Continuing on with combing through Craigslist, I wanted to stick to a formula for this weekends postings. What I did was to keep the search between 1960 and 1965, with a price tag between $100 and $1,500, and I also wanted at least one image in the listing. And look what I found…. three different Studebakers, with six-cylinder engines, just begging for the Index of Effluency award…


Let’s start with this 1962 Studebaker Lark that’s for sale in Northern New Jersey. It has the Studebaker Six, a three-speed manual shifted on the column, and the seller states that it runs smoothly, with no smoke. All you have to do is cage it, seat it (and a few other mandatory things to get it ready), number it, and theoretically go racing. I would probably spring for a brake job, and get at least a set of radial tires, but that’s your call. The Studebaker Six is robust, rugged, and it won’t go very fast, but at least you will still be out there when all these high strung imports start blowing up. This Baker is going for $1,000, and there is enough items to sell off to bring it to within the $500 threshold. See the listing here.

This is a 1965 Studebaker Commander that has been a staple on the New Hampshire Craigslist listings for over a year. It is another six-cylinder car, only by this time, Studebaker began using Chevrolet engines, so parts availability is rather easy with this one. And again, it has a three speed manual that you shift on the column. In all reality, all you really need is second and third on these cars, so you shouldn’t fret about trying to engage first on the track. Just think of rust as a patina of life, and like the Baker above, just cage it, seat it, number it and go. Who needs a theme when you are racing a Studebaker. This one is going for $1,200, but I’m sure there is enough good parts to sell off to get down to the $500 limit, and you have a rugged Chevy Six that will keep chugging along with absolutely no problems. See the listing here.

Our last Studebaker is a 1962 that “ran when parked”… words to live by for the perpetual project car hell. The only reason why I chose this particular car is this: It comes with one of two rugged, durable Studebaker engines, their six, or their 289 V-8. If its an automatic, it is a durable Borg-Warner slushbox, though since this is a two-door, it could have the 4-speed on the floor. The one glaring problem I see is the windshield, as that’s not a cheap piece to source. The price is right for this Baker, as $700, but remember, you have to get the engine running, sort out all the gremlins due to the years of hibernation, and source that big old windshield before you can cage it, seat it, and run it. See the listing here.
So what are you waiting for… Grab one of these Studebakers, and make your LeMons dream a reality.