is also a lot of Studebaker merchandise out there, too, everything from original brochures to Lark Convertible mouse pads and key chains. You can find t-shirts, jewelry, clocks, model kits, diecast models and even fine china with a beautiful picture of the greatest Studebaker of them all engraved on it.

The be all, end all, the holy grail of Studebakers for which we all seek, an Avanti with a Studebaker engine! Not one of those ones with the Chevy engine under the hood that pretty much spelled the end of Studebaker, but an honest to goodness Studebaker engine. Wow, would I love to find one of those!

Well, again, I wax philosophical. Just know that, as a lover of Studebakers, you are in worthy company!