The Avanti is currently the main reason for Studebaker’s fame. When it was first introduced in the early 1960s, this cutting-edge sports automobile broke numerous speed records. But the company’s supercharged V8 engine wasn’t only installed in the Avanti. The high-performance mill was also available with the Hawk series.
In 1956, Studebaker introduced the first Hawk models. The Hawk, a successor to the 1955 Speedster, increased the business’s prominence in the market for luxury personal vehicles. For the initial model year, there were four different models in the series. The Power Hawk was the entry-level V8 choice, while the Flight Hawk came with an inline-six engine.
The Sky Hawk arrived in showrooms with the 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8, and the Golden Hawk topped the range with a Packard big-block engine rated at 275 horsepower and more premium features.
While the latter soldiered on through 1958, the other three Hawks were discontinued for 1957. The Silver Hawk was the only offering in 1959, replaced by the Hawk in 1960. Finally, Studebaker developed the Gran Turismo Hawk for the 1962 model year and kept it in production through 1964.
Gran Turismo, the final installment of the Hawk series, featured major improvements over its predecessors. Brooks Stevens gave the automobile a budget-friendly redesign, getting rid of the body-side trim and tailfins from the 1950s and adding a contemporary console and bucket seats.
Sadly, the GT Hawk did nothing to aid in the company’s recovery. Only 9,335 grand tourers were sold in 1962, and in 1963, there were only 4,634 examples sold. Only 1,484 buyers purchased one the next year, making the 1964 Gran Turismo one of the most elusive Studebakers ever produced.
The Jet Green example you see here is one of those cars. And if that’s not rare enough, you should know that this GT Hawk rocks a supercharged V8 under the hood. The blown engine makes it one of only 70 R2 versions ever produced.
Sourced from the Avanti, this mill entered the Hawk lineup in 1962. Studebaker also offered a naturally aspirated version rated at 240 horsepower. The supercharged variant, on the other hand, sent 289 horses to the rear wheels, a notable upgrade even when compared to the Packard-powered 1956 Golden Hawk (275 horsepower).
Why is this engine so rare in 1964 Studebakers? Well, the company was facing bankruptcy, and only some customers were willing to spend serious cash on a performance option added to an already relatively expensive car. Fortunately, while many R2 vehicles were lost to rust and engine swaps, this GT Hawk survived for almost 60 years to tell its story.
The Studebaker has been garage-kept for the last 40 years and is currently owned by its third owner. And I suppose that explains why, despite being an unrestored classic, the coupe is still in good shape. The Jet Green paint job could use some updating, but the body is straight and devoid of rust.
Even though the inside has signs of deterioration, overall it still appears better than most other unrestored survivors. Although the supercharged V8 and four-speed manual transmission are fully functional, the owner reports that the engine “smokes quite a bit” when it starts. All in all, the drivetrain need maintenance, and some of the outdated parts need to be changed.