I said this (out loud) upon opening the link to this 1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk: “Oh no.” The GT Hawk is one of the four old cars I’ll allow myself to buy at this juncture (the others being a ’66 Toronado, a ’40/’41 Continental, and a ’55 Coupe DeVille). Luckily for my bank account, this one has a couple things working against it: 1. It’s clear across the country from me in Casa Grande, Arizona, and shipping is a lot, and 2. It’s Ermine White, my least favorite color on a Hawk. On the plus side, it’s a rust-free barn find that was shut off and stored in 1981 and hasn’t run since. Therefore, if you said “Oh no” when you opened this link, and you live in the beautiful desert southwest, you can find this Hawk here on eBay with a current high bid of $2,550. (The seller asks potential bidders to check with their wives first; the last winner backed out.)
Sales of the deftly restyled GT Hawk were never brisk, with output dropping from 9,335 cars in 1962 to just 4,634 in 1963. Most of those cars had one of Studebaker’s basic 289s (although a few had R-Series engines, too), which produced 210 horsepower with two-barrel carburetion and 225 horsepower with the four-barrel. The seller doesn’t mention which induction system this car has, but either way, it’s mated to a Borg-Warner automatic. The seller says that the car was running when the car was put away in 1981 and hasn’t run since, but it could “be brought back to life with just a little effort,” and of course we hope they’re right. At the very least, you’ll need a new battery, and I’d imagine a fuel pump, carb rebuild kit, and water pump would be good ideas considering how many problems with those specific parts I’ve had with long-dormant cars. The oil and transmission fluid are “not contaminated and there is no water present.” Considering the dry Arizona climate (I assume), the engine shouldn’t be locked up, but buyer beware.
The blue interior is “pristine,” with “supple” and tear-free upholstery and headliner. The car was equipped with air conditioning once upon a time, but the underhood shots show a missing compressor, so you’ll need to add that to the list if you live in an area where that’s important. Given the fact that the unit is under the dash, it might not be as complex as other cars to get the system working again; at least you won’t have to tear the dashboard apart to reach the evaporator.
The fact that the seller points out a small dent in the upper fender bodes well for the condition of the rest of the car. The odometer reads 86,000 miles, which is probably original given how long the car has sat.
The dry climate has probably kept the brake lines and fluid relatively dry, which might minimize the car’s needs in that department. Even though the car looks cosmetically solid, you know that a mechanical refurbishment won’t be cheap or quick, so this will be a light project for somebody this summer. Looking at the GT Hawk’s beautiful body lines has me wishing it were me all over again, but I have to keep repeating my mantra: “It’s Ermine White. It’s in Arizona.” Keep saying that, Aaron. Don’t click on “Bid.”
Help me out, Barn Finds readers. Bid on this thing so I don’t.
Aaron….. It’s Ermine white…… It’s in Arizona…… Now go bid on it and see how you make out!! Honestly white is my least favorite color probably because most of the work trucks I’ve driven are white and I just need a little color in my life. That being said, my Grandpas favorite color was white with a blue interior. He’d be all over this if it were a Chevy. I think that these are very handsome Studebakers and quite frankly, I’d love to have one too. But preferably with a stick. This just looks so solid and its begging to get revived. Quick, someone get Derrick from Vice Grip Garage, this would be right up his alley.
Nice one Aaron. And I like your list!!!