The Hawk series of automobiles built by Studebaker arrived on the scene in 1956. They were a derivative of the earlier Starliner coupes and would stick around through 1964 in one form or another. These were sleek, neatly styled cars that never got much of a chance to grow given the financial position of Studebaker after its ill-fated mid-1950s merger with Packard. This 1961 Hawk was restored some years ago and looks like a solid vehicle that may only need some TLC. Located in Baldwin, Wisconsin, this vintage Stude is available here on craigslist for $7,499 (give them $7,500 and say, “keep the change”). T.J. has been keeping us busy lately with cool tips like this!

A variety of the Raymond Loewy-styled Hawks were offered through an extended run and under several surnames. Those included the Flight Hawk, Power Hawk, Silver Hawk, Sky Hawk, and Golden Hawk. They were produced as pillared sedans and pillarless hardtops. From 1962 through 1964, the car’s last hurrah was the Gran Turismo Hawk, a Mercedes-inspired personal luxury car. When the company shifted production from South Bend, Indiana to Canada in late 1963, the Hawk was not included.

The 1961 Hawk was a single body style that saw a production of just 3,929 units. Except in the hands of Studebaker collectors, surviving cars aren’t very plentiful. For their size and weight, these autos were nimble with a 289 cubic inch V8 rated at 210 hp. You could get them equipped with a 4-speed manual although a 3-speed was more common, and this example has an automatic transmission.

Restored several years ago, this Hawk has held up pretty well. We don’t see any rust and there’s only one tear in the upholstery to worry about. The seller says it runs and drives, but doesn’t elaborate, suggesting some mechanical TLC may be in order. The odometer read 35,000 miles, but we’re told it has turned over, hence the earlier restoration. If you’ve been looking for one of these cars from Studebaker’s latter days, you could do worse than this one for the money.