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.