The Hawk series of Studebakers was born in 1956 and their design and styling are tied to the earlier Starliner coupes. From then until 1964, the variety of Hawks would be numerous, but in the 1961 model year, only one was sold as just “Hawk” with a pillared 2-door body style. It and its tailfins were replaced by the fancier Gran Turismo Hawk in 1962. This car belonged to the seller’s grandfather and looks quite nice, although no mention is made of its current running condition. Located in Massapequa, New York, this Stude is available here on craigslist for $14,500. Another great find by T.J.!
Studebaker-Packard Corp. had struggled in the 1950s, even after the two companies merged to create economies of scale. While those costs savings never came, another reprieve arrived in 1959 in the form of a new compact, the Lark. In its first year, Lark’s only domestic competition was the Rambler American, but the “Big 3” would jump into the act the following year and buyers had multiple options by 1961. The Hawk, which had several variants throughout the late 1950s, was down to a single model that year, and sales continued to decline with only 3,660 copies made.
The seller of this ’61 Hawk has a dilemma. He/she has an emotional attachment to the nice automobile because it belonged to “Grandpa,” but the grandparent has passed on and there is no space now for the car to call home. Plus, the funds aren’t there to restore it, although this automobile certainly doesn’t appear to want for anything but a little interior work and some TLC.
It has the 289 cubic-inch Studebaker V8 engine, the only choice in the Hawk in 1961. But you could get it with two or four-barrel carburetion. We’re not sure which set-up this coupe has, but it’s paired with a 2-speed automatic transmission at nearly 94,000 miles. The seller says the motor was rebuilt in the 1980s, but there is no mention if the car does anything but sit still now. Scores of paperwork will come with the Studebaker which details its history. The body, paint, and interior look quite nice, so what does this car need other than a new place to roost?
Because this car is located on the south shore of Long Island, a close inspection of the underside would be advised. I sold my ’57 Silver Hawk last year, a car which is almost identical to this model although it was in better condition. I think the asking price for this red Hawk is optimistic given what I can see in the photos (amateur paint job, tired interior, gnarly-looking engine compartment).
Beautiful car if you ask me, I would be happy to drive it. Of course, that doesn’t say much, I would be happy to drive ANY car these days.
Studebaker did not have a 2 speed automatic. Very likely a BW auto that started out in second gear, like the early Fordomatic.
Correct. The “PNDLR” shift quadrant is misleading because the automatic is in fact a 3-speed like the early Ford-o-Matics and not a 2-speed. Stude describes it as a 3-speed in the sales literature while showing that quadrant.
Is that mold on the headliner? What’s up with that?
Significant corrosion on the instrument cluster.
Is that overspray on the rear seat bottom edge?
Looks like it sat for a long time in someplace really wet.
Must smell wonderful!
Hey do you own an Olds Jetfire 88? Do you have any photos you would care to share?
Love me some Oldsmobile!!
And, Studebaker went off and on offering the one with the B pillar, like this one, and the one without, and in some years both. Without “looked better” to me, but with was structrually, sounder, and therefore rattled less, and, probably, in a rollover, would be safer but nothing like today’s cars which are designed to rollover without crushing the roof. As a firefigher I have seen some in person, and youtube shows many as well. It is amazing what people can walk away from now between seat belts, air bags, and a solid roof structure, even with enormous glass roofs between the steel side rails.
Whoever shot this car sure didn’t worry about overspray. He even managed to get the back seat.
I can see why Hawks didn’t sell much by this time period ; The big 3 were changing body styles nearly every year , and this car screams “suddenly its 1956 ! ” Such a dated design that goes back to 1953 ,and still using the same old drivetrain platform wasn’t going to excite many customers – who wants a new car that looks like a 7 year old car ?
I sold mine but it was much nicer than this one.
Are you kidding?
People people people
If can’t say anything nice about something, please don’t say anything at all!
When I lived in the South I was taught the proper phrase is “If you can’t say something nice about someone, come sit next to ME”
That’s called Southern Hospitality by people who haven’t lived there.
I had a blk/pink 1956 Power Hawk, same car of course, but the the plastic fins, dashboard and had the 259 engine. Remember one model year they used a headlite ring from an older PU and turned it upside down.
Poor management and the unions killed Stude, being from So.Bend remember men hanging out the windows all day, had two people for every job, and taking a part out to make a car was so true
My first car was a 53 Commander Starliner, the one without the B pillar. with a three speed inverted H shift on the floor. Beautiful design (the car not the shifter). Too bad Studebaker couldn’t stick with the simplicity of the 53 and too bad I don’t have it today. I do miss that car.