Rare Supercharged 1958 Packard Hawk
After Studebaker and Packard got together in 1954, Packard-branded cars would be gone four short years later. Packard automobiles built in 1957-58 were rebadged Studebakers and would be the last to carry that famous name which went back almost 60 years. That includes the Packard Hawk which was basically a Studebaker Golden Hawk with a “fish mouth” grille. The seller’s rare car (only 588 copies built for 1958) is quite passable as far as the body and interior are concerned, but its rebuilt V8 engine needs to be put back together. Located in Dallas, Texas, and available here on eBay, bidding has reached $17,100 and will likely go higher. Larry D just keeps the tips coming our way!
As Packard had long been known for being a car of distinctive quality and luxury, customers and dealers did not take well to the changes the merger brought to the name and they were gone in a couple of more years. When the Packard engine plant was repurposed after 1956, the cars relied on Studebaker drivetrains going forward. For 1958, that meant a 289 cubic-inch V8 under the hoods of the Hawk, but there were supercharged and delivered just about one horse per cube. Although not yet functional, the seller’s car has this motor and it’s paired with an automatic transmission.
The seller’s car is a non-running project that he’s owned for about three years. Either the seller or the previous owner didn’t get around to finish putting the engine back together and we assume everything is there to finish the job. Photos provided include those of a stash of new parts intended for this Packard. The seller was going to make it into a daily driver and thus keep the car’s vintage look. The body and gold paint look good, but the finish isn’t likely original we can see it peeling off in places. It also looks as though the area around the front bumper has since been redone as the gold doesn’t match.
Although I don’t believe the McCulloch/Paxton supercharger is photographed, it should be there to help finish the work. The car is equipped with factory posi-traction and a full gauge package. The claimed mileage is 58,000 which could be accurate depending on how long this car has been off the road. The seller quotes several auctions in the past five years where these rare cars went for as much as $83,000. But in 2021 money, Hagerty doesn’t go past $62,000 and in Fair condition is worth about where the current bidding is. These are cool cars that are seldom seen, but the Studebaker versions of the Hawk are more attractive from the front.
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Comments
It always killed me that the scalloping on the hood would have allowed them to put a proper freaking Packard looking grill on the front of this as opposed to having it look like something that sucked up benthic organisms.
That never killed me, but what a cool car!
Rare? Not these days. Practically every Hawk you see today has to, for some reason, have a supercharger, making it seem like every one of these had one. Nothing could be further from the truth. Back then, yes, ANY supercharged car was rare. The only reason one sees one today at any gathering, is because they were the ones people saved through the years. Naturally, I think it’s all glitz today, what, you need a supercharger to sit in traffic? Car makers back then, put all they had into cars performance. They had to, as most rural roads, where these cars shined, were 2 lane, and the only way around that slow, lumbering smoking truck, in the limited distance to pass, was Niagara Falls down the intake. Supercharging, 2, 4 barrels, 3, 2 barrels, GIVE ‘ER HELL, as the old man would say. Today, I just don’t think that applies. Hawks were just the coolest cars, and to drive one would be a treat, but lose the “blower”, maybe a fake blower with nothing inside turning, who would know? Leave the superchargers for the top fuel dudes. These were beautiful cars.
At only 588 built, this model qualifies are rare in my book. Not because of the standard equipment supercharger, but because it’s a Packard Hawk. I prefer the not-quite-as-rare Golden Hawk styling to these, but these were quite the vehicles with leather interior, textured gold Mylar inserts for the fins, and exterior door and quarter panel arm rests.
And they kept the Packard’s Dagmars!
Challenge to Packard/Studebaker experts – which is more rare, this Hawk, or a ’58 Packard Starlight coupe? Here’s the answer, though I don’t know if it’s correct.
https://www.classicautomall.com/vehicles/547/1958-packard-starlight
Thanks Poppy, you’re right. I was so bent out of shape on the supercharger, I failed to notice it was a Packard Hawk. Talk about a “last gasp” for BOTH companies, hey?
scottymac:
The ’58 Packard station wagon probably takes the award for lowest production car out of the S-P factories that year.
I have a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix that is supercharged. I love the torque it produces! It’s fun to drive and hear it whine!!!🏁
These are just plain cool cars!!
I think Packard is an iconic name in US motor history. They built quality, or at least that is the impression I have of them.
I always liked Studebaker as well. Somehow they epitomized the 50’s to me.
My dad was born in 32 so he was around them in their heyday and said they were particularly bad for rusting.
All that said, I always liked Studebakers and will say I like the Studebaker front end better.
Forgive me, asthetics are subjective.
Hi Kelly, Packard got most of it’s fame from WW2, building Merlin aircraft motors. They practically helped win the war. My grandfather, who missed the war, which was a shame as patriotic a guy as he was, bought a new Packard after the war, solely on their wartime achievements. Packard cars heyday was clearly the 20’s and 30’s, with elegant motorcars for the wealthy. The 40’s is when Packard cars fell out of favor, and Packard was forced to offer cheaper cars, like the 110.
Studebaker, on the other hand, had a slew of war contributions too, but by the 50’s, they were considered a laughing stock, and more known for their earlier vehicles. The 30’s, I figure were Studebakers heydays. I agree, I like the Studebakers, with the “guillotine” hood much better. Apparently, so did the public.
Took the beautiful ’53 and ’54 designed cars and turned them into poorly done pop art cars.