1959 Studebaker Silver Hawk

Studebaker models received updated styling in 1956, with the sultry Raymond Loewy-designed coupes remaining in production, modernized with Mercedes-like grilles and curvaceous tail fins, and designated as Studebaker Hawks. Body styles included both hardtop and pillared coupes equipped with several different engines. The Golden Hawk was the top offering for several years, but for 1959, those honors were bestowed upon the Silver Hawk.

The Silver Hawk was part of the Studebaker lineup from 1957 through 1959, initially replacing both the Power Hawk and Flight Hawk. The standard engine was the 185 cubic-inch Champion six, with the 259 Commander V-8 standard for export models. Unlike the Golden Hawk, the Silver Hawk had a simpler two-tone paint scheme, devoid of a supercharger or hood bulge, and more restrained use of chrome trim.

The 1959 Studebaker Silver Hawk was the only 'Hawk' model in production, accompanied by the compact Lark model. The Silver Hawk and Lark both came standard with the 169.6 CID six with 8.3:1 compression, a Carter one-barrel carburetor, and four main bearings, and delivered 90 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. The overhead-valve V8 had a 259.2 cubic-inch displacement, solid valve lifters, five main bearings, a two-barrel Stromberg carburetor, and delivered 180 horsepower at 4,500 RPM. A three-speed manual transmission with a column-mounted gearshift was standard, and overdrive was an extra $110. The Flightomatic added an additional $200 to the base price. Additional optional equipment included lower compression ratios, Twin-Traction, and an optional power kit that added a four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust on the V8 engines.

Studebaker added new tailfins to the Silver Hawk and moved its nameplate script to the fins instead of on the trunk lid, where new individual block letters spelling out STUDEBAKER. A new Hawk badge was placed between the two words. Chrome molding was around the windows, the parking lights moved from the front fenders to the side grilles, two-tone paint was discontinued for all U.S. orders, and the interior luxury improved. The two-tone paint was available for export and for fleet cars.

The Lark model was popular, helping Studebaker achieve its first profitable year in six years. Sales of the Silver Hawk were respectable with 2,417 being equipped with six-cylinder engines and 5,371 with V8s.

The following year, the 'Silver Hawk' was renamed to 'Hawk' and continued to be accompanied by the Lark. Production of the Hawk was delayed due to a steel strike in the U.S. With steel in short supply, Studebaker focused on building as many Lark models as possible, delaying Hawk production (which had been scheduled to begin in November or December of 1959).

Production of the Hawk continued until 1962 when it was replaced by the Brooks Stevens-designed Gran Turismo Hawk.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2020