Pro-built resto-mod with LS1 power, overdrive, A/C, power everything. Spectacular $25,000 leather interior, beautiful paint and bodywork. Original California car, fully sorted and ready to enjoy!
By starting with a super clean, complete car from California, the result is simply spectacular in every way that matters. The builder intended it for his wife (which is why you’ll find a handbag that matches the interior included with the car), which meant it had to be user-friendly, reliable, comfortable, and capable, and those goals have all been achieved in mass quantities. The body was stripped to a bare shell and rebuilt on a rotisserie, and as you can see in the restoration photos, there was no rust, no bad metal, no accident damage anywhere on the car—a fantastic foundation. The color is Ford Toreador Red, a deep, rich burgundy that tends a little bit towards brick red in the right light, making the car look elegant indeed. Gaps are exemplary and the chrome pieces are well-fitted to give it a tight, sleek look that is unmatched by its contemporaries, then or now. The original bumper guards were shaved and the bumper was tucked in a little tighter to the body, giving it a more uniform look, and the fender-mounted turn signals were removed—perhaps the only misstep of the original design. The stainless window surrounds are show quality and the rear bumper fits as well as the front. You could spend a long time admiring this car and not see it all.
Custom designed and built at a cost of more than $25,000, the interior uses a pair of power bucket seats from a late-model GTO, extensively modified and re-shaped to work properly in the Hawk. There are 27 separate pieces of leather in each chair, giving them a very modern design that still looks right in the 1956 bodywork. A custom center console was fabricated and wrapped in more soft tan leather, extending into the backseat area to make this a true 4-seater. The original dash was subtly reshaped and topped with a handsome tobacco pad with contrasting stitching, as well as a set of simple Auto Meter gauges that look suitably vintage. All the creature comforts are included: cold A/C, power windows, power seats, and an AM/FM/CD stereo that sounds great thanks to extensive sound-deadening material used throughout. There’s also a massive trunk upholstered to match with a tidy access panel for battery and wiring access.
For power, this Stude steps up and does it right: an all-aluminum LS1 V8 from a late-model Corvette. Aside from an aftermarket accessory drive system, it remains completely stock, which means 345 horsepower, bulletproof reliability, and easy service at any GM dealership in the world (there’s an ALDL under the dash). A few bright polished trim pieces help disguise the LS1’s coil packs and plastic intake, so it looks right in the ‘50s engine bay, and you’ll note that most of the wiring and plumbing is hidden out of sight for a very clean installation. Turn the key and it starts instantly, just like a Corvette, idles smoothly, and pulls the big coupe around with effortless ease. It makes a nice V8 burble from twin stainless mufflers underneath, but it never gets aggressive or obnoxious, which wouldn’t suit the Hawk’s personality.
Underneath, the chassis still uses the original frame, which has been heavily reinforced for the added horsepower running through it. A custom K-member includes tubular A-arms, spindles, and disc brakes, plus a set of coil-over shocks so you can adjust the ride to your liking. The transmission is a 4L60E 4-speed automatic with overdrive, which combines with the original (rebuilt) Studebaker rear axle and 3.07 gears to make this an incredible highway cruiser. Everything under the car, including every single nut and bolt, is new, and there’s a custom fuel system and gas tank to feel the fuel-injected LS motor. It is all designed to be reliable, invisible, and effortless, so all you need to do is get in, turn the key, and drive, just like any modern car. And despite the extensive upgrades underneath, the choice of stock steel wheels with Studebaker hubcaps and Diamondback Classic wide whitewall radials keeps the illusion very convincing (a set of fresh chrome wire wheels is also available—please inquire).
There’s considerably more than the asking price wrapped up in the construction of this car, and that’s obvious everywhere you look. It’s fully sorted, everything works, and you could drive it cross-country the moment it comes off the trailer thanks to modern reliability. The looks are as dramatic today and after everyone gets over their shock that this is a Studebaker, you’ll enjoy explaining the wonderful history behind it. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
