1963 Studebaker Commercial Zsa Zsa Gabor Lark Commercial

[chargalant]

Sadly, Studebaker became stodgy in styling (save the, a bit too late Avanti) and like AMC, America wanted something they liked from the outside too, in spite of Studebaker's good cars and better-than-average technology. Yet, the Avanti became an ongoing Canadian product from what I understand.

[OsbornTramain]

@chargalant . Actually, Avanti were never made in Canada, there are so many misconeptions about the end of Studebaker. Studebaker closed it's us operations in 64 but kept their Canadian Facility running into 1966. Avanti was sold off in 65 to Newman & Altman who built the Avanti in the same plant in South Bend with Former Studebaker Employees. Some Studebaker Dealers became Avanti Franchises so in 1966, you could go to a Studebaker dealer and buy an Avanti from N&A. Avanti ended in 2007

[hebneh]

Pretty darn kooky, pairing Zsa Zsa Gabor with a Studebaker. But that was the point of this commercial, since she was supposedly so rich and glamorous and Studebakers were more inexpensive.

I'm sure she was pleased to not bonk her teased hairdo on the door frame, or to bust off one of her spike heels getting in and out (as this shows) - if in fact she actually did own or drive a Studebaker, which I doubt very much.

[AlaokDibar]

Had Studebaker survived, the onslaught of safety and emission controls would likely have eventually brought them down. It hurt other independent automakers who were not permitted to share the technology of the large companies.

One of these days I need to get back to South Bend to see the new museum. I saw the old one in 2000, it was pretty cool, especially that room full of Avantis.

[elc1960]

Just wondering if Zsa Zsa was driving a Studebaker when she got pulled over and slapped that cop . . . just wondering. "You stupid @$%#! How dare you pull me over, you &%^@#!" (slap) Another thought: why is it that so many rich famous women swear like longshoremen? They say Julie Andrews cusses like a sailor too. That must have made it interesting on the set of "Mary Poppins". "Mummy! The nanny called me a stupid little @$#%! - what does that mean, Mummy?"

[Jaydublus]

Were you paid to say these things Miss Gabor? "Are you crazy dahling of course yes!"

[stevemcgee99]

Can anyone tell me why cars totally suck today compared to back then?

[kanazef]

her name so unique..ZSA ZSA GABOR..!

[Glo7x]

and with the new high hairdos....

[gojoe283]

B-H Studebaker built good cars but their mgt totally sucked...they didn't build enough of the cars ppl wanted (1953 Coupe, Avanit), and too many of the models no one wanted...(4 door sedans). Put the company deep in the red, murdered Packard. Too bad, Studebakers were advanced cars for their time...

[OsbornTramain]

Agree, yes and no. Bad Management. But It was Nance, the Head of Packard after the merger who ran the show. So, they (Packard) commited suicide. Car's were really that advanced compared to The other 4 companys. Just compare a 64 Studebaker to Any of the other company's intermediate sized cars. Technically, the Studebaker was way behind in design. ( I own an restored Avanti and Lark and love them) They just really weren't advanced compared to the others. The drive trains were ancient.

[gojoe283]

Yes, Nance allowed Curtiss-Wright (a consulting company) to manage the company's operation...and C-W didn't give a hang about cars.

It seems when a car company has a "car g;uy" at the helm, at least there's enthusiasm in the products sold. Ed Cole- Chevy, Bunky Knuden-Pontiac, Lee Iacocca-Ford.

Studebaker had some advanced ideas like disc brakes, and the Avanti is truly an AWESOME car, styling was 10-20 years ahead of its time. A shame they couldn't complete with the Big Three.

[Klattu]

Why didn't the government bail Studebaker out?

They had some good ideas.

[OsbornTramain]

Studebaker didn't go bankrupt. They simply choose to stop manufacturing cars. They became Studebaker-Worthington and manufactured Garden tractors( Wheel Horse) owned STP. Olan Engines, Worthington appliances etc. etc. They were deversified. In 1979, McGraw Edison, bought them out. Studebaker Worthington Leasing Company is still in Business. Studebaker even owned the Distribution System of Mercedes Benz in the USA from 1958 thru 1968. Mercedes of North America was a division of Studebaker.

[BuzzBarber]

True, and to this day more than a few Mercedes-Benz dealers were former Studebaker dealers.

Also interesting is that, at the time that Studebaker stopped selling cars in the mid-1960s, Toyota was beefing up its dealer network in the U.S. Because of that, some Toyota dealers (such as the one in my hometown) still had reminders of their days as a Studebaker dealership, even into the late 1970s and early 1980s.

