1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk

The stylish 1953 Commander Starliner Coupe was re-christened the Hawk for 1956 and wore the obligatory fins and a forward-thrusting grille. Styled by Loewy staffer Robert Bourke, the Studebaker Corporation underestimated the popularity of the coupe models, resulting in lost sales until production caught up with demand. They would remain in production until the assembly was moved to Canada in 1965.

The Studebaker Coupe came in several varieties, including sixes and V-8s, hardtops, and 'post' coupes. Among the early edition was the 1955 President Speedster equipped with an up-rated 289 cubic-inch engine, exclusive colors, and a damascened dashboard with Stewart Warner instruments.

All 1956 Studebaker wagon and sedan bodies were restyled with contemporary appearances similar to other American cars. The styling revisions of the coupes, however, focused on the nose and tail. The result was the Studebaker Hawk with a fiberglass fin, a slight bustle trunk lid, and a Mercedes-inspired grille. An array of engines could be installed in the bay, from an L-head six-cylinder up to a 352 cubic-inch Packard V-8. Both the fiberglass fins and the Packard engine were interim solutions, and for 1957 the curvaceous steel fin made its debut. Since the Packard engine had gone out of production, the engines were all Studebaker. By this point in history, the Studebaker V-8 engine had reached its displacement limit, so a McCulloch supercharger was added, resulting in nearly one brake horsepower per cubic inch of displacement.

The Gran Turismo was offered in both naturally aspired and supercharged form and a new Super Hawk braking and handling package that included front and rear anti-roll bars, rear radius rods, heavy-duty springs, power steering, and power front disc brakes. The 'Jet Thrust' R-series V-8 engine designed for the Avanti developed 240 horsepower in naturally aspirated R1 configuration or 289 horsepower with the supercharged R2 setup. The limited-production 304.5 cubic-inch R3 V8 powerplant brought horsepower to 335 horsepower.

The Hawk received its most dramatic appearance for 1962 with updates by designer Brooks Stevens, who was working on a shoestring budget as the company's future was surrounded by uncertainty. The Loewy design took on a more formal and modern appearance with reworked roof contours, rounding the rear of the vehicle, and the Mercedes-like grille gaining broad chrome outer moldings. The previous softly arcing roofline was replaced by a more squared-off roof inspired by the Ford Thunderbird. The fin craze of the mid-to-late-1950s and had lost its appeal by the early 1960s, so the car now had a finless rear deck. Although it was an inexpensive facelift, the design appeared completely new, and the new appearance brought about a new name - the Gran Turismo Hawk. The R1 and R2 engines of the Avanti, introduced in 1963, became available as Hawk options. Other features sourced from the Avanti were disc brakes, heavy-duty suspension, and a 160mph speedometer.

The new styling received wide acclaim from automotive journalists who praised the Hawk when tested, referring to it as 'a powerful, competent road machine offering European standards of road-holding with American power and quality.'

Production of the Gran Turismo Hawk was brief, lasting through the 1964 model year since the Hawk was discontinued after production was moved to Canada. The South Bend plant was closed on December 20, 1963, after 111 years of continuous carriage and automobile production. Production went from a high of nearly 20,000 units in 1957 to 8,388 in 1962 - the year the GT Hawk was introduced. For 1963, Studebaker produced 4,634 examples.

The base price of the Gran Turismo Hawk was $3,095 before options.

Andy Granatelli took a fleet of Studebakers to Bonneville in 1962 and 1963, where they broke over 337 national speed records with R series cars. Paula Murphy drove a prototype 1964 R3 GT Hawk in October 1963 to a top speed of 1954 mph.

by Dan Vaughan

V8 Hardtop

The 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk appeared to be an all-new, high-style personal car in the Thunderbird class. In reality, it was an unusually creative facelift of an aging design done on a shoe-string budget in the Brooks Stevens design studios.

Starting with the 1961 Hawk, Stevens lopped off the dated tailfins, added a Thunderbird-like roof cap, and applied a Continental-like beltline molding. The result: 1962 style on a platform that went way back to the 1953 'Loewy Coupe.'

The 1963 edition shown is the ultimate expression of GT Hawk power and luxury. This all-original, 40,000-mile car is one of only 160 built with the Avanti Supercharger R2 'Jet Thrust' engine/4-speed manual transmission combination. Other options include the 'Hill Holder,' power disc brakes, and the 'Twin Traction' locking rear differential.

V8 Hardtop

The Raymond Loewy-designed Studebaker Coupes were introduced in 1963 and became the Hawk series from 1956 to 1961. In 1962, designer Brooks Stevens redesigned the Hawk in the European style. The new Gran Turismo Hawk was produced for three years. 1963 production was 4,634 units. Equipment includes a tachometer, front power disk brakes, power steering, twin traction rear axle, and a Flight-O-Matic transmission. The price was $3,866.

The Gran Turismo is powered by a 289 cubic-inch V8 with a four-barrel carburetor and develops 240 horsepower.

V8 Hardtop
Chassis number: 63V13414

Studebaker hired designer Brooks Stevens to redesign the Hawk for 1962. He was given a shoestring budget and was faced with the uncertainty surrounding the company's fortunes. Stevens was able to modernize Raymond Loewy's original design in striking fashion, rounding off the rear of the car and replacing its softly arcing roofline with a squared-off roof inspired by the Ford Thunderbird. For 1963, the design remained virtually unchanged. In another attempt to increase the new Hawk's appeal, Studebaker began offering the Avanti 289 cubic-inch V8 in both normally aspirated and supercharged versions and a new Super Hawk braking and handling package that included front and rear anti-roll bars, rear radius rods, heavy-duty springs, power steering, and power front disc brakes.

