1963 Studebaker GT Hawk

While many afficionados of automotive stylings from the fifties consider Studebaker sedan to be among the worst examples from the era, they're quick to point to Studebaker coupes as being some of the best.

Chief among those styling standouts may have been the Hawk. In its various forms - Flight Hawk, Power Hawk, Silver Hawk, Golden Hawk and GT Hawk of the sixties - that model line ranked with the prettiest designs of its time and is among the most recognizable of Studebakers today, making it popular with collectors.

In the mid-fifties, Studebaker marketed the Hawk line as "family sports cars," an idea that showed forward thinking, considering the success of Ford's Mustang, which followed a similar theme to record sales a decade later.

Early Hawk styling may have peaked in 1956 with the top-of-the-line Golden Hawk, designed by Robert Bourke. That car, perhaps better than any other of the day, struck a notable mix of fifties styling in a small car, while offering solid performance from a 275-horsepower, 352 ci V-8, all for an affordable price of just over $3,000.

But even the fine line of Hawks wasn't enough to stop Studebaker's financial problems. In the early sixties, the company brought in designer Brooks Stevems to re-work the Hawk line in an attempt to create a profitable winner.

Stevens' stylings mixed the original Bourke look with newer features, replacing the outdated tail fins with revised lines and redesigning the front end and interior. The result was a sporty, but classy coupe, showing a distinct European influence.

Stevens' Gran Turismo Hawks that debuted in 1962 were a hit, nearly tripling the line's sales of the preious year. The car received good reviews as well, Car Life magazine saying "In some ways, it was the most appealing car we've driven this year." The magazine's only problem with the car was in the braking, and it's now believed that the braking troubles in the testing came as a result of non-standard, full-width wheel covers that were put on the test car and prevented air from reaching the drums.

Aside from that problem, the Hawk proved a strong performer. Powered by a 289 ci V-8, the GT Hawk could go 0-60 in under 12 seconds and topped out at 103 mph. Not racing power, mind you, but not meant to be either, as comfort was still a priority in this family coupe.

Along those lines, the interior was rated "just as handsome as the exterior" and featured "one of the most attractive and functional cockpits of any automobile built in this country." As time as moved on, the GT Hawk has become even more appreciated by collectors for its easily seen instrument panel, forward placement of the steering wheel, and careful arrangement of pedals to allow heel-and-toe driving.

The car was also praised for its "smooth, stable feel" while driving, and Car Life noted the car's "cornering ability is surprisingly good" considering it's 120.5-inch wheelbase.

The final two versions of the GT Hawk, the 1963 and 1964 models, received only minor alterations in trim, carrying on the popular look established in 1962. Unfortunately though, sales of all Studebakers plummeted in those years, as the company neared its end. The Hawk line was discontinued in 1964 after the company closed its South Bend plant.

Two years later, Studebaker was finished. Continuing financial difficulties forced the company to shut down, despite having produced some of the finest automobiles of its day.

Years later, the Hawk line stands as a favorite among collectors. Vintage GT Hawks are valued at some $15,000, and are still considered among the best designs of their era.Golden Hawks from the fifties are even more valuable, highlighting the line that stands in lasting tribute to a once-proud automaker.