I told you about a magnificent 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk that had been hidden in a barn for many years back in July 2023. The two-door hardtop was a rare Packard-powered marvel that was shockingly unaltered and original. So, after a little over two months, the Golden Hawk went on a drive for the first time in fifty years.
The Golden Hawk is one of the best cars to ever leave the company’s manufacturing line, while not quite being as well-known as the Avanti and the Champion. It belonged to the Hawk series, which the newly established Studebaker-Packard Corporation debuted in place of the 1955 Speedster’s limited production run.
The Hawk range emerged as a four-model coupe series. The lineup included an entry-level Flight Hawk powered by Studebaker’s somewhat obsolete flathead straight-six engine. Studebaker also offered the Power Hawk, fitted with a 259-cubic-inch (4.2-liter) V8 sourced from the Commander. The other two vehicles were hardtops of the personal luxury variety.
The Sky Hawk shared the 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8 with the luxurious President, while the range-topping Golden Hawk got a 352-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) big-block with an impressive 275 horsepower.
For 1957, Studebaker dropped all bar the Golden Hawk models from the range and added a Silver Hawk variant. In 1958, the Packard Hawk, a badge-engineer, joined the cast. The Hawk series had just one model from 1959 until it was retired in 1964.
The Golden Hawk, one of the longest-running nameplates in the lineup, stands out as Studebaker’s most important personal luxury vehicle. No matter the model year, it came with powerful V8 engines in addition to its high-end fittings. Since the 1956 model is the only one equipped with a Packard V8, it is conceivably the most unique.
By pairing the massive 352-cubic-inch V8, usually found in full-size Packards, with the notably lighter Golden Hawk, Studebaker created one of the first muscle cars. Thanks to its fantastic power-to-weight ratio, the Golden Hawk was quicker than both the Chrysler 300B and the Ford Thunderbird at the time of its introduction. Its top speed of over 125 mph (201 kph) was also impressive for the era.
A supercharged 289-cubic-inch Studebaker V8 allowed the Golden Hawk to maintain its power even after the Packard engine was phased out in 1957. But among Studebaker enthusiasts, the first-year Packard-powered model continues to be the most desired. Even more so considering that just a small portion of the 4,071 specimens made in 1956 have been preserved with their original 352 V8 engines still installed.
One of those vehicles is this severely corroded Golden Hawk. The car is largely original and unaltered, despite the fact that the paint and the upholstery are in need of replacement. And even more remarkably, our host managed to restart the antique V8 and drive the Studebaker for the first time in fifty years. Salute to the sale of yet another legendary Studebaker, and keep your fingers crossed that the Golden Hawk will receive a thorough restoration.