1956 Studebaker Flight Hawk
Jul 21, 2020
The Flight Hawk was Studebaker’s entry-level Hawk model in 1956. It was available as a five-window coupe for domestic sales but also as a hardtop body in export markets. Power came from Studebaker’s economical Champion six-cylinder engine. Transmission choices included a three-speed manual...
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Meet the Studebaker Sisters
Jun 25, 2020
The first Studebaker to permanently reside in northern Indiana was not Henry or Clement Studebaker but their eldest sister Sally (Sarah) Studebaker Welch (1822-1902) and her husband Phillip. They arrived in the late 1840s and operated a toll road running south out of South Bend. The Welches later mo...
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Setting the Pace: Studebaker’s Pace Cars
Jun 19, 2020
The Studebaker Corporation was selected to provide the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 on four occasions: 1929, 1940, 1952, and 1962. The concept of the pace car in motorsports originated at the first 500 in 1911. A rolling start was desired instead of the customary standing start, and a pace car ...
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1964 Studebaker Hawks
May 22, 2020
The Hawk’s final year saw minor changes from 1963, with a redesigned deck lid and an optional vinyl roof being the most notable, and the Avanti’s high-performance options continued from 1963. Hawk production ceased on December 20, 1963 with the closing of Studebaker’s South Bend plant.
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1963 Studebaker Hawks
May 22, 2020
The Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk received some minor restyling for 1963 but the big news was the availability of the Avanti’s high-performance engines and optional disc brakes. A full high-performance package, introduced in the spring of 1963, included the Avanti’s engine, heavy-duty suspension,...
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1961 Studebaker Hawks
May 08, 2020
Studebaker spruced up the Hawk for 1961 with the additions of an optional four-speed manual transmission, bucket seat interior and a rear fender color accent. The four-speed transmission was a popular option, with over 40% of production so equipped.
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1962 Studebaker Hawks
May 08, 2020
Although many suspected the Hawk would be dropped for 1962, new Studebaker President Sherwood Egbert commissioned Milwaukee-based industrial designer Brooks Stevens to freshen the six-year old design. The result was the Gran Turismo Hawk, which featured a Thunderbird-inspired roofline and a complete...
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1960 Studebaker Hawks
May 01, 2020
Steel shortages saw Studebaker delay the Hawk’s introduction until February of 1960, a full five months into the model year. Although the model name changed – it now was simply called the “Hawk” – little else did. Studebaker’s 289 V8 returned as the standard Hawk engine.
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1959 Studebaker Hawks
Apr 28, 2020
Studebaker initially planned to cancel the Hawk for 1959 due to poor sales in 1958. Dealers objected, however, and a compromise was reached where only the coupe-bodied Silver Hawk returned. The ’59 Silver Hawk was only available with a 170 cubic-inch six or 259 cubic-inch V8.
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1958 Studebaker Hawks
Apr 22, 2020
Studebaker continued with the Golden and Silver Hawk models in 1958 and also added the upscale Packard Hawk that year. The Packard Hawk was based on the 1958 Golden Hawk and featured a distinctive hood and grille design inspired by period Italian sports cars. Like the discontinued ’57 Golden H...
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