Nice Paint & Great Chrome/Excellent Interior/Mechanically Sound 289ci V8

1962 Studebaker Hawk GT Description

1962 Studebaker Hawk GT

The 1962 Studebaker Hawk GT must be counted as one of the greatest under-the-gun automotive styling achievements of all time. By 1962, Studebaker's corporate meltdown was reaching critical mass. In the midst of much uncertainty Brooks Stevens Design was handed the unenviable task of restyling the Hawk on a shoestring budget. He created such an elegant design, as the 1962 Gran Turismo Hawk was nothing short of miraculous.

The '62 Studebaker Hawks had their wings clipped in back, a rounded rectangular rear fender line replaced the former canted fins. A sharp Thunderbird-style roof replaced Raymond Loewy's softly curved roofline. Side brightwork gave way to understated ribbed rocker-panel guards and side trim running the length of the beltline atop the fenders. This is our current consignment, a 1962 Studebaker Hawk GT. She's in beautiful condition, and rare as a hen's tooth. Check this wonderful car out...read onward!

Exterior
This beautiful bathed in black Hawk swoops into the halls and shows off those new lines in straight steel, good gaps, and excellent chrome trim. Upfront it is "nosed" with a big chromed grille surround and meshed grille. On either edge is a single chromed visored headlight, which sits on the front of the nicely shaped front quarters which are topped with a jet like trimming and a long-chromed contrail running the length of the top of the belt line. A stately looking bumper is below on front and is the beginnings of the wheel well wraparound chrome and rocker trimmings which adorn this car. Taking styling from the T bird, a vent can be seen behind the wheel well on the front quarter. Also, a T bird-esque roof line for the hardtop complete with large chrome trim on the bottom of the B pillars. On back lantern style taillights are framing another chrome panel which could be described as a rear grille panel. However, it is on the trunk lid, and adding some bling to the back. A chromed rear bumper follows the contour of the back, and turbine style wheel covers are wrapped in wide white rubber all around. A shout out to the rear window, which is nearly completely vertical, and is framed by the B pillars in chrome, but is a curved specimen, and inset into the back of the car. Beautiful styling overall.

Interior
A swing of the doors, and we can see red tuck and roll vinyl top panels which are broken up from the lower black carpeted panel by an etched aluminum square textured strip, which houses the door pulls in red. Moving inside to the original dash, it is a simple design, but effective with figure 8 gauges surrounding a central circular speedometer. These are embedded in an angled wood appliqu panel and fronted by the golden hawk badged steering wheel. In front of the passenger is more of the etched square design textured aluminum in large panels housing the radios and making up the door of the glovebox. Looking to the beautiful red vinyl seating, the work tailored comes to mind. All buttoned up (without buttons!) red vinyl tuck and roll inserts are framed by smooth red bolsters, which sport piping surrounds in red. A center console in red is there to house an additional storage area, and the ashtray. A rear bench is indeed taken from the front bucket design but is formed into one single bench with a central armrest. Perfect black carpet floods the floors, and in true Studebaker class stying, the headliner is in white, but has the addition of chrome strips added between the panels. It's the details that count on this car!

Drivetrain
Under the hood is a restored engine bay with a colorful array of golden yellow valve covers, an orange oil filler tube cap, and some red hoses. All these accouterments gather 'round on the original 289ci V8 topped with a single 2-barrel carburetor. A 3-speed Flight-O-Matic transmission is on back, and a 3.31 rear axle is the standard fare.

Undercarriage
Nicely patina, and rust free straight structurally sound steel covers the underside of this car. All is looking good under here with good undercoating doing its job. Power drum brakes are all around, and independent coil spring suspension upfront and leaf springs are on the back. Noted the muffler will need to be replaces as it has a sizable hole in it. All else is really good!

Drive-Ability
A quick starter for this classic, smooth idling, and with a flip of the column automatic shifter we were off to the test track. Here it accelerated from a standstill respectfully and got up to speed quickly with no complaints. Handling was good, and brakes were nice and quick to react. A good cruiser and head turner for sure. Noted is the horn and heater blower are inoperable.

Brooke Stevens really did it right with this design, and this car is a great example and tribute to that design. Well preserved as a restored example, nice chrome, perfect badging, and interesting interior and exterior styling from an era where Studebaker was seeing waning sales because the public was losing confidence in the company, but not because they were building sub par cars.

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.