1964 · Studebaker · United States
1964 Studebaker Daytona: A Restyle, a Closure, and Just One R4
Brooks Stevens restyled the Lark-type line and the Daytona became its top series. Of the V8 Daytonas, 111 got the R1 and 48 the supercharged R2, and one got the only production R4, before South Bend closed in December 1963.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
The 1964 Daytona arrived on September 26, 1963, wearing the Brooks Stevens restyle it shared with the Challenger, Commander, and Cruiser, and it now anchored a broader body lineup: hardtop and convertible as before, joined by a four-door sedan and a Wagonaire station wagon. Studebaker was already phasing out the Lark name that year, and would drop it entirely for 1965. The car's production life was cut short from the other direction too: South Bend announced its closure on December 9, 1963, built its last car there on December 20, and shifted what remained of Studebaker automobile manufacturing to Hamilton, Ontario.1,2,3
Classic Register's production table, citing Fred K. Fox's research in the February 1993 Turning Wheels, counts 11,201 Daytonas for the year, split 6,548 built in the US and 4,653 in Canada. Within that total, the R-series performance engines stayed genuinely rare: 111 V8 Daytonas got the R1, with 44 of those carrying the full Super Performance Package of Avanti-derived suspension, stiffer springs and shocks, anti-roll bars front and rear, and front disc brakes; 48 got the supercharged R2, 34 of them with the full package. Those Super Performance Package counts, 44 plus 34, sum to 78 fully equipped Daytonas out of over eleven thousand built that year.1,3
Rarer still was the R4: exactly one Daytona left the factory with it, and two independent sources agree on the number, an owner register citing Fox's research and a Studebaker Drivers Club engine-identification compilation drawn from parts books and service letters. A separate registry project identifies that unique car by serial number, 64V15405, and notes that its original R4 engine's whereabouts are unknown today. Old Cars Weekly's R-series ratings put the R1 at 240 horsepower, the R2 at 289, the R3 at 335, and the R4 at 280, and a Motor Trend test from December 1963 recorded 13 miles per gallon from a supercharged R2 Super Lark, a fuel-economy figure this record carries as reported by a secondary source rather than from the original test.1,4,5,3,2
A small production disagreement runs through the convertible count specifically. Classic Register's own body-style rows, 416 US V8, 231 Canadian V8, and 55 Canadian six, add up to 702 convertibles, but Old Cars Weekly separately states "just 703 built," a one-car difference the record shows rather than silently correcting. Base pricing spread the Daytona across a roughly $525 range: a V8 hardtop started at $2,443 and a V8 convertible at $2,797, while the six-cylinder sedan, the cheapest Daytona offered, listed at $2,310, with the six-cylinder wagon and convertible priced between the V8 hardtop and its own six-cylinder sedan sibling.1,3
Beyond the R1, R2, and R4, Studebaker's 1964 sales literature describes the R3 supercharged 304.5 and the non-supercharged R4 as special-order-only engines available across the Studebaker line, alongside a new-for-1964 four-barrel option called the Thunderbolt 289. No source read gives a separate Daytona-only production count for the R3, unlike the fully tabulated R1, R2, and R4 figures, so the record leaves that count open rather than estimating it from the general engine-rating chart.
