1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk
American Grand Touring with European Influence
When Studebaker introduced the Gran Turismo Hawk for 1962, the company was aiming at a somewhat different kind of automobile buyer. This was not simply another American personal-luxury car. With its European-inspired styling, long hood, formal roofline and sporting character, the Gran Turismo Hawk was intended to offer the kind of grand-touring experience associated with automobiles from Mercedes-Benz and Maserati—while retaining the performance and practicality of an American V-8.
And today, the Gran Turismo Hawk offers something that is increasingly difficult to find: distinctive styling, genuine rarity and an interesting place in American automotive history.
Built for only three model years, from 1962 through 1964, total Gran Turismo Hawk production was just 15,736 cars. Under the hood is Studebaker's 289-cubic-inch V-8, paired here with Studebaker's three-speed automatic transmission. Period road performance was respectable for a luxury-oriented touring car, with 0–60 mph taking approximately 11 seconds.
This particular Gran Turismo Hawk has an especially interesting story.
The current owner first became fascinated with these cars after riding in one while vacationing in Rome, Italy. Years later, quite by chance, she encountered this Studebaker in her small Virginia hometown. She and her husband bought the car and, in August 2022, he began the process of bringing it back to the condition she envisioned.
The restoration included necessary metal work followed by a high-quality repaint. Selected exterior trim was re-chromed, while the interior was substantially refreshed with new upholstery, carpeting and a new headliner. The result is a Gran Turismo Hawk that presents well and captures the distinctive character that originally attracted its owner to the model.
Mechanically, the engine and transmission primarily required servicing rather than major rebuilding, and that work has been completed. The car is equipped with genuine wire wheels and period-correct whitewall tires, which complement the Hawk's formal European-influenced styling particularly well.
As with any older restoration, there are still a few items for the next owner to address [e.g., the backup lights, horn and heater need attention; the ignition switch and trunk-lid latch need to be repaired; there is some rust repair remaining on the trunk floor].
For the Studebaker enthusiast, the Gran Turismo Hawk represents an important chapter in the company's history. For the collector of unusual American automobiles, it offers something even more appealing: a car that is rarely seen at shows or on the road and is immediately recognizable when it does appear.
