1960 Studebaker Hawk

Raymond Loewy penned the 1950s Studebaker, creating the elegant designs of the Champion and Commander six- and eight-cylinder models, sold in either Starlight (coupe) or Starliner (hardtop) form. For 1956, the whole range was revised and renamed the Hawk, distinguished by a squared-off egg-crate grille and different bootline. Available in four trim levels, the Flight, Power, Sky, and Golden Hawks, respectively, the Studebakers sport coupes combined good looks with powerful V8 engines. By 1960, Studebaker's coupe models were simply known as the Hawk, selling alongside the Lark four-door range. Mechanically, the 1960 Hawk could be had in the six-cylinder form (for export only) but more commonly came with V8 engines of either 259-CID or 289-CID capacity, while the interior was well equipped with semi-bucket seats and white-on-black instruments.

Along with a new-for-1960 Lark station wagon; the 1960 model year saw the introduction of the Lark convertible, the first Studebaker convertible since 1952. Both the Lark and the Hawk Series were available with either an L-head six-cylinder or an overhead-valve V8 engine. The 169.6 cubic-inch six-cylinder unit offered 90 horsepower, while the base 259.2 CID V8 offered 180 horsepower. An optional 289 CID was available on the Hawk, bringing horsepower to an impressive 210 hp.

The 1960 Studebakers were similar to their 1959 siblings. The exterior trim differences between the Regal and the DeLuxe remained basically the same as in 1959. The Econ-O-Miler continued to be a long-wheelbase, 4-door sedan with Lark styling.

Studebaker built 227 examples of the six-cylinder Hawk and 4,280 examples fitted with V8 engines in 1960.

Production of Studebakers at South Bend officially ceased in 1964, although the Avanti carried on for several more years.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017