Rolling Project: 1958 Studebaker Silver Hawk
From 1956 to 1964, Studebaker produced several cars that were part of the Hawk “family,” which found their roots in the Champion line from the early 1950s. The Silver Hawk was a pillared version of the Raymond Loewy-designed cars that were marketed for 1957-59. Although a V8 was available, the Silver Hawk used a 185 cubic inch I-6 leftover from the Champion. That’s the set-up in the seller’s car, which seems to be a solid but non-running Studebaker. Offered in Jacksonville, Florida, this Silver Hawk is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $3,288.88 but the reserve is still waiting to be triggered.
There were no less than six Studebakers with the word “Hawk” somewhere in the name: Golden Hawk, Sky Hawk, Power Hawk, Flight Hawk, Gran Turismo Hawk, and just plain Hawk. And for one-year-only, there was a Packard Hawk. Some of them were offered during the same model year. The Silver Hawk succeeded the Power Hawk and Flight Hawk, which were pillared coupes as well. The Silver Hawk was plainer in trim than the pillarless Golden Hawk that usually came with a supercharged V8. The cars had fins, just like many cars of the ‘50s.
This automobile has a story that always makes doing the review more interesting. The seller won the car in another auction on eBay and had it shipped from California to Florida. Since owning the Hawk, it has sat outside with a cover over it, with the only noted work having been done is having a patch welded into one of the floor pans. The plan was to pull the existing drivetrain, stuff a big block under the hood, and go for a restomod. However, things have changed as the seller now is in the process of moving.
The body on this car is free of dents or major rust and the frame is said to be solid. There are signs of some prior bodywork having been done on the driver’s side rear fin. While the trunk lid and hood now wear black primer, the fenders and roof may be showing their original paint. The hoods on these cars are known for gaining bends or creases over time, but none are present with this Hawk.
Inside the Stude, everything is said to be complete except for the headliner and door and window seals. The upholstery appears to be in good shape with no holes, but the coverings are not likely original, and the carpeting is new and ready for installation. The driver’s door window is cracked and needs a new regulator and crank mechanism. The door panels will need the carpet trim at the bottom replaced.
The seller says he has made no attempt to crank the engine and doesn’t know the condition of the clutch for the 3-speed manual. The brakes are also an unknown and the emergency brake is needed to bring it to a stop. It’s going to need a new battery along with the gas tank flushed and new fuel lines installed. This model of the Studebaker was in its first year with a 12-volt electrical system and no mention is made about the condition of that wiring.
A bunch of parts and components have either been removed from the car and kept or have been accumulated and they come with the deal. This includes the car cover, door panels, rear valence panels, door sills, vent windows, rearview mirror, grill, hood emblem, door handles, visors, rear vent windows, antenna, ashtrays, floor mats, and the spare tire. The odometer reading is 88,000 miles is not necessarily actual. Surviving Studebakers like this one are getting harder to find, and when they do turn up, they aren’t often as solid as this one is to kick off a restoration.
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Comments
Not a bad project car though it does need quite a bit of work. You don’t see these often so it would be nice if someone revived it. I like the Lowey-designed cars, they were beautifully styled for the times and they are still an attractive car today. Personally, I’d ditch the original driveline and go with a built 302 and a 5-speed. Maybe go with a more colorful two-tone paint scheme as well. Upgrade the brakes, add A/C and you’d have a great cruiser.
Only 101 HP with that 6-banger. Consider replacing it with a Studie 289 and you double the HP.
There is a house near me that has an aqua dark blue version of this car. They have had 30 years or so. Sucks to see the car outside and deteriorating.
Buy it!
I learned to shift gears on a car that looked like the one in the article. (3 on the tree). My uncle was a mechanic at a Studebaker dealership that was going out of business. He bought three used cars that he parked in our driveway until he could sell them. My dad would let me practice shifting as I was too young to drive (about 13/14). I never got the opportunity to drive a Studebaker.
My uncle got my grandfather a 1956 Studebaker pickup truck about the same time. Are there any still on the road?
I know it was all the rage in 1958, but fins on this Silver Hawk just looks plain silly!
in the mid sixties my dad had a 58 station wagon that look alot like this,neibor hood kids would ask him where he had gotten such an ugly car and he would tell them he had built it out of old parts,it had a 289 and that sucker would run
Studebaker went to 12 volts in 56. You don’t see a 6 cylinder Hawk very often. If it had overdrive it would still make for a nice driver giving great gas mileage. The selling price under 4500 was not too bad.
Studebakers were just about the only good looking car in ‘58, a year of wretched excess from the big three.
MikeH,
I would have to agree that Studebaker cars in 1958 were less gaudy than their rivals, except when equipped with quad headlights!
[And I’m ignoring the Packard front end/grille, as technically they are not Studebakers in name.]
I agree about the quad head lights. They look like something out of a J.C. Whitney catalog. Studebaker/Packard in ’58 represented both ends of the spectrum. The Studebaker was a clean design that would be difficult to destroy. However, SP managed to do just that with the ’58 Packard.
58 packard with quad headlights looks like a bullhead fish, just add whiskers.
Several years ago worked in a place that sold auto parts, had a mechanic, and did auto glass, including cutting flat. Had a Hawk of some variety with a Packard V-8 come in for glass work. Dash had s strip of jeweled aluminum. got to drive t around the block. the steering linkage is complex. but it was a very cool machine, in excellent condition.