Photos from the Cohort by Hyperpack.
I, like most, ache when I see a wounded animal. And from that realm, birds are the creatures for which I feel more. And while at first there doesn’t seem to be much wrong with this old Hawk, this bird certainly suffers from some ailment. After all, it’s clear it’s been sitting at the same place, immobile, for quite a while.
I mean, it’s even leaning into that wall, as if trying to hide from view. But ailing as it was, it didn’t have the strength to seek better shelter. Or so it seems.
So, what have we got here? Just one more ’62 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk. A model that has appeared at CC on several occasions, and that one would swear it sold in larger numbers than it did if looking at its many entries in our archives. Funny how that works.
That these have been covered several times means these creatures have a certain allure. And I’ll admit I’m not immune to their appeal. So one more look to a surviving, though ailing, one is certainly welcomed.
These images belong to another upload by Hyperpack, a contributor that’s posted rather interesting auto content at the Cohort in recent times. As I recall, many of his uploads come from a family collection; though some are just found around Pennsylvania. No idea what the back story of this particular Hawk is.
Whatever its story might be, this Hawk is both derelict and rather complete. A mix highly favored here at CC. And it’s always risky to make assessments from a few photos, but at least from these images, rust doesn’t seem terminal to my eyes.
One can only dream this Hawk will take flight sooner or later if properly taken care of.
See what I mean? This interior doesn’t only look rather complete but exudes those early ’60s snazzy vibes. And though I can’t quite see James Bond driving a Studebaker, I can certainly see Felix Leiter doing so (he preferred Thunderbirds, though).
We know idleness ain’t kind to anybody in the long run, and cars -and hawks- certainly don’t benefit from it either. From this view, the blemishes of rust and time are only too evident.
Turismo Turismo? Nope, it’s “Twin-Traction”. Studebaker-Packard’s term for their limited slip-differential technology.
Let’s see if Hyperpack appears in the comments section (it will show up as Slant Six) to give us the backstory on this Studebaker. Otherwise, here’s one last view of this forlorn and ailing Gran Turismo Hawk. I can only hope it will find a new sheltering place, so that it can heal and can take flight again sometime in the future.
Related CC reading:
Vintage Car Life Road Test: 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk – Does It Live Up To Its Name?
Curbside Classic: 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk – Irrational Exuberance by JP Cavanaugh
Curbside Classic: 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk – A Beautiful Death by PN
Automotive History: The Studebaker V8 Engine – Punching Below Its Weight
This Studebaker was such a beautiful car and is still today with it’s beautiful lines.
I do not know much about it, other that it is for sale at a detail shop on Kennywood Blvd (near Kennywood Amusement park) in West Mifflin. No association to me or my family’s collection.
I was out driving my ’62 Valiant wagon with the bicycle on the bike rack for an early morning bike ride to Pittsburgh and back before tending to some family business. I spotted the ol hawk on the opposite side if the divided highway ( though to myself I’ll snap it on the return trip. The shop owner and I chatted a bit and he was impressed with my little ’62 valiant wagon, and he graciously allowed me to take pictures of this nice hawk.
Having seen some derelict Hawks, I actually consider this one to be pretty clean, given its state in life. It is also a 4-speed car with the Twin Traction axle, so is a desirable model. If only I hadn’t bought a new car last week. More to come on that.
An American Bristol 407. Hawks also sounded good with their dual exhausts. Everything in those (heavy) engines was forged, including the rocker arms. Always rusted at the side vents.
The ’62 GT Hawk is one of my all-time fave cars, for several reasons. One, I have a personal connection to it – a former GF owned one, red inside and out, which she and her stepbrother rebuilt the engine on (unfortunately, she sold it before we met). For another, it’s just so gorgeous to look at, so perfectly proportioned. This is all the more amazing because it is just a light facelift of a 1953 design. It got a reshaped hood and deck lid in 1956, slightly finessed door skins in 1957, and (most importantly) a new roof, rear window, and rear side windows in 1962, along with some minor revisions to the dash inside. And somehow the car looks completely up to date for a 1962 model. Could a lightly facelifted ’53 Chevy or ’53 anything else look so contemporary a decade later? I don’t think so.
Although the car debuted in 1953, it wasn’t called a Hawk until 1956. The top-line Golden Hawk was essentially an early personal luxury coupe, years before the four-seat Thunderbird that’s usually credited with being the first example of that species (and with its powerful engines, arguably a muscle-car progenitor too). This one looks to be in nice shape and very original, though curious about the mostly hidden upholstery which was notoriously brittle in the ’62 models. Tires look like modern radials but the white sidewall width is period-correct, Studebaker sticking with wide-ish white stripes a year after they were abandoned elsewhere.
The ’62-’64 GT Hawks are my all-time favorites! I have a pic of a gold ’63 as the wallpaper on my computer and never hesitate to admire the car’s good looks. Brooks Stevens did an amazing job updating the design and for virtual peanuts, from what I understand. Never owned one; never even have ridden in one but no matter, it’s the car my heart desires.
The basic front end styling concept never gets old to my eye. Was Pininfarina the originator? He certainly apportioned it out in numerous elegant designs for Fiat, BMC, and Peugeot in the 1950’s and 60’s. GM eventually used it on the Vega in the 1970’s, and even they made it work. :-). Timelessly elegant.
One of the greatest restyles in the history of cars I think, the original starlight coupe look was clean and beautiful and then the later hawks got a little wild and crazy with fins and everything (still in a cool looking way though on my opinion) but then the simple roofline change and stripping all add ons in between but the upright grille back to Starlight spec made it fit right in with fashionable 60s design trends. That’s impressive for an early 50s car considering how rapid things changed by the 60s
Derelict? Hell no I can see that one, I cant see thru it. I prefer the original but wouldnt kick that one out.
Not exactly Hawk related, but I couldn’t let the poster’s comment on his not seeing either James Bond or Felix Leiter driving a Hawk. Ian Fleming actually owned an Avanti.
Looking at this car I can’t help but think if studebaker had made it to the 70’s… what could they have done with the PLC market
I built a model of a ’53 funny car and always admired that body shape. It seemed very Italianate.
Its proposed replacement was very Pininfarina/Tom Tjaarda, too. The Feds would have fired the fluorescent headlight right off, but I could have seen it too having a very long shelf life, ceteris paribus…
The ’62-64 GT Hawks are some good looking cars and along with the Avanti is the only Studebakers that I really admire.
I’m not a huge fan of these cars but this one does indeed look pretty modern for the 1962 model year, amazing considering it’s a re skinned 1953 dumpy looking car .
That this one has a manual box and limited slip makes it a rare one and the paint (most of it) looks like it could be polished up to decent hobby car / daily driver service .
I wonder how these drove & handled assuming the suspension was still the older 1953 design .
No mention of the price, if not excessive I imaging that would garner some serious incentive .
-Nate