Stalled Project: 1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk

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The Gran Turismo Hawk (aka GT Hawk) was the final iteration of the Studebaker Hawk series that dated to 1956. Created in 1962, it was a personal luxury car that resembled the Ford Thunderbird (roofline) and Mercedes-Benz (front end). Production would end in late calendar 1963 when Studebaker quit building cars in the U.S. (it soldiered on in Canada until 1966). This 1963 GT Hawk looks to be in nice shape overall but is not roadworthy as its owner passed away before finishing some mechanical work. Located in Limerick, Maine, this capable project is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at just $3,203.

GT Hawk sales amounted to less than 14,000 units in three model years. About 4,000 were produced in 1963 alone, the year the seller’s car was built (the same year the Avanti debuted). These were classy-looking cars even though their engineering was a decade old. Two engine choices were available, a 289 cubic inch V8 with and without a supercharger (no mention is made if this example had or has one, so we assume not). But it has a 4-speed manual transmission, which probably adds to the car’s rarity today.

The Stude appears to have been idle for the past seven years. It was sitting on jack stands in 2017 in a garage where the owner was in the process of replacing the timing cover gasket due to a leak. That’s probably why the radiator and some other parts don’t appear in the photos. But said owner passed away about that time and the work came to a halt. The buyer will need to finish this task to get it back on the road (it will start and idle briefly with fresh gas).

We’re told this vehicle participated in car shows a decade or so ago, so it wasn’t a garage queen at 91,000 miles. The brakes are non-op and will need attention, too. The GT seems to have no rust, and the turquoise paint looks good enough. The interior is okay with very faded carpeting and some upholstery issues on the driver’s bucket seat, but that could wait. The listing was posted by a friend of the seller and the car comes with a sealed letter from the State of Maine so you can get a title in your state. Maine didn’t issue them back then (as we’re told).

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Comments

  1. Phllthyphil

    For a Studebaker guy this could be a very good project you even get cherry bombs with it

    Like 4
    • bobhess bobhessMember

      If those are really Cheery Bombs they aren’t doing the power any good. They are at the top of the list for restrictive exhaust mufflers.

      Like 0
  2. Fox owner

    Fix the gasket, brakes, service fuel system, get driver’s seat reupholstered, rub out the paint and maybe you’re good to go? A couple things though. Does it have AC? I’m thinking not since it has crank windows. Are those cracks in the dash? How hard would it be to get a carpet? For the price this would be one cool ride. That style is almost retro future, or what sixties stylists thought the future looked like.

    Like 3
  3. Phil D

    Unless the valve covers have been changed, this is the base 289. It has no supercharger, and never did. The optional R1 (high performance 289, the base Avanti engine) and R2 (supercharged high performance 289) engines had chromed valve covers.

    Like 2
  4. Chris

    This looks like a retired U-Haul truck .
    Love the U-Haul colors ………

    Like 0

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