Fact sheet · 1964 · United States
The numbers
1964 Studebaker Daytona (Lark-type) and Super Performance Package — Brooks Stevens restyled the Lark-type line and the Daytona became its top series. Of the V8 Daytonas, 111 got the R1 and 48 the supercharged R2, and one got the only production R4, before South Bend closed in December 1963.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytona, all plants1 Daytona · US and Canadian plants | 11,201 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytona, USA (South Bend)1 Daytona · USA | 6,548 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Daytona, Canada (Hamilton)1 Daytona · Canada | 4,653 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA V8 hardtop1 Daytona · 2-door hardtop · V8 · USA | 1,757 | built, model-year | Reported |
| USA V8 convertible1 Daytona · convertible · V8 · USA | 416 | built, model-year | Reported |
| USA V8 sedan1 Daytona · 4-door sedan · V8 · USA | 3,257 | built, model-year | Reported |
| USA V8 wagon1 Daytona · Wagonaire · V8 · USA | 1,075 | built, model-year | Reported |
| USA six sedan1 Daytona · 4-door sedan · 170 six · USA | 43 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Canada V8 hardtop1 Daytona · 2-door hardtop · V8 · Canada | 657 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Canada V8 convertible1 Daytona · convertible · V8 · Canada | 231 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Canada V8 sedan1 Daytona · 4-door sedan · V8 · Canada | 2,133 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Canada V8 wagon1 Daytona · Wagonaire · V8 · Canada | 468 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Canada six convertible1 Daytona · convertible · six · Canada | 55 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Canada six sedan1 Daytona · 4-door sedan · six · Canada | 993 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Canada six wagon1 Daytona · Wagonaire · six · Canada | 116 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Daytona convertibles (Old Cars Weekly)3 Daytona · convertible · not stated Classic Register's three convertible rows add to 702. See conflicts. | 703 | built, model-year | Disputed |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| V8 Daytonas with the R1 engine1 Daytona · R1 289 · not stated | 111 | built, model-year | Reported |
| V8 Daytonas with the R2 supercharged engine1 Daytona · R2 289 supercharged · not stated | 48 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Daytona with the R4 package1,4 Daytona · not stated · R4 304.5 · not stated Two independent compilations agree: an owner register citing Fox, and a club engine-number compilation drawn from parts books and service letters. | 1 | built, model-year | Verified |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| R1 Daytonas with the full Super Performance Package1 Daytona · R1 289 · not stated | 44 | built, model-year | Reported |
| R2 Daytonas with the full Super Performance Package1 Daytona · R2 289 supercharged · not stated | 34 | built, model-year | Reported |
The body rows partition the US total (6,548) and the Canadian total (4,653) in Classic Register's table, and the two totals make 11,201.
The R-engine counts cover Daytonas only, not other 1964 Lark-types (Challenger, Commander, Cruiser). No R-engine counts for those series were found.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Daytona V8 hardtop1 | $2,443 | base price as listed, 1964 model year |
| Daytona V8 convertible1 | $2,797 | base price as listed, 1964 model year |
| Daytona V8 sedan1 | $2,445 | base price as listed, 1964 model year |
| Daytona V8 wagon1 | $2,835 | base price as listed, 1964 model year |
| Daytona six sedan1 | $2,310 | base price as listed, 1964 model year |
| Daytona six convertible1 | $2,662 | base price as listed, 1964 model year |
| Daytona six wagon1 | $2,700 | base price as listed, 1964 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| R4 · Jet Thrust 304.5 V8, twin four-barrels3 304.5 cu in · 2 x 4-barrel | 280 hp (SAE gross (as reported)) | package | 11,4 Verified |
| R3 · Jet Thrust 304.5 V8, supercharged3,1 304.5 cu in · centrifugal supercharger | 335 hp (SAE gross (as reported)) | listed | Not yet sourced |
| R2 · Jet Thrust 289 V8, supercharged3,1 289 cu in · centrifugal supercharger | 289 hp (SAE gross (as reported)) | optional; Super Performance Package | 481 Reported |
| R1 · Jet Thrust 289 V83,1 289 cu in · 4-barrel | 240 hp (SAE gross (as reported)) | optional; Super Performance Package | 1111 Reported |
| 289 V81 289 cu in · 2-barrel; 4-barrel optional | 210 hp @ 4,500 (SAE gross (as listed)); 225 hp (SAE gross (as listed); four-barrel) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 259 V81,3 259 cu in · 2-barrel; 4-barrel optional | 180 hp @ 4,500 (SAE gross (as listed)); 195 hp (SAE gross (as listed); four-barrel) | base V8 | Not yet sourced |