[bongomanfromdalou]

Pick up the March and April 2010 issues of HEMMINGS CLASSIC CAR magazines; you'll find proof that Studebaker could actually make more money by not building cars than by building them...

[OsbornTramain]

You don't even have to read the article to understand that Studebaker did better by stopping car production. The day they announce in 1963, in November, the stock price of Studebaker increased in value. The market all understood that it made sense for Studebaker to leave the auto business and concentrate on what the were making money on.

[langleywallingford]

wtf? he sez a new fender only costes $12? how come thay stoped makin them studabaker?

[1L6E6VHF]

Is anyone else ROTFL after hearing her comment on the Disc Brakes (1:21)? Perhaps if she still drove her disc-braked Lark in 1989, she never would have slapped that officer.

[nanlisa]

And let's not forget her late sister Eva, who had just as much style and class as Zsa Zsa.

[lecagot2]

I'd forgotten what a Babe Zsa Zsa was

[johnsmileyjr]

But, darling! That's a hoot!

[rdittmer1717]

Zsa Zsa lowering herself to own a Studebaker is hard to beleive. She probably had a Rolls Royce bought with the money from one of husbands. Thanks for post, it was fun to watch.

[HeadTater]

Lowering herslef to own a Studebaker? Sure, they weren't as posh as a Rolls, but apparently they were just fine for Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, Johnny Carson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jimmy Dean, Jay Leno and Thomas Edison all owned Studebakers. Am I to assume that all of these people "lowered themselves" to own Studebakers. In fact, Eleanor Roosevelt didn't even own a luxury or sport model, she owned a Scotsman!

[winston5610]

Don't forget that the only car Ralph Nader ever owned was a pre-bullet-nose postwar Stude.

[vividwatch47]

He liked Imperials, too.

[coyotemoonranch]

My first car was the chevy 2 NOVA 1964. With 3 on the tree (as they used to say). Or the shifter was at the stering wheel and had 4 gears, up and back was reverse, up and forward was 1st, down and back 2nd, down and forward 3rd, and a stright 198 v-6, ran till 1981 then I gave it away to a friend that was going to fix her up. great old car.

[PHAEDRIDER]

it had disc brakes? wow!

[GenericGene]

Great Ad, Just Loved Zsa Zsa - Good Post.

[tomrdee]

Did you notice that the car door would not shut?

[PHAEDRIDER]

i learned to drive (manual transmission and first .. by dad) in a 1960 champ pick up, and also (automatic transmission and big engine, with mom) a 1966 commander 2 door , fire engine red no less. studebakers are a part of my life. a big part. a part that wants a '63-64 daytona ... or a '66 2 door commander again.. hmm dream on.. i reckon..

[bongomanfromdalou]

That Commander sounded like a hot car, man...the '66's of course had Chevy engines, so it wouldn't have taken much to soup up the ride a bit...

Wouldn't mind havin' a '64 Wagonaire, but, that makes two of us dreamers...

[PHAEDRIDER]

it did, and it had been punched out to 305..

it had a new front end, and brakes..

i never have told my parents how HURT i was when they never bothered to ask me when they sold it.. i will spare you the very saddest part of the story.. and i too would like a wagonaire.. in fact i got passed over for that one too..

[HeadTater]

my dad owned a '64 Wagonaire (in addition to our '62 Daytona Lark, with factory air). Sadly, it was too much of a project for him to find time for and he sold it. He did, however, recently buy a '60 Lark convertable with powersteering and automantic trans.

[fromthesidelines]

Not so coincidentally, Zsa Zsa appeared in a "MISTER ED" episode during this period...perhaps she received one for this testimionial and/or guest shot in that episode?

[fAsHiOnFrEaK1234]

love love love zsa zsa gabor shes sooo pretty!! :D

[tHEnOOSEsWINGS]

Maria Callas's mother worked in Zsa Zsa Gabor's mother's jewellery store.

[bongomanfromdalou]

If Zsa Zsa Gabor was your typical suburban housewife, no wonder Studebaker ran into trouble in 1963...(LOL)...actually, a very clever commercial from one of the last of the true independent car companies!

[OsbornTramain]

I know, I didn't realize how pretty she was. Look at her face as she looks in the vanity mirror

[moreno2394]

Dazzling diva ! so beautiful ! great taste great diva ! Madame Gabor is grand style diva

[kitsonprincess]

omgomgomg shes sooo pretty