For 1962, Studebaker president Sherwood Egbert rebooted the brand with fresh sheet metal and a brand new name: Daytona.

It’s tough to imagine two names that seem more mismatched.  At first glance, Studebaker + Daytona doesn’t add up.  With the compact Lark, Studebaker had built a reputation as a maker of conservative and economical family cars, while Daytona was the home of the giant new high-banked NASCAR speedway where stock cars lapped at incredible speeds. But then, that was the goal of Studebaker’s dynamic young boss, Sherwood Egbert: to get car buyers thinking of the South Bend, Indiana car maker in a whole new way. Egbert’s plans for rebooting the brand also included the elegant Grand Turismo Hawk and the astonishing Avanti.

For 1962, Egbert had commissioned independent designer Brooks Stevens to update the ’59-’61 Lark package with a new grille, revised rear-end styling, and the quarter panels extended to present a longer, sleeker profile. On this readjusted Lark platform, the new Daytona slotted in at the very top of the line, above the old Regal and Deluxe models. Two body styles were initially offered: a two-door hardtop coupe and a sporty convertible, with bucket seats and a center console standard on both. In the following years, there would be Daytona sedans and wagons as well.

Noteworthy ’62 options included a Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed transmission and the Skytop, a European-style roll-back sunroof supplied by Golde of Germany. Both of these extra-cost add-ons get plenty of play in this original factory spot. While the Daytona badge didn’t save the company, obviously, it did have some sticking power. The Daytona was still in the lineup in ’66 when Studebaker, then based in Hamilton, Ontario, ceased production for good. Video below.