After spending 18-months and in excess of $25,000 on restoration work on this 1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk, the owner has decided to part with a car that is simply stunning to look at. It is a vehicle that is ready to be driven and enjoyed and is guaranteed to attract its share of attention wherever it goes. The Studebaker is located in Redondo Beach, California, and has been listed for sale here at Hemmings. The asking price for the Golden Hawk has been set at $39,950 OBO.

As part of the recent restoration work, the Studebaker has been treated to a repaint in Tiara Gold and Arctic White. The owner does admit that there is a minor defect in the paint near the right rear bumper, but this doesn’t really show in the photos. The chrome is generally in good condition, with only a couple of small pieces featuring some minor pitting. The underside of the Golden Hawk hasn’t escaped attention either, with it being cleaned and coated with POR15. As you will see as you look through the gallery of photos that are included with this article, it is as clean as a whistle underneath. The glass looks good, while the 14″ wheels wear a fresh set of tires. The 14″ wheels were a new feature for the 1958 model year, replacing the previous 15″ standard items. However, the previous wheels were available as an option in 1958, if desired. In addition, this Golden Hawk wears a fiberglass hump on the hood, which was a necessity to clear the supercharger that was bolted to the car’s V8 engine.

The interior of the Studebaker presents beautifully, with the inclusion of an aftermarket stereo being the only deviation from original. The head unit is mounted in the dash, while a set of speakers have been fitted to the rear parcel tray. I can’t say that I am thrilled by the appearance of the head unit, and if I owned the car, I would be inclined to see if I could locate one that fits better with the car’s trim. During the restoration, the entire interior was removed from the car. The floors were found to have some surface corrosion, so this was treated, and once again, the floors were coated with POR15. Dynamat was then installed before the floors received a new carpet set in gold. All of the remaining upholstered surfaces were replaced, and the result is an interior that is pretty stunning, and virtually impossible to fault. One interesting change for the 1958 model year was an alteration to the floor of the Hawk to reduce the size of the tailshaft hump. In previous models this had been quite intrusive, meaning that the rear seat was only suitable for two occupants. The reduction allowed the rear to become a true 3-seater for the first time.

The engine bay of the Golden Hawk is filled with enough motor to suggest that this is a car that is about more than just looks and luxury. Bolted to the top of the 289ci V8 is a supercharger, giving the car a healthy 275hp. The surprising thing about this is that the power increase over a normally aspirated 289 didn’t result in amazing levels of acceleration. A Golden hawk was still only capable of getting from 0-60mph in around 9.2 seconds, which is surprisingly leisurely. Along with that supercharged engine, the Studebaker is equipped with an optional 3-speed Flight-O-Matic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. As part of the refurbishment process, the engine was pulled from the car and disassembled. It was checked and fitted with all new seals and gaskets, while the supercharger and carburetor were both given a rebuild. The rear springs and bushes were replaced, along with the front shocks. The car also sports a new dual exhaust system. The owner says that the odometer shows 22,000 miles, but he is unable to confirm whether these are actually original. What the car does come with is a full set of documents and invoices verifying all of the refurbishment work which has been undertaken.

By 1958, Studebaker was struggling financially, and with the vehicle being a premium model priced at $3,282, the company was only able to sell 878 examples of the Golden Hawk. Many have now succumbed to the sorts of rust issues to which the car could be quite prone. However, this one appears to be a car that has managed to escape that fate. The styling of the Golden Hawk tends to be something of an acquired taste, but if someone is looking for a really nice example, I don’t think that they come much nicer than this one.