Vehicle Description
Handsome Gran Turismo Hawk in great period colors. New interior,
older repaint, strong-running 289 cubic inch Studebaker (not Ford)
V8. Automatic transmission, power steering, front disc brakes,
updated radio. Cool coupe ready to cruise!By the time this 1962
Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk was built, the all-new Avanti was
poised to draw a fresh group of people into showrooms and
Studebaker management was optimistic. The GT was a great-looking
car that was ideally positioned to take on cars like the Ford
Thunderbird and Buick Riviera. Thanks to a frame-on restoration a
few years ago, this bright Ermine White Gran Turismo hardtop looks
sporting yet elegant, which was entirely the point. It hails from
Florida but doesn't show any evidence of major rust or rot and the
bodywork is impressively straight with very good panel fit.
Studebakers were still well-built, sturdy cars, but there are no
patch panels or reproduction parts so finding a clean one is always
the best way to get quality results. There's a great shine to the
paint and enough chrome to make it look upscale without losing its
sporty edge. And speaking of the chrome, it appears that most of it
has been restored with excellent results: the grille is in
fantastic shape, the strip of trim running along the tops of the
fenders is straight and wave-free, and that intricate panel on the
trunk is just beautiful-that must have cost a sizeable chunk of
change all by itself. Is it perfect? No. But we think you'll look
for a long, long time to find a better one.The interior of the Gran
Turismo is a huge success and you can see the results of the 1962
restyling. Bucket seats and a wrap-around instrument panel give it
a sporting feel and the full array of gauges (including a tach) and
toggle switches show the influence of aircraft design. Standard
gauges were just the basics, with the tachometer and clock in the
outboard positions being options, although the cockpit would feel
naked without them. The restoration addressed seat covers, carpets,
door panels, headliner, and even the dash pad, all of which look
great today. The gauges are all operational including the clock,
and the radio is a modern digital AM/FM/cassette unit. The back
seat is beautifully finished with its own fold-down armrest and the
headliner appears to be original but in good condition with only
light signs of aging. There's also a fully upholstered trunk that
includes a full-sized spare tire assembly.The 289 cubic inch V8 is
the same engine used throughout the Studebaker lineup and with a
4-barrel carburetor it makes a fairly robust 225 horsepower and
more than 300 pounds of torque. Studebaker engineers designed the
V8 in anticipation of skyrocketing compression ratios, and as a
result it's ridiculously over-built, including 25% more main
bearing area than Cadillac or Oldsmobile, the crank is forged (not
cast) as are the connecting rods. There are 18(!) bolts holding
each cylinder head in place, meaning that head gasket issues are
non-existent. The valvetrain uses shaft-mounted rocker arms that
are easily adjusted, not cheap stamped pedestal rockers. And the
cam is gear-driven, so timing and stretched timing chains are a
non-issue. This one is nicely tuned, starting easily without much
drama. Once it's off the choke, it idles nicely and pulls the big
coupe around with genuine enthusiasm. The low-slung V8 sits deep in
the engine bay and is dressed up with bright yellow valve covers
and a chrome air cleaner assembly on top of a modern Edelbrock
4-barrel carburetor.The 3-speed Borg-Warner automatic transmission
shifts cleanly and makes for a good travelling partner in the
luxury/sport coupe. No, it's not a sports car, but it's not a
luxury car either and doesn't mind hustling a bit with very
impressive straight-line performance. Suspension is conventional,
with independent A-arms up front and a live axle with leaf springs
in back, and front disc brakes are a rather amazing find for 1962;
even the Corvette was three years away from using them. We believe
there are 3.54 gears in back, which means it's a comfortable
highway cruiser and the 'TT' emblem on the fuel filler door means
there's a limited slip differential inside. The body doesn't look
like it has ever been off the chassis, but the heavy-duty frame and
outer rockers are in excellent condition with factory spot welds
visible throughout, so this Studebaker is not and has never been a
rusty car. It sits on factory steel wheels with hubcaps and
215/75/15 whitewall radials for a period-appropriate look. The term
'muscle car' had not yet been defined, but perhaps the Hawk would
wear that moniker well. A neat blend of high style, performance,
and reliability from an unlikely source makes the Studebaker Gran
Turismo Hawk a standout anywhere it goes. With impressive
performance, V8 torque, disc brakes, and that ultra-stylish
interior, it's a lot more car than its competition would have you
believe. Call today!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes
personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our
inventory prior to purchase.