Vehicle Description
This 1962 Studebaker Gran Truismo Hawk sports a European design
influences with fantastic options and is ready to become your next
great American classic! By the early 1960s, Studebaker was
struggling as evidenced by a sales drop of over 20 percent in 1961
compared to 1960. Perhaps an even more obvious showing of
Studebaker's financial troubles is best shown by a comparison of
its sales of 103,000 units in 1961, compared to Chevrolet which
sold 343,000 Bel Air models; yes, you read that right, a single
Chevrolet model outsold the entirety of Studebaker's lineup in
1961. Looking to shake things up, Studebaker's newly minted
president, Sherwood H. Egbert, turned to his friend Brooks Stevens,
a renowned industrial designer who transformed Willys' passenger
car line in the mid-50s, to restyle Studebaker's aging Hawk line.
The resulting car was sporty yet luxurious, modern yet timeless,
and European-looking but still proudly American. In addition to a
brand-new look and feel, the Hawk name was also updated from the
standard Hawk to the Gran Turismo Hawk (or GT Hawk for short). The
new 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk was introduced to the public
on the evening of Sunday October 29, 1961, during an advertisement
on the famous "Mr. Ed" television program and the next day the '62
GT Hawk was available for public viewing in Studebaker's
dealerships nationwide. Despite initially being based on Raymond
Loewy's gorgeous '53 Starliner Coupe, the 1962 Gran Turismo looked
like a brand new car from nearly every angle, both inside and out.
At the nose, a brand new stamped grille with large heavy chrome
surrounding band gave the new GT an elegant European look up front.
Perhaps the most notable changes were visible from the Gran
Turismo's side profile. The roofline was flattened and squared off,
further modernizing the GT Hawk's side silhouette. The side
beltline trim was also removed in 1962 and replaced with bright
rocker panel moldings, providing for a cleaner, updated look as
well. Stevens also removed the Hawk's b-pillar returning the Hawk
to an open hardtop look, something not seen in the Hawk line since
1958. The rear-end treatment was also updated considerably.
Stevens' design was quick to remove the outdated-looking fins on
rear quarter panels. The decklid also sported updated trim
comprised of a with a simulated grille design. The rear window was
also modernized with a new recessed appearance, completing the
modernization of the Hawk's exterior. The GT Hawk's interiors were
also upgraded considerably during the major '62 redesign. 1962 was
actually the second year for bucket seats in the Studebaker Hawk
and the design for 1962 was significantly updated from the previous
year and now featured a center console with a small storage
compartment and ashtray incorporated into the layout. The other
substantial update occurring in the '62 Gran Turismo's interior was
the new-look, woodgrain-trimmed, three-panel instrument cluster
that almost looked like it was straight out of an airplane's
cockpit with a touch of European luxury. While the new '62 Gran
Turismo Hawk outsold the '61 Hawks by more the 2.5 times, a mere
9,335 GT Hawks were produced in 1962 which makes this particular
example quite a rare piece of automotive history. This particular
Gran Turismo comes to us from the hands of a southern based
collector who clearly took great care of this classic Studebaker
while under their stewardship. Under the hood on this '62 GT Hawk
is a 289 cubic inch Studebaker V8 fed by a single 2 barrel
carburetor that together were said to have created 210 horsepower
when new. The Studebaker 289 is mated to an Automatic transmission
that makes this Gran Turismo an easy car for just about anybody to
take for a spin around the block. Exhaust exits this Studebaker's
power plant via dual exhaust setup that generates a terrific
throaty sound out of the rear tailpipes. This '62 Studebaker GT is
loaded with options! With power steering, squeezing into a tight
parking space at the local car show or drive-in is almost
effortless and can be accomplished one-handed. A pair of chrome
outside mirrors further help with parking efforts and improve the
overall driving experience because you have improved visibility
from the cockpit of this classic Studebaker. Riding on a set of
whitewall radial tires mounted on painted steel wheels and accented
with full Studebaker wheel covers, this Gran Turismo Hawk has a
fantastic look and even better ride cruising down the road. The
brightwork around the exterior of this Studebaker GT looks great!
The body of this Studebaker Hawk has been refinished in beautiful
Ermine White paint that completes the exterior look of the car. The
interior of this 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk is absolutely
gorgeous! The front bucket seats and center console, along with the
rear bench seat have been restored in red upholstery that provides
a European-inspired look. The matching red and stainless trimmed
door panels, red carpeting, steering wheel, and black padded dash
all appear to be in wonderful shape as well and all retain a
beautiful stock appearance. The three-panel woodgrain-trimmed
instrument cluster provides a wide array of instrumentation
including a 120 MPH speedometer, 6,000 RPM tachometer, oil pressure
gauge, amp gauge, temperature gauge, and fuel gauge, along with a
clock, odometer, and turn signal indicators. The perforated metal
dash is finished off with a glove box, push-button AM radio, and
various other controls. Whether you're buying your very first
collector car or you're adding to an existing collection of classic
cars, this 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk would make an
excellent choice. Give Ellingson's a call today at
763-428-7337!
*289 Cu. In. V8
*Single 2 Barrel Carburetor
*Automatic Transmission
*210 Horsepower
*Dual Exhaust
*Power Steering
*1 of 9,335 GT Hawks Produced in 1962
*Ermine White Exterior
*Red Bucket Seats w/ Center Console
*Push-Button AM Radio
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 94,324 Miles