This particular example is an unrestored example that has been given a repaint in the original Ermine White. It is one of 56 early production 1963 GT Hawks special ordered to Super Hawk specifications before the model was technically available from the factory. It was specially built for actor Alan Young, and currently retains its matching-numbers R1 289/240 HP Jet-Thrust Avanti V-8 engine, which is teamed with a heavy-duty Flight-O-Matic transmission and Twin Traction limited-slip rear end. It has its original Red vinyl interior equipped with factory Climatizer air conditioning, full gauges, and a 6000 RPM tachometer.

by Dan Vaughan

V8 Hardtop
Chassis number: 63V-32107

The 1953 Raymond Loewy-designed coupe models were popular, and Studebaker had underestimated their appeal, resulting in lost sales until production was able to catch up with demand. They would remain in production until assembly was moved to Canada in 1965.

The coupes wore a design by Loewy staffer Robert Bourke and came in several body styles, including a coupe and hardtop, and were powered by sixes and V8s. The 1955 President Speedster was a very elegant version fitted with an up-rated 289 cubic-inch engine and given exclusive colors, and a damascened dashboard with Stewart Warner instruments.

The Studebaker sedan and wagon bodies were styled for 1956, bringing them more in-line with other American cars. The coupe's updates were limited to a nose and tail makeover. The result was the Studebaker Hawk, with fiberglass fins, a slight bustle trunk lid, and several engines to choose from.

The fiberglass fins were short-lived, as they were replaced with steel fins for 1957. Since the Packard engine had gone out of production, the engines were all Studebaker. The Studebaker V8 had reached its displacement limit, so it was given a McCulloch supercharger, resulting in nearly one brake horsepower per cubic inch of displacement.

Designer Brooks Stevens updated the Hawk in 1962 with a more formal appearance. The roof contours were re-worked and the grille was given a broad chrome outer molding. It was also given a new name - the Gran Turismo Hawk. R1 and R2 engine options were available on the Hawk. Hawk production was winding down in 1963 and continued only through the 1964 model year, since the Hawk was discontinued after production was moved to Canada. From a high of nearly 20,000 in 1957, it had dropped to 8,388 in 1962, the GT Hawk's debut year. In 1963, it was 4,634.

This particular example was acquired by the current caretaker in 2014. It is painted in Champagne Gold with bucket seats upholstered in pleated red vinyl. This Gran Turismo Hawk has power steering, power brakes, a radio, a heater-defroster, a center console, a factory tachometer, and an electric clock. Power is from a 289 cubic-inch V8 with dual exhausts and delivers 210 brake horsepower. There is a three-speed Flightomatic transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

Currently, the odometer shows 93,500 miles which is believed to be genuine.

The original owner was Norman Smalley, of Plainfield, Indiana, who took possession of the car on December 27th, 1963.

by Dan Vaughan

V8 Hardtop
Chassis number: 63V-32351

The Studebaker GT Hawk was one of the first American 'personal GT' cars, and its timeless shape was penned by designers Brooks Stevens and Raymond Loewy.

From 1962 through 1964 Studebaker produced the Gran Turismo Hawk, also known as the GT Hawk. The GT Hawk was an iteration of the Hawk series which had begun with the Golden Hawk in 1956. The styling was performed by Brooks Stevens using the prior Hawk cars as a starting point. The hood was retained while the radiator and grille borrowed inspiration from Mercedes-Benz. The GT Hawks was a marriage of both European and American styling and influences. The rear end was similar to that of a Lincoln while the roofline closely resembled a Ford Thunderbird. The result was a modern car that was both smooth and aerodynamic. It was sold in the US and other countries, such as Great Britain and Australia. In the US, sales were slow, with only 8,388 examples being produced in its inaugural year. 947 were produced for other countries during that year. This would be its strongest year, as sell fell to 4,009 for 1962, plus an additional 625 for export. Only 1,484 US examples were produced in 1964 and 283 for export.

Many areas of the vehicles were designed to be inexpensive to produce. The rear window was flat and recessed; the underpinnings and chassis of the car were nearly identical to prior Hawks. The engine bay could accept a variety of Studebaker engines that could be mated to a three-speed manual, four-speed, or Flight-O-Matic automatic gearbox. The engines ranged from a 4.7-liter V8 engine that produced just over 210 horsepower to a supercharged 5-liter engine that produced over 330 horsepower. The car's low weight and front disc brakes made it a solid performance machine.

Minor styling improvements were made for 1963. The rectangular parking lights were replaced with round units. The side of the dash was wood grain which made it similar in appearance to the rest of the instruments. Changes followed in 1964 such as a 'Studebaker Hawk' nameplate appearing on the trunk lid. The grille was again updated, now having a Hawk emblem in the center of the grille. A circle-S ornament could also be found on the grille shell. The top was a half-vinyl-covered roof which had been part of Steven's original designs but never made it into production in prior models. Wheel covers, similar to the other Studebaker models, were added. A silver-threaded cloth upholstery was added to the list of options, and for the first time, AM/FM radio could be ordered on the GT Turismo.

by Dan Vaughan