Purchased new in 1964, this car was selected because it was lightweight with no options. It did not come with carpet - only a rubber floor mat, and it came with only one sun visor and one armrest. The goal was to make the fastest Studebaker possible using all factory parts. Later an R3 engine was purchased from a Studebaker dealer for $725, complete except for the Paxton supercharger.
This car is raced at the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags, and has posted 12.85 seconds at 111 MPH, running a T-10 4-speed and G70-15 Firestone street tires.
The T-10 has just been replaced with a Powershift automatic. Traction is a real problem and the hope is, with an automatic, better 60' times can be had.
Anonymous
on Aug 30, 2008 at 05:52 a.m. said:
This car belongs to George Krem who lives in Colorado but the car is kept at our place in central Indiana, to be closer to the PSMCDR held in Michigan each year.
George has graciously let me drive it in the PSMCDR. The car's best time of 12.85 seconds could definitely be better if I felt comfortable enough to drive it as if I stole it but with the value of this unique car I have been extremely careful not to abuse it. Under the right conditions I feel the car could run at least a couple tenths quicker than it has.
Ted
Anonymous
on Sep 2, 2009 at 02:07 p.m. said:
awesome! i love these off the wall scrreamers. in a sea of 69 camaros and chevelles galore, this is so refreshing.
sincerely, joegagan
Anonymous
on Dec 31, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. said:
I'm looking at a Hot Rod magazine from October 1963. There is a letter from George Krem of Roslelle, IL. He says he worked for Studebaker that summer demonstrating the Avanti. He also had several comments about the Lark. Is George still around? I can send an image of the letter to him if he wants it. Let me know at wspizzi@us.ibm.com
Anonymous
on Jan 3, 2010 at 01:36 p.m. said:
Yes, George is still around; living in Berthoud Colorado, and still caring for this 1964 Studebaker Lark Challenger, a/k/a "The Plain Brown Wrapper."
I am George's 4-years-younger cousin; he is 67 and I am 63. When he was 22 and I was 18, we together found this 1964 Challenger brand new on the rear sales storage lot of Studebaker Indianapolis in Summer 1964, and, subsequently, I was with him when he bought the car brand new.
He and I together uncrated and installed the R3 engine less than a year later at my father and our mutual Uncle's Ford/Mercury dealership in Ottawa Illinois.
It has been our privilege to watch Ted Harbit wring more speed out of this car at the annual Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race than either George or I could do if we had 100 years to practice!
Bob Palma
Technical Editor
Turning Wheels
(The international monthly magazine of The Studebaker Drivers Club.)
Anonymous
on Jan 3, 2010 at 03:22 p.m. said:
It sure has been fun to watch national champion Ted Harbit drive my car at the Pure Stock Drags. I figure that with only 14,000 miles on it, a quarter mile at a time can't run up the mileage too fast. The very best the car has ever done in the quarter is 12.71 sec. at 111.64 mph. This occurred at Muncie Drag Strip in cool evening air and in Pure Stock trim with street tires, full exhaust and the original ForgeTrue pistons. Thanks for the ride, Ted.
George Krem
Anonymous
on Jan 4, 2010 at 04:08 p.m. said:
cool! nice car!
Anonymous
on Jan 7, 2010 at 07:00 p.m. said:
My son Ryne Sanders rode in this car with Ted at the Pure Stock Drags in Stanton in 2004 when he was 12 (back when passengers were permitted during qualifications) and Ted did a 12.85 @ 110mph which at the time was the car's fastest ever. Ryne and I are Studebaker fans for life thanks to Bob Palma, Ted and the whole Studebaker crew! Paul Sanders
