If you’re looking for a rare Studebaker, but don’t want to spend an arm or a leg on it check out this Gran Turismo Hawk barn find. The GT Hawk is often considered to be one of the better handling Studebakers, yet provides impressive straight-line performance as well. This ’64 Gran Turismo Hawk can be found on eBay with a current bid of $2,050.
This GT Hawk has some interesting history, none that adds value, but is interesting none the less. The original owner of the car supposedly drove this car 120 mph down Madison Avenue in New York City, making it through every light till she was pulled over. We don’t know if the story is true, but it’s impressive to think that these cars could go 120 mph. When the original owner passed away in ’88 the car was parked and has been sitting since.
The GT Hawk was only produced for 3 years and ’64 was the final year of production, making this car one of only 1772 GTs built. This GT left the factory with all the bells and whistles. It has the Mark IV under dash A/C, Flight-O-Matic transmission, factory AM/FM radio, and black vinyl Sport Roof. The only optional feature missing is the 4 barrel carb strapped to its 289-cubic-inch V8.
This car is in really good shape with only 42k miles on it. There doesn’t appear to be any serious rust and the body looks really straight. The engine doesn’t run and is probably in need of some serious attention, but you never know with these cars. If the motor turns over getting it running might be as simple as cleaning it up, changing the fluids, replacing some gaskets, and installing a new battery.
We really like the GT Hawk, especially the ’64 with its added chrome work and two tone sport roof. This car could probably look almost as good as new with nothing more than a good cleaning. These cars aren’t terribly valuable, but are great cars none the less. If the reserve isn’t too high on this car it could make for a great buy.
I doubt that this car could hit a buck twenty on the streets of NYC with only a 2-barrel 289. I'd be surprised if it could hit that mark on a dry lakebed. Still an interesting car even without the "fish tales".
I’ve been a Studey fan since I could walk and talk. My sister had a Commander with v-8 and overdrive. She flunked manual choke 101, and unfortunately was used as a trade in for a new ’63 Biscayne and my sister got the ’57 Parkwood (Chevy). Being 10 years old, I didn’t have much of a say in those matters. Roll forward to 1980, and I bought a “65 Commander for 25.00. It had the basic 170 C.I.D. 6-banger and the unheard of 3 speed auto trans. After I adjusted the steering box, I discovered what a really great car it was. A friend wanted the car, and I needed the money, so I said good-bye to a great car. BTW Sean, with the 3 speed auto trans and the overdrive, a well tuned Hawk WILL do 117 MPH. And some sections of the Taconic Parkway were straight enough to get close to the century mark. When Studebaker- Packard went out of business, America lost a great car.
Im pretty sure thats a 1963 you have there.
It’s a ’64, but it has either a ’62 deck lid, or a ’63 decklid with the overlay missing. The ’64’s had a smooth decklid. Also the “circle S ” is broken on top of the grille. The grille is for sure a ’64
Wayne got it right.
Tom