| 170 six1 170 cu in · not stated | 112 hp @ 4,500 (SAE gross (as listed)) | six-cylinder models | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Flightomatic three-speed automatic, column shift1 | all engines | Not yet sourced |
| Power Shift three-speed automatic, floor shift1 | V8 only | Not yet sourced |
| Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual1,3 | V8 only | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Super Performance Package (with R1 or R2): Avanti suspension package with stiffer springs and shocks, front and rear anti-roll bars, front disc brakes3,1 | — | 781 Estimate |
|
R1 Jet Thrust 289 (10:1, four-barrel, dual exhaust, 35-amp alternator, viscous fan), advertised as optional on all 1964 Studebaker models | — | Not yet sourced |
|
R2 supercharged 289 (9:1, four-barrel), advertised as a performance option for all 1964 Studebaker models | — | Not yet sourced |
|
R3 supercharged 304.5 and R4 non-supercharged Jet Thrust, special order only | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Thunderbolt 289 four-barrel (new optional version for 1964) | — | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
P6410 |
Midnight Black1 | Not yet sourced |
P6411 |
Astra White1 | Not yet sourced |
P6412 |
Laguna Blue Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
P6413 |
Strato Blue Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
P6414 |
Horizon Green Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
P6415 |
Jet Green Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
P6416 |
Moonlight Silver Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
P6417 |
Golden Sand Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
P6418 |
Bordeaux Red1 | Not yet sourced |
P6419 |
Bermuda Brown Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
BB (Canada BLB) |
Blue broadcloth1 | Not yet sourced |
GB |
Green broadcloth1 | Not yet sourced |
BRB |
Brown broadcloth1 | Not yet sourced |
RB |
Red broadcloth1 | Not yet sourced |
BV |
Blue vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
GV |
Green vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
BRV |
Brown vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
RV |
Red vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
BKV |
Black vinyl (convertibles and wagons were all-vinyl; sedans and hardtops cloth with optional vinyl)1 | Not yet sourced |
821 / 829 |
Daytona trim: blue, cloth6 | Not yet sourced |
831 / 839 |
Daytona trim: green, cloth6 | Not yet sourced |
841 / 849 |
Daytona trim: brown, cloth6 | Not yet sourced |
851 / 859 |
Daytona trim: red, cloth6 | Not yet sourced |
911 / 919 |
Daytona trim: black, vinyl6 | Not yet sourced |
921 / 929 |
Daytona trim: blue, vinyl6 | Not yet sourced |
931 / 939 |
Daytona trim: green, vinyl6 | Not yet sourced |
941 / 949 |
Daytona trim: brown, vinyl6 | Not yet sourced |
951 / 959 |
Daytona trim: red, vinyl6 | Not yet sourced |
918 |
Daytona convertible trim: black, vinyl6 | Not yet sourced |
928 |
Daytona convertible trim: blue, vinyl6 | Not yet sourced |
938 |
Daytona convertible trim: brown, vinyl (as printed)6 | Not yet sourced |
948 |
Daytona convertible trim: green, vinyl (as printed)6 | Not yet sourced |
958 |
Daytona convertible trim: red, vinyl6 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase1 | 109 in | hardtop and convertible |
| Wheelbase1 | 113 in | sedan and wagon |
| Tires1 | 6.50 x 15 (sedan, hardtop); 6.70 x 15 (convertible, wagon) | Daytona |
Period road tests
| Test | Car tested | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Trend, 1963-122fuel economy, test average | 1964 Super Lark, R2 supercharged 289 (transmission not stated in the passage read)Jim Wright, '1964 Studebaker Super Lark'; as reported by Ate Up With Motor; original not read | 13 mpg |
A road test result belongs to the one car that was tested, with its engine, gearing, tires, and conditions. It is not a figure for every car of the year.
Identification
- Engine numbers
- 1964 Lark-type engines carry an alphanumeric code instead of a serial: V (259), P (289), JT (R1), JTS (R2), R3 or R4, with C for Canada, then a month letter, the year digit 4 and the day.4
- Factory build record
- Classic Register cites production orders held by Newman & Altman. The Studebaker National Museum holds factory Production Orders for most 1936-1966 Studebakers, and these are the check for an R-engine or package claim.1,7
- Body codes
- 1964 Lark-type V8 bodies include 64V-J8 Daytona hardtop, 64V-L8 Daytona convertible, 64V-Y8 Daytona sedan, 64V-P8 Daytona wagon, 64V-F4/Y4 Commander, 64V-F2/Y2 Challenger and 64V-Y9 Cruiser; S replaces V for six-cylinder cars. Cowl body plate with trim code.8,6
- The R4 Daytona
- The R3/R4 roster identifies the unique factory R4 Daytona as serial 64V15405 and records that its original R4 engine's whereabouts are unknown.5,4
Where the sources disagree
Same model year
Also in 1964
- Buick Riviera The 425 became standard, the dual-quad Super Wildcat 360 arrived as an option, and the Super Turbine 400 replaced the twin-turbine automatic.
