Vehicle Description
Desirable 4-speed manual transmission. Older repaint in great
condition, beautiful original interior. All gauges work. Power
steering and power disc brakes. Strong-running 289 cubic inch R1
V8. A fantastic alternative to the garden-variety Thunderbird!By
the time this Studebaker Hawk Gran Turismo was built, the Avanti
had drawn a new group of people into showrooms and management was
optimistic. And why not? The Gran Turismo was a great-looking car
that was ideally poised to take on cars like the Ford Thunderbird
and Buick Riviera. Brooks Stevens' facelift allowed the Hawk to
hold its own against the avant-garde Avanti and there's no denying
that this is a great-looking car. 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. The respray is probably 10 or 15 years old at
this point, but there's a great shine to the paint with no apparent
issues underneath. It also appears that most of the chrome 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 fortune all by itself. Is
it perfect? No. But we think you'll look for a long time to find a
better one.The interior of the Gran Turismo is a huge success and
you can easily see the results of Studebaker's $300,000 restyling
budget. Bucket seats and a wrap-around instrument panel give it a
sporting feel and the full array of gauges and toggle switches show
the aircraft design influence. Standard gauges were just the
basics, with the tachometer and clock in the outboard positions
being options?the cockpit would feel naked without them. And you'll
be thrilled to see a 4-speed manual gearbox, giving it the
performance to match its attitude. The gauges are all operational
except the clock, and while the AM radio powers up, it doesn't make
any sound. The original back seat is beautifully finished with its
own fold-down armrest and the factory headliner with chrome bows
looks suitably upscale. There's also a good-sized trunk that
includes a correct mat plus a full-sized spare and jack
assembly.The 289 cubic inch V8 is the same R1 engine used in the
Avanti and with a 4-barrel carburetor it makes a fairly robust 240
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), and heavy-duty forged connecting rods. There are 18
(yes 18!) bolts holding each cylinder head in place, meaning that
head gasket issues are totally non-existent. The cam uses forged
shaft-mounted rocker arms that are easily adjusted, not cheap
stamped pedestal rockers. Finally, the cam is gear-driven, so
timing and stretched timing chains are a non-issue. It's why the R2
supercharged Avantis were able to run so well with little more than
tuning changes. This one is nicely dialed-in, 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 chrome valve
covers and a matching air cleaner assembly on top of a modern
Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor. This car also has power brakes using
a remote unit much like the Ford Thunderbird and power steering
that makes it easy to handle. Clutch action is light and the
4-speed manual transmission has well-chosen ratios to keep the
engine in the sweet spot. 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 1963;
even the Corvette was two years away from using them. 3.31 gears in
back mean it's a comfortable highway cruiser and the engine's
torque makes ultra-short gears completely unnecessary. The body
doesn't look like it has ever been off the frame, but the
heavy-duty frame and boxed 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 215/70/15 whitewall radials for a
period-appropriate look. Documentation includes original owner's
manual, a copy of the original window sticker, and some recent
service receipts.A neat blend of high style, performance, and
reliability from an unlikely source makes the Studebaker Gran
Turismo Hawk a standout anywhere it goes. Better yet, only 4,634
were built and Studebaker would cease automobile production in
December 1963, closing the door on another chapter in history. This
is surely one of the better late-production Gran Turismo Hawks
available anywhere and with impressive performance, a 4-speed, 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.
