An Unlikely Contender Challenges The 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air III To A Classic Drag Race

TopSpeed

By Dimitar Angelov

Published Apr 8, 2022

Don't let this 1963 Studebaker Lark R2's looks fool you. It has proper muscle car credentials. But can it run with the GTO Judge?

As you’ve probably noticed, we love drag races. This one comes from Road Test TV and is pretty straightforward. No narrative, no unnecessary drama, just a short spec list on both cars and the actual race, between two classic American muscle cars – a 1963 Studebaker Lark R2 and a 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air III. Here’s a quick description of both cars.

1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air III

This is one of 3,797 GTO Judges built for 1970. It packs a 400 cubic-inch V-8 with a 10.75:1 compression ratio, rated at 366 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 445 pound-feet (603 Nm) at 3,400 RPM. Being a Ram Air iii, the 400 V-8 comes with big-valve, D-ported heads, cast-iron intake, and high-flow exhaust manifolds. The V-8 is mated to a three-speed automatic with 3.73 rear gears. As equipped, the GTO weighs in at around 3,700 pounds (1,678 kg) with the driver.

1963 Studebaker Lark R2

It may resemble a W114 Mercedes, which it actually preceded, but don’t be fooled by the Studebaker’s classy looks, at least compared to the GTO Judge's mean attitude. Under the boxy bodywork hides a supercharged 289 cubic-inch V-8 with a 9:1 compression ratio, rated a 289 horsepower at 5,000 RPM and 303 pound-feet (411 Nm) at 4,800 RPM. The Lark also has a four-speed manual with a set of 4.55 gears. At around 3,300 pounds (1,497 kg), the Studebaker also weighs substantially less. In 1963, only 327 Lark R2s were made.

The Drag Race

No do-over here. We only get one race between the two American classics. Both cars start out at exactly the same time, but soon after, the Studebaker takes the lead. However, the driver did not properly execute the second to third shift, which caused the Lark R2 to lose its edge. That said, the race was extremely close, with the Pontiac GTO Judge finishing in 13.28 seconds at 104.6 mph (168.3 km/h) versus the Studebaker’s 13.40 seconds at 104.1 mph (167.5 km/h).

We can all agree, however, that with perfect shifting, the lighter and supercharged Studebaker could have snatched the win from the GTO. Nevertheless, a great race between an underappreciated American classic and one of the most iconic American muscle cars ever made. You will note that the race happened about a year ago, but we decided to share it with you regardless, because we know you will appreciate it and there's, obviously, more to the Studebaker Lark R2 than meets the eye.