Mecum’s Lark drives retirement fulfillment
The little Lark, even in convertible form, wasn’t enough to save Studebaker 50 or more years ago, but the return of one has brought miles of smiles and new avenues of retirement for a northern Colorado couple. Bob and Krista Traynor of Fort Collins, barely into retirement in June 2018 from years of audiology specialization, were in the spectator section at the Mecum Denver Auction at the Colorado Convention Center. As the classic cars rolled past, they talked it over and knew they ought to own one. After leaving their seats and looking over dozens of the several hundred cars yet to go through the auction block, Krista exclaimed, “That’s the one I want,” pointing to a faded pink 1961 Studebaker Lark convertible. “It was tobeasmuchher car as mine,” said Bob; “she chose it, and I liked it.” Bob hurriedly purchased a bidder’s badge, and soon found himself raising an arm when the auctioneer chanted “twenty, five,”“twenty, five,”“twenty thousand, five hundred.” Then the bidding stopped and Bob and Krista knew they had their first “classic.” Over the past year, they’ve spent another $12,000 creating the lovely Lark, including a pinkish/orange flamingo exterior finish and a nice, white leather interior.
“That’s a neat car; I hope that Bob and Krista are enjoying their ride,” said David B. Morton, manager of communications and event marketing for Mecum Auctions, who remembered their purchase at last year’s Denver sale.
Bob Traynor was CEO and audiologist at Audiology Associates of Greeley for more than 40 years before retiring; his wife also is an audiologist. A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Service Corps, Dr. Traynor has lectured in 40 countries on audiology topics. In 2014, the Colorado Academy of Audiology awarded Dr. Traynor its 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1947, Studebaker completely redesigned its Champion and Commander models, making them the first new cars after World War II. Most other makes didn’t launch new sheet metal until the 1949 model year. Studebakers were light-bodied, highfuel-mileaged vehicles, and through the 1950s their sales trailed only the Big Three Detroit companies (General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Corp.), yet serious financial problems persisted and Studebaker merged with Packard in 1954.
The number of sales reported for each significant American automotive brand during the 1950s included Chevrolet 13,419,048; Ford 12,282,492; Plymouth 5,653,874; Buick 4,858,961; Oldsmobile 3,745,648; Pontiac 3,706,959; Mercury 2,588,472; Dodge 2,413,239; Studebaker 1,374,967; Packard 1,300,835; Chrysler 1,244,843; Cadillac 1,217,032; Nash 974,031; DeSoto 972, 704; Rambler 641,068; Hudson 525,683; Lincoln 317,371; Kaiser 224,293; Henry J 130,322; Edsel 108,001; Imperial 93,111; Willys 91,841; Continental 15,550; Frazer 13,914. The Lark, a compact car, was produced from 1959 to 1966, when Studebaker production ended.