Vehicle Description
By the late 1950s, Studebaker was one of America's oldest vehicle
manufacturers. While they joined the automobile business almost by
mistake in 1910, the Studebaker name was already well-established
thanks to the reputation they earned from years of building high
quality carriages and wagons, dating back to 1852. The first
Studebaker car was an electric built in 1902, with a gasoline
powered model following in 1904. But it wasn't until around 1910,
when Studebaker began selling E.M.F. automobiles out of their own
showrooms that they fully committed to the motorcar business. The
Studebaker brothers merged with E.M.F, at first envisioning sales
of cars and wagons out of Studebaker's extensive dealer network.
But when quality problems with E.M.F. sparked a wave or warranty
claims, Studebaker took over car production to protect their
hard-earned reputation. Studebaker would go on to be a steady
presence in the American market, often falling into the number 2
slot behind Ford in sales, a status they enjoyed for many years,
until the firm began to falter in the 1930s. In 1953, Studebaker
unveiled the sleek, rakish Champion/Commander Starliner hardtops
and coupes, though the inline six-cylinder engine didn't always
live up to the promises made by the bodywork. For 1956, the
Commander and Champ were heavily reworked by Raymond Loewy as
Studebaker lacked the budget for a whole new car. A bold new grille
mimicked the intake of an F-86 Sabre jet fighter, making room for
the big 352 cubic inch Packard V8 engine which finally gave the
svelte Studebakers performance to match their looks. The flagship
model was now called the "Golden Hawk", touted by Studebaker as a
"family sports car". Packard's 352 would soon be superseded by the
lighter but equally powerful Studebaker 289, and with the addition
of a belt-driven McCullough supercharger, would produce a very
stout 275 horsepower. The four seat Golden Hawk was surprisingly
fast, and could easily outperform both the Ford Thunderbird and
Chevrolet Corvette! The body retained the old roofline of the
Starliner, but it was brought up to date with fiberglass fins, a
hood bulge to clear the blower, and unique trunk lid with a fluted
rear panel. The Golden Hawk proved to be one of the most unique and
powerful American GT cars of the era. Yet despite its enormous
potential, Studebaker's financial trouble would soon spell the end
for the Golden Hawk and this legendary American car company. This
1958 Golden Hawk is a beautiful example of Studebaker's "Family
Sports Car". It is finished in the appropriately golden shade of
Canyon Copper with Parchment White roof and coves; officially
Studebaker code P 5836. It is a very handsome car that comes fully
equipped with a number of desirable options as verified by the
included Studebaker Production Order. First and foremost, the
striking body by Raymond Loewy looks outstanding in this
wonderfully bold color scheme. The body is very straight,
displaying crisp lines and consistent panel gaps, while the
paintwork has been finished to a high standard. Of course this is a
1950s American sporty car, so chrome trim is abundant. Bumpers and
the bold grilles are straight and tidy, with nice original plating
showing in good condition. The same goes for the rest of the bright
trim, much of which appears to be original, including the dual
optional mirrors emblazoned with the Golden Hawk logo and the
optional trunk-mounted radio antenna. Some of the chrome appears a
bit care worn in places, though the pleasing character is in good
keeping with the overall quality of the car. It rides on a set of
chrome Kelsey Hayes wire wheels, which are wrapped in
wide-whitewall tires as originally equipped, and a full set of rare
1958-only wheel covers will also be included in the sale. Inside,
the cabin features a unique tri-tone treatment with tan leather on
the seats and black accents in the door and quarter panels. The
upholstery presents in very good condition throughout, appearing
fresh and very tidy. In keeping with the sporty nature of the
Golden Hawk, the dash consists of an engine-turned alloy fascia
with an array of racy Stewart-Warner instruments. Original options
include the Flight-O-Matic automatic transmission, Delco signal
seek radio, rear seat speaker, and Climatizer air conditioning.
Lifting the hood reveals the beautifully detailed and highly
optioned "Sweeptakes" 289 cubic inch V8 which, according to the
build order document, is the original, numbers-matching unit for
this car. It retains the big McCullough supercharger and
air-conditioning compressor, and is very well presented with
high-quality finishing on the accessories. Aside from the blower,
it is also equipped from new with power steering, power brakes and
the Twin-Traction limited slip differential, as denoted by the "TT"
emblem on the trunk. Rarely do we encounter one of these rare and
exciting Golden Hawks in such fine condition, and we are pleased to
offer this fine driving example. With rarity, jet-age style
courtesy of one of America's greatest industrial designers, and
surprisingly vivid performance, this Golden Hawk will make a
welcome companion for casual show or for enjoyment out on the road.
