From The Classifieds: 1963 Studebaker Hawk

Catching some observers unaware, the Euro-style Studebaker Hawk GT two-door often surprised with its departure from typical Yank-Tank design cues. In its day, it was a restrained, refined car that eschewed the grossness and indulgences of many contemporaries with a crisp, clean look that was sought consciously and deliberately by designer Brooks Stevens as he re-drew the previous-model Hawk coupe.

It doesn’t take much imagination to see some Mercedes-Benz in the grille, and the simple shapes are definitely redolent of classy 1960s European cars. It was a successful re-inventing of the previous, finned Studebaker Hawk that provided all the basics.

Mechanically, the GT was a continuation of the pre-facelift Hawk, with the choice of two or four-barrel carburettor versions of the company’s 289 cubic inch (4.2-litre) V8. In the US, the Hawk GT could be had with manual or three-speed automatic transmission but, in Australia, where the car was sold from 1962 to 1964 (the RRP in its final year was $4,900), the auto was the only transmission available.

Although the Hawk GT was relatively compact and relatively light for a US car, the interior was reasonably expansive. A front bench seat with split seatbacks provided access to a wide rear seat and the windows wound down to give wide, pillarless side vision. Typical of the time, gear selections were made via a steering column lever. A comprehensive set of round-dial instruments was in flagrant defiance of flashy, gimmicky US designs of the period.

The last Hawk GT was built in 1963 for the 1964 model year as Studebaker slipped towards oblivion and final closure in 1967.

Today the Hawk GT remains a neat-looking 1960s US coupe with a slightly different stying approach from that of many contemporaries. Obviously, although it was familiar in Australia, it was not a big seller and few remaining cars exist.

However, this white 1963 model from Little Mountain in Queensland that is advertised in the classifieds of carsales.com.au is a good example of a marque that has sadly disappeared into history.

The current owner has had the car for 13 years and claims to have spent “lots” of money during that time keeping it in good shape. It has been used mainly to visit classic car displays and is described as being in “very good” condition. It was repainted “some years ago” and the engine, transmission and brakes have been recently reconditioned. The owner says it has rarely been in the sun or rain since.

The owner has put a price of $27,000 on the Hawk, throwing in a roadworthy certificate as part of the bargain.

Not one of your high-demand classics but, for a Studebaker fan, eminently affordable.