Studebaker Italia Lark Sedan Frua

Vehicle Overview

The Studebaker Italia Lark Frua Sedan is a unique example of Italian coachbuilding applied to an American car. In 1960, Pietro Frua, a renowned Torino-based designer, was commissioned by Italian importer Renato Bornigia to create two distinct styling exercises based on the Studebaker Lark, an American compact car. This collaboration resulted in the creation of two versions: a two-door and a four-door sedan, both displaying Frua’s signature style and attention to detail. The Lark Frua Sedan was built by Italsuisse for Carrozzeria Frua, with its design highlighting the elegance and sophistication typical of Italian coachbuilders during the 1960s. Frua’s work transformed the standard Studebaker Lark, with its clean lines and refined features, into something more stylish and distinctive. The sedan, with its sleek proportions and unique styling elements, showcased the Italian influence on American cars during this period. Carrozzeria Francis Lombardi, another prominent Italian coachbuilder, also created its own interpretation of the Studebaker Lark in 1960. Their version was a four-door V8 model, which presented a different take on the Lark’s compact design, offering a more performance-oriented approach. These Italian-built Studebakers are fascinating examples of the era when American cars were reimagined by European designers. Both Frua and Lombardi’s versions of the Lark reflect the fusion of American engineering with Italian automotive artistry. The Lark Frua Sedan, in particular, stands as an excellent showcase of how Italian coachbuilders, known for their craftsmanship, could elevate a production car into a stylish and unique creation. The Studebaker Italia Lark Frua Sedan, along with the Lombardi version, may have been styling exercises rather than production models, but they are nonetheless important chapters in automotive history. They represent an era of collaboration between the United States and Italy, a time when European design sensibilities influenced American cars, resulting in truly unique and memorable automobiles.