- Buick Wildcat The best Wildcat year at 84,245, with a 425 in 340- or 360-hp form and an available four-speed.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The first Chevelle; the Malibu SS was a series, and its strongest released engine was the midyear 300 hp L74 327.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova First V8 (283) year in the source engine table. Enthusiast-compiled production: 191,691 cars; Super Sport 10,576.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS No factory Super Sport El Camino is documented for this year; the record carries the host El Camino production as context.
- Chevrolet Impala SS Super Sport becomes its own series: 185,325 built.
- Chrysler 300 letter series Cheaper by about $1,000, with a single-four-barrel 360 hp 413 standard, leather made optional and the convertible restored, the 300K became the best-selling letter car: 3,022 hardtops and 625 convertibles.
- Dodge Dart 330/440, Polara and Max Wedge The Max Wedge's last year brought the Ramcharger 426-III, a 365 hp street 426 for Polara buyers, and in midyear a competition-only 426 Hemi in lightened 330/440 bodies; Roger Lindamood's Dodge won Top Stock at the Nationals.
- Ford Fairlane The year of the Thunderbolt: a midsize Fairlane with a 427 installed for NHRA Super Stock, which carried Gas Ronda to the national Stock title.
- Ford Falcon Sprint The restyled Falcon kept the Sprint hardtop and convertible with the 164 hp 260 V8 standard; the club counts 18,108 built, many with a bench seat.
- Ford Galaxie Ford sold its 427 in the restyled full-size range in two advertised versions, 410 hp with one four-barrel and 425 hp with two, and the Galaxie 500 XL hardtop was the bucket-seat flagship.
- Ford Thunderbird The redesigned fourth-generation car offered one drivetrain, a 300-hp 390 with Cruise-O-Matic, and output rose to 92,465.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone The Cyclone name first appeared on a 1964 Comet hardtop; the only production figure found is a single secondary total.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 Marauder now meant the fastback roof on any full-size Mercury series, two-door or four-door, with the 390 standard and the 427 optional.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds Oldsmobile's first 4-4-2 was a mid-year option package, B09 Police Apprehender Pursuit, with a 310 hp 330, a four-speed and dual exhausts; 2,999 are tabulated.
- Oldsmobile Starfire Production fell to 16,163 as the cheaper Jetstar I took the same body; Motor Trend timed a convertible at 9.7 s to 60.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda Plymouth's glassback Valiant-based fastback launched in a short first season and sold 23,443 cars.
- Plymouth Savoy, Fury and Max Wedge Plymouth's last Max Wedge year offered the Super Stock 426-III beside a 365 hp street 426 Commando, while a competition-only 426 Hemi went into lightened Savoy/Belvedere drag cars and swept the Daytona 500.
- Pontiac Catalina 2+2 and Super Duty The 2+2 arrived as a $291 Catalina option and the 370 hp 421 HO replaced the Super Duty at the top.
- Pontiac GTO A $295 option on the Tempest LeMans that put Pontiac's 389 in the intermediate body; 32,450 were built.
- Pontiac Grand Prix A carryover year: 63,810 built, with the 370 hp 421 HO at the top of the option list.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The Tempest becomes a 115-inch intermediate with a 326 V8, and the LeMans carries the new GTO option.
- Studebaker Avanti The last Studebaker Avanti, cut short when South Bend stopped building cars on 20 December 1963. It got rectangular headlamp bezels and a level stance, and 809 were built, including the nine production R3s.
- Studebaker Hawk The final Hawk, with a new deck lid and an optional vinyl 'Sports Roof', ended when South Bend closed on 20 December 1963. 1,767 were built, 1,484 of them domestic.