Stored 17 Years: 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk
The Golden Hawk was a three-year iteration (1956-58) of the various Hawk-branded automobiles built in the ‘50s and ‘60s. It was developed from the basic body of the 1953-55 Champion/Commander Starliner hardtop coupe. This project automobile has been out of commission for at least 17 years and is mostly solid, but the drivetrain is missing. Located in Columbia City, Indiana, this Studebaker is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,000 OBO. This tip comes to us via Barn Finder DayDreamBeliever.
Until the Avanti debuted in 1963, the Golden Hawk was the last Studebaker whose styling was influenced by industrial designer Raymond Loewy. The car differed from the Starliner with its large, almost vertical egg-crate grille and raised hood line. Out back, the trunk lid was raised and squared off with vertical fiberglass tailfins added to the rear quarters. First-year Golden Hawks used Packard’s 352 cubic inch V8 but switched to the Studebaker 289 engine with a supercharger the next two years. 1956 output would be the highest during its run at 4,071 units.
The Golden Hawk was a strong performer in 1956. When tested against the Chrysler 300B, Ford Thunderbird, and Chevy Corvette, the Golden Hawk beat them all. The fastest 0-60 test was done in under eight seconds with a top speed of 125 mph. The seller’s car no longer has the engine and transmission that may have produced comparable results, so restoring this Stude will also require the buyer to find a new drivetrain.
We’re told this car spent time in the Arizona desert, which may have held keep the sheet metal and frame in good condition. The seller says it has solid floor pans, trunk, and chassis, so perhaps the Hawk won’t have to spend that much time in the body shop. Trim pieces and glass are either missing or damaged, but the seller has replacement pieces he picked up at various swap meets. Old lettering on the driver’s side door suggested the car helped promote a supper club at one time. He’s concluded he will never restore the auto, so it’s there for someone else to take the lead.
When restored, Hagerty estimates a ’56 Golden Hawk can be worth $60,000, so the acquisition price of this car leaves plenty of room to fund all the work that will be needed. It’s a car that saw 60,000 miles across three or more owners in the past 65 years. Could you be owner #4?
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Comments
Why would you take the engine and tranny out of this car? I just don’t understand it?
The place being advertised on the car is almost certainly ‘Bob Taylor’s Original Ranch House Supper Club, Las Vegas, NV’ (since 1955 and still open) – https://www.bobtaylorsranchhouse.com/. If I’m not mistaken I saw this car for sale on line at an affordable classics place in Pahrump, NV – a lot dustier-looking, maybe the drive to Indiana fixed that, though. With no drive train, it could be ‘resto-mod’ heaven, because that is one long front end under the hood – you might have to fill those fins with lead to keep all 4 feet on the floor.
Nice old car to work on. My uncle had one. White and gold. Nice looking car. I,d like to have this car and a place to work on it. This is when cars were made good. Even gauges to keep up on the motor,but now days.Most people don,t know how to read them or what they are for.
This must have been an interesting car when new, with the Packard V8 320 Cu In motor and stick shift. Can’t see for sure, but it looks like it has the overdrive cable too. Sadly, with stickshift, power steering was not an option.
But now a new owner has the opportunity to put in the 1956 senior Packard 374 V8 engine. The overdrive transmission is the same as used in V8 Fords in the early 60s, so that’s an easy source. The difficult parts will be bellhousing, flywheel, and the Stewart-Warner tachometer sending unit, as it’s not the same as used on the later Golden Hawks.
Damn shame cars like this are coming up when I’m too old to work on ’em!
What a “Kool” find. Jimmy Spad had one in high school & I remember his grin as he drove it around next to 55 Chevys; I always remember it in gold and quick.
If I didn’t have my own drivesble project car, this would be a runner up.
Remember Raymond Lowry.
shhms
I bought this 56J from Chuck Naugal Vail Arizona, Chuck and I put that correct white hood on, hauled the car from Vail Az to Lenexa,KS, I put a correct Packard 352 with the O/D Trans and speedster wire caps, then sold and hauled car up to Elkhart,Ind Elk Van’s Conversions. I have pictures and the build sheet if anyone wants for this car.
Thanks. Jimmie Facklam. Lenexa Ks