This 1957 Studebaker Silver Hawk is a barn find that the owner has brought out of hiding, and returned it to the road. He has decided to part with it, and you will find it listed for sale here on Craigslist. The car is located in South Bend, Indiana, and is offered for sale with a clean title. The owner has set a sale price of $16,000 for the Silver Hawk.
I saw my first Silver Hawk when I was a boy, and I’ve always like the look of them. We’ve seen a number of both Silver and Golden Hawks come across our desks at Barn Finds over the past few months, and they all seem to have had issues with rust or corrosion. I’ve given this one a pretty thorough examination, and it looks like it is the best that we’ve seen for a long time. Judging by the state of the paint finish, that is either the original paint or the car has had a repaint a long time ago. This leads me to believe that if the paint is hiding any nasty surprises, then they should have floated to the surface by now. I’ve looked at all of the traditional trouble spots on the body itself, and the car looks as clean as a whistle. Unfortunately, we have no indications about the condition of the floors or the frame, but what we can see looks very encouraging. The two-tone finish on this Silver Hawk is unusual. This model is usually either painted in a single color, or if they are two-tone, they have one color above the chrome strips, and a contrasting color below. The contrasting fins was usually a dealer provided option.
The interior looks like it may have undergone a partial restoration at some stage, but there is a bit of a clash of cultures happening there. I think that the door trims are original, but it looks like someone has cut holes in them for aftermarket speakers, and then closed them over with blanking plates. The dash looks to be complete and in really good condition, and that machine turned feature looks like it will clean really well. The steering wheel also appears to be in good condition.
The rear passenger area also appears to be in generally good condition. I don’t think that the carpet is original, as its fit, especially along the lower edge of the seat, is pretty ordinary. The seat upholstery is also a mystery. The black vinyl looks like it might be original, but the cloth inserts definitely aren’t. Regardless, they do look to be in good condition. What we don’t get a shot of is the engine. We do know that it’s the 289ci V8, which is backed by an automatic transmission. We can’t be sure which version of the 289 is fitted to this car, as one produced 210hp, while the optional engine produced 225hp. The dual exhaust tends to suggest that it may be the 225hp version, but we can’t be certain on that. The seller states that the car runs and drives well and that the gas tank has been cleaned and lined, a new water pump has been fitted, the carburetor has been rebuilt, and a new exhaust has been fitted.
This 1957 Silver Hawk looks to be a solid and honest car, but the best way to confirm this would be by undertaking a personal inspection. If the body, floors, and frame are solid, then this would represent a fairly straight-forward restoration project. Alternatively, it could be driven and enjoyed as it is. If the car is solid, then there is certainly scope for at least giving the car a decent paint job. With nice examples generally starting at around the $22,000, there is certainly scope for doing some restoration work on the car.
Next to the (later) Avanti, this was their best looking car.
Agree 100%
Don’t know if my mama was scared by gargoyles when she carrying me or what but I have always liked the looks of these cars. Looking at each separate part it be on the ugly side. But stepping back and looking at the whole car at once just pleases my eyeballs. One of the few cars I would like to buy and park in my front yard. Set in my rocker on the front porch and look at it all day.
Great description Brent… these cars are beautiful, despite the awkwardness in some of the design aspects.
The pillared Silver Hawk ran from 1957 to 59 while the hardtop Golden was 1956 to 58. For 1960 and 61 it was just plain Hawk (pillared only). For 1962 it was restyled and renamed Gran Turismo Hawk. That too, was a handsome beast.
I’m suspicious of the trailer hitch in the back.
I’m no expert on these, though I do own a ’57 Silver Hawk myself. I wish seller included a photo of the engine. Anybody seriously considering this car would need an up-close-and-personal evaluation.
My college car was a ’53 with a complete Oldsmobile running gear. To this day the Lowery designed coupes were the best looking things ever built in those years. The Hawks weren’t the greatest looking rendition of the car but the engines sure substituted for that.
My first car was a hand me down 61 Hawk from my parents in 1965, which I drove 2 years with the car surviving both a hail storm and an accident before I traded it on a 64 Avanti. I’ve always liked the Hawks, whether it be pillared, hardtops or the GT, each have their own attributes. This Hawk does not seem to have rusting in the usual place behind the vent doors and in front of both doors. Car also has a supercharged Golden Hawk hood, which I don’t think was standard for the Silver Hawks.
I love these finned Hawks. My first transportation car was a 59 Silver Hawk. My father had a 61 Hawk from 1966 to 1968. I sill have a 62 Hawk GT, to replace my parents 62 Hawk GT I sold in 1981 to go to college. This is a nice example of a 57 Silver Hawk. Someone has added a Golden Hawk hood, which has the fiberglass inlay with the faux louvres. The 57 and 58 Golden Hawks needed this additional panel on the hood to allow the McCulloch Supercharger to go through the steel hood ever so slightly. If anyone has a 61 Hawk 4 speed, black/red on the West Coast, please let me know.
Love these cars. Very special.
Price is right and condition looks great.
He did the exact right things to get it rolling again.
Being that the seller doesn’t mention the engine or show a picture, it might not have a Studebaker engine – could be a SBC?
Can you say Raymond Loewy?
Not unusual to see a two tone like this. Studebaker would make them anyway you wanted. Chrome louvers on the fins are Golden Hawk only.
Located in South Bend, IN. Hasn’t gone far in all those years
The Washington state license plate says otherwise.
I have restored several Hawks, and currently own 3. The upholstery in this car is correct in fabric and style for the 1957 model year.
Hawks have a reputation for the hoods blowing open at high speed (there are fixes available for that), so it’s not uncommon to see one with the wrong hood as a wrecking yard may have supplied this one years ago. Some have added the gills on the rear fins from a Golden Hawk because, well, they’re cool. Looks from the few pictures to be a nice, complete, solid car.