It was the question that plagued Studebaker’s design team: “How can we make the 1963 GT Hawk better than last year?” After noted designer Brooks Stevens captured the essence of previous Studebaker Hawks in a sleek, contemporary body for 1962 that more than doubled Hawk sales, Studebaker engineers racked their...

The Hawk received a restyle for 1962 and was reborn as the Gran Turismo Hawk. The redesign was handled by Brooks Stevens, who also freshened Studebaker’s 1962 Lark line. Optional equipment for 1963 included the Avanti’s high-performance engines and disc brakes. In early 1963, Studebaker introduced a special high-performance package...

New features for the 1961 Hawk included an optional four-speed transmission, bucket seats and a rear fender color accent stripe. 1961 was also the final year for the Hawk’s tail fins and five-window coupe body style.  The new four-speed transmission was a popular option, as 40% of all Hawks built...

The Packard Hawk began life as a special project for Curtiss-Wright executive Roy Hurley. It features the same drivetrain as Studebaker’s Golden Hawk along with a leather interior. The distinctive Packard Hawk hood and nose were made of fiberglass. The Packard Hawk resurrected Studebaker’s ‘53-’55 models’ trunk lid topped with...

The luxurious 1957 Golden Hawk 400 debuted in April of 1957 as a premium edition of Studebaker’s top Hawk model. Additional 400 features included a leather interior, special paint, and an upholstered trunk. Just 51 1957 Golden Hawk 400’s were built - 10 show cars, and 41 regular production examples....

The Golden Hawk was Studebaker’s flagship model in 1956. It featured Packard’s 275-horsepower 352 cubic-inch V8 engine and was one of the fastest cars on the road that year.  The 1956 Golden Hawk was the first Studebaker automobile to feature tail fins. The ‘56 Golden Hawk’s fins were made of...

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, overdrive, and automatic gearboxes. Engine Horsepower Number...

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, disc brakes, a tachometer and a 160-mile-per-hour...

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. Model: Engine: HP: Body...

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 completely redesigned interior. Despite a $400 price increase, sales...