One thing I have discovered at Barn Finds is that we experience either a feast or a famine with certain makes and models. The Studebaker GT Hawk is a prime example. We saw one of these in December 2025, and then there was nothing. However, this 1963 GT Hawk is the fifth to cross our desks in a month. It is a genuine barn find that has hibernated since 1981. It is essentially complete and a rock-solid project candidate, offered with No Reserve by the seller. You will find the Studebaker here on eBay in Casa Grande, Arizona. Bidding sits at a mere $500 with plenty of time for readers to stake their claim on this beauty.
Launched for the 1962 model year, the Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk was, as its model designation suggests, a genuine Grand Tourer. It featured a comfortable interior and enough power to guarantee effortless long-distance cruising. Our feature car left the factory in 1963, ordered by its first owner in Regal Red. It would have been a striking vehicle in its prime, and I see no reason why the winning bidder couldn’t recapture its former glory. It has hibernated since 1981, and only recently emerged from hiding. It is missing its back bumper, but otherwise seems complete. The paint shows age, but with no major panel shortcomings, refreshing the exterior should be relatively straightforward. “But what about rust?” I hear you ask. Well, the news is positive on that front. The exterior surfaces are clean, while the underside shots reveal nothing worse than heavy surface corrosion. Addressing it to prevent deterioration would be wise. However, with no steel penetration, the grinder and welder can remain snugly tucked away in the cupboard. The trim essentially looks acceptable for a driver-grade restoration, and the glass is clear.
Lifting the Hawk’s hood reveals a 289ci V8. I’m unsure which version this is, but it would have sent at least 210hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission when the car was shiny and new. The seller indicates that a previous owner parked the car in a barn in 1981, but is unsure why. They say the water and oil are clean, but not whether the engine turns over. Reassuringly, they haven’t attempted to coax the motor back to life. That is a task for the winning bidder, and since the V8 remains untouched, they can follow their preferred approach. I will say that if the engine spins, it may not take much effort to have it purring once again.
This Studebaker’s interior is a surprise packet. The driver’s seatcover is badly torn, and the foam is crumbling. The carpet is fit for the skip, and the faux timber dash fascia is marked in several places. However, the remaining trim looks remarkably good. The first step for the buyer to consider is treating everything to a deep clean. That should produce pleasing results, revealing that the identified components may be the only ones requiring replacement. The air conditioning unit is swinging in the breeze, but the gauges look nice, and the car retains its factory radio.
The automotive world lost many manufacturers in the post-war years. Studebaker soldiered on gamely until March 1966, when its last passenger car left the line. I have always considered it crucial to preserve vehicles from defunct marques so that future generations can gain an insight into what the world has lost. This 1963 Studebaker GT Hawk is a prime candidate for that approach, and the No Reserve factor makes it tempting. It may have only received three bids, but the listing statistics suggest the action may intensify. Therefore, how hard would you be willing to fight to take this promising project home?
Love these GTs and this one is a great starting point. Would prefer the 4 speed but considering the condition of this one would take it. Studebaker did such great things with so little financing. To bad they are gone. I would prefer seeing Studebakers and AMC/Ramblers on the road instead of all these foreign cars.
It’s rather surprising that there are still several Stude GT’s around, considering the sales figures. They do have their fine points. Nice styling and one of the nicest dashes you were going to see in that era. They don’t seem to have a proclivity to rust either, probably the main reason you still see ’em. This car looks to have the base 289 and if the bidding doesn’t turn stupid this Hawk may be worth taking a flyer on..on a side note, in those days Mercedes shared floor space in Studebaker dealerships, perhaps a little European influence rubbed off on the GT?.
appears to be a solid body and if you’re into these that’s +
WOW I wonder if this was my Dad’s GT Hawk. When he died I couldn’t afford to store or even get back on the road. He had been in bad shape(dementia) for years and it sat from the early 80’s in a storage building(Clinton, Mo). When he died my step mom sold it to me.Then I nearly gave it away to a woman from Iowa. She had a stroke and passed away a couple years later and I lost track of the car. Geeeeee I wonder.
I like it! I have family down in the neighborhood I could visit if scoring this car. BUT, tow vehicle AND trailer need major service. So no trips down there in the near soon. I would love to have this car.
If this GT Hawk couldbe purchased at a reasonable price I think an additional 5k would do wonders… I’ve always had a appreciation for this model.. it’s only 70 miles from my front door but unfortunately I don’t have garage space and wouldn’t e feasible to pay to store .. wondering how hard it would be to source a rear bumper and the cost?
The word that comes to mind when I look at these later Hawk GTs is ‘stately’. The transformation from the Bourke/Loewy 53 original (smooth rounded front and curved rear window with low fins) design was interesting. From the 53-54 to the chrome front 55s, and then the big-finned and large vertical grill of the later 50s Hawks, and back to the original rear fin but with harder edges and the buttressed rear window. This version has an elegance, but IMO lacks the beauty of the original. The 289 was a great engine (and I’ve written about it in the past). This one would be a great renovation candidate and likely for not much green. They are lovely driving cars.
Full dash, AC, deck lid antenna, looks like a disc brake reservoir on the cowl…Looks like a nicely equipped car to start with. Parts aren’t hard to find. Lots of these survived.