The first iteration of the Studebaker Hawk arrived in 1956, and no less than eight versions were around through 1964. The last edition (1962 to 1964) was the Gran Turismo Hawk, abbreviated to the GT Hawk, the most elegant of the series. The seller has not one but two examples from the GT’s beginning in ’62. Both cars will need extensive work, so you might be able to salvage one good car from the pair if you don’t want to tackle both. Located in Albany, Oregon, the duo can be had for $3,500 here on craigslist, where ample photos have been provided.
The Hawks were a derivative of the 1953 Starlight and came in pillared coupes and hardtops over the years. At one time or another, you could buy a Hawk, Golden Hawk, Silver Hawk, Power Hawk, Flight Hawk, Sky Hawk, and even a Packard Hawk. But the GT (also Gran Touring) Hawk was inspired by the then-current Ford Thunderbird (with some Mercedes styling cues thrown in). Before production ended in December 1963 due to Studebaker shutting down U.S. production, fewer than 14,000 GT Hawks had seen the light of day, with 8,000 or so debuting in 1962.
These two cars have been extracted from a shed where they’ve been for ages. They belonged to a Studebaker fan who may never have had time to do anything with them. Because they’re the same color and have identical powertrains (289 CI V8s and automatic transmissions), it’s a little hard to tell them apart. The main giveaways are the interiors, as one is blue and the other red, and they have bucket seats vs. a bench.
Neither machine runs, and the engines won’t turn (locked up?). We’re told that rust isn’t an issue with one of the GTs, so perhaps the more solid body wins out if you’re trying to merge the pair. One of the cars has an incorrect trunk lid from a 1956 model. The vehicles both have good glass, and the chrome bits have been afflicted by time and weather. If you bought the pair, what would be your plan of attack?
I believe that 1957 was the first year of the Hawk. Prior to that it was just called the Commander (without the fins or the big open-faced grill).
Studebaker made bunches (flocks?) of Hawks in ‘56. Power Hawk, Golden Hawk, Sky Hawk, Silver Hawk…
Pretty sure I’m forgetting one or more.
And the “Flight Hawk”. I think it came with the anemic flathead six.
And the “Flight Hawk”. I think it came with the anemic flathead six.
First Hawks were from 1956. Flight Hawk, Sky Hawk, Power Hawk, and Golden Hawk. 1957 there was just the Silver Hawk and Golden Hawk.
Very tempting, but timing is wrong. Could be alot of fun. Build the trailer/garage queen. And also have a daily beater.
Your “daily ” beater could have the LS in it!
See, I beat you to it!
Tons of work to be done here but nothing else looks like a studebaker Hawk.
To my knowledge these never came with bench seats. Based on the ’56 trunk lid addition, I suspect the bench seat also came from the ’56 parts car.
Poppy, I’ve seen 2 more ’62 GT Hawks with bench seats, both cars were export models and located in Germany & France. As this car has almost no options [not even a clock], I suspect this Hawk was a “base-price model”, ordered with the cheaper bench seat. Thinking back, I don’t recall ever seeing another GT Hawk without a clock. As for the wrong deck lid, it can be converted to the 1962 variant fairly easy.
That said, a GT Hawk with bench seat is a very rare car.
What ever type of “shed” they were in, the storage was terrible considering that interior shot. Maybe the climate there?
I could be mistaken, but I believe the Hawk deck lid is the same from 1956 through 1963, which if true means that it hasn’t been “switched”. Part of Brooks Stevens’ masterful design work that turned the dated 1956-61 Hawk into the “new”, fashionable 1962-64 Gran Turismo Hawk included hiding the old Hawk deck lid’s most recognizable feature, the horizontally “ribbed” section of the deck lid behind a very tasteful and modern looking aluminum trim panel. Those panels are now pretty much unobtainable unless they can be salvaged from a parts car, which is likely what has happened to the one without that trim.
On edit, they have indeed replaced the deck lid with one from a ’56 Power Hawk, but were someone able to get the correct ’62 Gran Turismo Hawk deck lid trim, it should work on the ’56 deck lid after removing the ’56 emblems.
Met Brooks Stevens at his museum. I feel honored to have met him. I was the only one present at the time and spent 45 minutes to an hour discussing his cars on display and vehicle design in general. Great Guy!
It says it in the ad – trunk lid on one is from a 1956…..a steal for a Stude lover of these bodies…….