- Seller: David B (Contact)
- Location: Rocky Hill, Connecticut
- Mileage: 44,000 Shown
- Chassis #: 62V38068
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 289 cui V8
- Transmission: Flight-O-Matic 3-Speed
Many enthusiasts place great importance on originality and a known ownership history when hunting for a classic to park in their garage. If you harbor those feelings, you may find this 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk very attractive. The seller is only its third owner, and they hold a complete history of this survivor. It retains its factory paint, presenting exceptionally well for a vehicle with sixty-three years under its belt. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting the Studebaker listed here on Barn Finds in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. The seller set their price at $15,900 for what many would consider to be a genuine time capsule.
Studebaker introduced the Gran Turismo Hawk in 1962, with the car representing a major restyle of the previous offering. It eliminated features like the fins, giving the GT Hawk a more modern appearance that reflected automotive design trends of the period. The seller is this classic’s third owner, and they hold a comprehensive dossier tracing the car’s fascinating history back to Day One. Its first owner ordered the Hawk in Ermine White, and purists will welcome the news that the car retains almost all of its original paint. It has received minor touchups throughout its life, allowing it to still present nicely. A close inspection will reveal minor imperfections, but none of its flaws are severe enough to justify any form of cosmetic restoration. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and apart from minor surface corrosion on the underside, this Studebaker is devoid of any form of penetrating rust.
Powering this GT Hawk is Studebaker’s 4-barrel version of the 289ci V8. The company’s Sales Brochure quotes power and torque figures of 225hp and 305 ft/lbs, which feeds to the Twin Traction rear end via a three-speed Flight-O-Matic transmission. The first owner decided that she preferred an effortless driving experience, so she ordered it with power assistance for the steering and the four-wheel drum brakes. The originality of this Studebaker extends to its mechanical components, which are numbers-matching. The seller confirms that they had a specialist refresh the engine bay, including repaints of items like the valve covers and brake booster. However, the V8 has never been apart, and the car has a genuine 44,000 miles on the clock. It runs and drives perfectly, and is ready for classic motoring adventure with the new owner behind the wheel.
The interior reveals one of the few non-original aspects of this GT Hawk. Early cars were prone to issues with the seatcovers, and this classic received replacements in the early 2000s. They still present exceptionally well, with the same true of the remaining upholstered surfaces, the carpet, and the dashpad. The gauges are crisp and clear, with the bright trim adding a sense of occasion to any journey. The seller states that the air conditioning blows cool, but feels that it might benefit from a recharge. The radio and clock are inoperative, but everything else inside this Hawk works as it should.
It is no secret that by 1962, Studebaker was in dire financial trouble. It was unable to compete with the efficiencies and the sales volumes enjoyed by The Big Three, and the marque would disappear before the decade’s end. This 1962 Gran Turismo Hawk demonstrated how the company could perform a major redesign of an existing model on a tight budget, giving its latest offering a fresh look. The history of this classic means that it deserves preservation, and I hope that is what its future holds. Do you agree?
Nice car. Ditching the fins certainly helped to put it back into the good looking realm of the early cars.
Always loved this design, from new onwards. Rather amazing reskin of a 10 year old design (9 in production).
Nice write-up, Adam!
Looks like a nice solid car. If mileage and mechanical condition is accurate, it is priced very well.
Many parts are still easily available through dedicated Studebaker parts vendors. I always like the classy rebranding of the GT Hawks. I’d lose the wide whites, not period correct for that year. Owning a nice preservation class car is way less expensive than any form of restoration. Buy it, drive it and maintain it. Easy Peezy. These are nice drivers.
The wwt are just a little wider than the original width.
What’s the catch? Looks like a Great price for a Beautiful car. I’d love to buy it.
Too bad it’s an automatic, but if it’s as good as it looks, just buy it, fix a few things, and enjoy!
These are awesome cars. They were fast and reliable. The price looks to be extremely reasonable for this car.
With the addition of air conditioning it is a real driver now.
The best looking, to me, were the ’53 and ’54’s, this was a close second. It would be a great car to have, not a museum piece so you can drive it and not worry about reducing its value.
I agree with you, charlie. That’s why I have one of both (’54 and ’63)! Very stylish. Always getting positive comments in public – more from my black GT, surprisingly.