Car Spot: 1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk

Cool came too late for this car company …

Being an AMC geek I’m a big fan of underdog car companies and Indiana-based Studebaker is one for sure. Studebaker and Packard merged in 1954 in an effort to survive, but the lack of resources and revenue only fueled the company’s continued decline. Just when it looked like Studebaker would never recapture its “golden touch” enter the Golden Hawk!

Designed by brilliant artisan Robert Bourke, creator of the award-winning futuristic 1953 Studebaker Starliner, the Golden Hawk stood out like Venus De Milo at a rummage sale.

Unable to compete with the masses, Studebaker trained its gaze on buyers in search of something exclusive. The entire production run of 9,305 Golden Hawks stretched across a three years from 1956 to ’58. By comparison, 1.5 million ’57 Chevys flowed out of showrooms in a single year.

The Golden Hawk was exclusive and exhilarating in one alluring package. Advancements abounded and desperately needed because a new Golden Hawk was $1,200 more than the newly introduced Chevrolet Impala. Owners reveled in new amenities that included:

• Aerodynamic design featuring a low-slung profile far ahead of its competitors
• A high-performance suspension system delivering precision handling and cornering
• One of the first American cars with disc brakes
• A functional hood scoop feeding the supercharged engine
• Stylish tailfins
• Richly appointed interior with a spacious cabin
• Padded dash with instrument cluster sporting Stewart-Warner gauges with tachometer and clock for a high-performance look

The Golden Hawk put performance first, offered with the supercharged Packard 352ci V8 delivering 275 hp. The resulting power-to-weight ratio gave the Golden Hawk 0-60 times in the 7.8-second range and a top speed of roughly 125 mph.

I met the owner of this car, Jim Gerare, while at a car show and he shared the restoration process with me that took several years, but has paid off with a spectacular car. This Shadowtone Red Poly Studebaker Golden Hawk has won many national awards. Like many Studebakers, collectors haven’t really discovered them yet and ones similar to this have sold at auctions in the low $70k range.

Thanks for stopping by and reading about my latest spot. I have lots of others on our site so don’t be shy about checking them out. Come back next week for another one along with some of its history and have a great weekend.