Vehicle Description
Aside from, or perhaps despite, the 1963-64 Avanti, it was the
1957-58 Studebaker Golden Hawk that marked the apogee of
Studebaker's history. Begun in the Nineteenth Century Studebaker
became America's most prolific and best-known builder of wagons.
Studebaker merged into the Twentieth Century and established a
reputation as a builder of solid, reliable automobiles. By 1954,
however, it had fallen upon hard times and it merged with Packard,
also struggling in the 1950's, but it still showed flashes of the
brilliance and daring that had made Studebaker a household name.
The Golden Hawk was one of them. The clean, low, streamlined design
flowed directly from the breakthrough 1947 Studebakers designed by
Raymond Loewy and Virgil Exner. With a bold eggcrate grille, color
accented rear fender fins and a crisp, light passenger compartment
with wraparound rear window, the two-door hardtop Golden Hawk was a
stunning visual statement. Studebaker backed up its looks with 275
horsepower. The engine was Studebaker's own 289 cubic inch V-8.
Rated at only 210 horsepower in the Silver Hawk, it gained 65
horsepower by the installation of a belt-driven McCullough
centrifugal supercharger. In its two years only 5,234 were built, a
family sports car with power, style and luxury. This 1957 is
finished in the factory color of Tiara Gold with Arctic White
accents on the rear fender fins. The 289/275hp supercharged engine
is backed by the standard FlightoMatic column-shifted automatic
transmission. It has power steering for easy driving in traffic,
Studebaker's "Climatizer" heater/defroster, Stratoline pushbutton
radio, a full complement of Stewart-Warner gauges including a
tachometer and boost/vacuum gauge set in a wonderful engine-turned
panel. There are dual exhausts and dual antennas on the rear deck.
It rides on steel wheels with full wheel covers and radial wide
whitewall tires. The high quality restoration is about fifteen
years old but has excellent paint, crisp flat panels and even gaps
that show the restoration's quality. The chrome and stainless steel
trim are consistent with the restoration's quality, as is the
strong Fawn leatherette upholstery with beige inserts in the
interior. The carpet is gold and fits like a debutante's glove.
Better still, this is a superb driving example with a thorough
mechanical restoration. 1957 Golden Hawks came in nine colors, from
Woodsmoke Gray to Apache Red, but no color is more consistent with
the model than a Tiara Gold Golden Hawk and this is an exemplary
example ready to be enjoyed and shown with pride. Offers welcome
and trades considered For additional details please view this
listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6958-1957-studebaker-golden-hawk/
