Join us for a vacation adventure in the 1964 Studebaker Lark Daytona Convertible. It was the last convertible ever produced by the Indiana automaker, as things turned out.

By U.S. production standards, the 1964 Studebaker Lark convertible is a fairly rare animal. Only 703 ragtops were assembled that year before the old South Bend, Indiana factory was closed down for good in December of 1963. Auto production was continued through 1966 at the Hamilton, Ontario plant, but only for coupes, sedans, and station wagons. The low-volume convertible was dropped after ’64, and the Hawk, Avanti, and trucks as well.

A few years earlier, Studebaker had gotten a one-year jump on the Detroit three in the hot new compact category with the cleverly executed 1959 Lark, and sales zoomed up to an impressive (for Studebaker) 130,000 cars. (See our ’59 Lark story here.) But once the Ford Falcon, Chevy Corvair, and Chrysler’s Valiant were in the showrooms, Studebaker was once again struggling just to stay in the game. The move to Canada was one final, desperate, and utltimately unsucccessful play to remain in the automobile business.

With yet another low-investment facelift by industrial designer Brooks Stevens, the Lark  was at least sporting a fresh look for ’64 with a new grille and headlamp scheme. But while the other automakers were promoting their advanced unit construction, Studebaker was touting its traditional Armor Guard frame, which actually dated back to 1953. “The Daytona convertible will go anywhere just for the fun,” the announcer declares in this light-hearted spot. “And wherever it does, it carries the atmosphere of vacation.” But unfortunately, the Studebaker convertible, and soon, Studebaker itself, were about to receive a permanent vacation. Video below.