1962 Studebaker Hawk

This 1962 Studebaker Gran Truismo Hawk sports a European design influences with fantastic options and is ready to become your next great American classic! By the early 1960s, Studebaker was struggling as evidenced by a sales drop of over 20 percent in 1961 compared to 1960. Perhaps an even more obvious showing of Studebaker's financial troubles is best shown by a comparison of its sales of 103,000 units in 1961, compared to Chevrolet which sold 343,000 Bel Air models; yes, you read that right, a single Chevrolet model outsold the entirety of Studebaker's lineup in 1961. Looking to shake things up, Studebaker's newly minted president, Sherwood H. Egbert, turned to his friend Brooks Stevens, a renowned industrial designer who transformed Willys' passenger car line in the mid-50s, to restyle Studebaker's aging Hawk line. The resulting car was sporty yet luxurious, modern yet timeless, and European-looking but still proudly American. In addition to a brand-new look and feel, the Hawk name was also updated from the standard Hawk to the Gran Turismo Hawk (or GT Hawk for short). The new 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk was introduced to the public on the evening of Sunday October 29, 1961, during an advertisement on the famous Mr. Ed television program and the next day the '62 GT Hawk was available for public viewing in Studebaker's dealerships nationwide. Despite initially being based on Raymond Loewy's gorgeous '53 Starliner Coupe, the 1962 Gran Turismo looked like a brand new car from nearly every angle, both inside and out. At the nose, a brand new stamped grille with large heavy chrome surrounding band gave the new GT an elegant European look up front. Perhaps the most notable changes were visible from the Gran Turismo's side profile. The roofline was flattened and squared off, further modernizing the GT Hawk's side silhouette. The side beltline trim was also removed in 1962 and replaced with bright rocker panel moldings, providing for a cleaner, updated look as well. Stevens also removed the Hawk's b-pillar returning the Hawk to an open hardtop look, something not seen in the Hawk line since 1958. The rear-end treatment was also updated considerably. Stevens' design was quick to remove the outdated-looking fins on rear quarter panels. The decklid also sported updated trim comprised of a with a simulated grille design. The rear window was also modernized with a new recessed appearance, completing the modernization of the Hawk's exterior. The GT Hawk's interiors were also upgraded considerably during the major '62 redesign. 1962 was actually the second year for bucket seats in the Studebaker Hawk and the design for 1962 was significantly updated from the previous year and now featured a center console with a small storage compartment and ashtray incorporated into the layout. The other substantial update occurring in the '62 Gran Turismo's interior was the new-look, woodgrain-trimmed, three-panel instrument cluster that almost looked like it was straight out of an airplane's cockpit with a touch of European luxury. While the new '62 Gran Turismo Hawk outsold the '61 Hawks by more the 2.5 times, a mere 9,335 GT Hawks were produced in 1962 which makes this particular example quite a rare piece of automotive history. This particular Gran Turismo comes to us from the hands of a southern based collector who clearly took great care of this classic Studebaker while under their stewardship. Under the hood on this '62 GT Hawk is a 289 cubic inch Studebaker V8 fed by a single 2 barrel carburetor that together were said to have created 210 horsepower when new. The Studebaker 289 is mated to an Automatic transmission that makes this Gran Turismo an easy car for just about anybody to take for a spin around the block. Exhaust exits this Studebaker's power plant via dual exhaust setup that generates a terrific throaty sound out of the rear tailpipes. This '62 Studebaker GT is loaded with options! With power steering,