As Studebaker’s range is face-lifted for 1956, sedans and wagons on one hand, coupes on the other part ways. While the former become very conventional cars after being updated by Vince Gardner, the coupes now form a separate Hawk series. Considered the company’s flagships, these cars still benefit from Raymond Loewy’s work, despite the high expenses charged by the French-American designer to the impoverished company. All Hawks feature a large, square grille rendered necessary by the adoption of the big and heavy Packard V-8 on its top-of-the-line versions.
Studebaker Flight Hawk
● Introduction: 1952 for the original full-size Studebaker, 1955 for the Hawk series. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 2.8-litre, 101 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 518 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door coupe, two-door hardtop coupe (for export only).
Studebaker Power Hawk
This is basically the same car as Flight Hawk, but fitted with a V-8 engine.
● Introduction: 1952 for the original full-size Studebaker, 1955 for the Hawk series. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.2-litre, 170 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 4.2-litre, 185 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 518 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door coupe.
Studebaker Sky Hawk
● Introduction: 1952 for the original full-size Studebaker, 1955 for the Hawk series. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.7-litre, 210 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 518 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door hardtop coupe.
Studebaker Golden Hawk
The Golden Hawk follows the steps of last year’s President Speedster. Unlike other Hawks, it sports small fibreglass fins at the rear - the same artifice is used on the company’s wagons. Under the bonnet is Packard’s 5.8-litre V-8 - though it provides a huge amount of power, it also adds a lot of weight onto the front axle, negatively affecting the car’s handling. The manual gearbox is fitted with a standard overdrive, but can be upgraded to Packard’s optional Twin-Ultramatic automatic transmission.
● Introduction: 1952 for the original full-size Studebaker, 1955 for the Hawk series. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 5.8-litre, 275 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 520 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door hardtop coupe.
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Studebaker Flight Hawk
● Introduction: 1952 for the original full-size Studebaker, 1955 for the Hawk series. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 2.8-litre, 101 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 518 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door coupe, two-door hardtop coupe (for export only).
Studebaker Power Hawk
This is basically the same car as Flight Hawk, but fitted with a V-8 engine.
● Introduction: 1952 for the original full-size Studebaker, 1955 for the Hawk series. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.2-litre, 170 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 4.2-litre, 185 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 518 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door coupe.
Studebaker Sky Hawk
● Introduction: 1952 for the original full-size Studebaker, 1955 for the Hawk series. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 4.7-litre, 210 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 518 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door hardtop coupe.
Studebaker Golden Hawk
The Golden Hawk follows the steps of last year’s President Speedster. Unlike other Hawks, it sports small fibreglass fins at the rear - the same artifice is used on the company’s wagons. Under the bonnet is Packard’s 5.8-litre V-8 - though it provides a huge amount of power, it also adds a lot of weight onto the front axle, negatively affecting the car’s handling. The manual gearbox is fitted with a standard overdrive, but can be upgraded to Packard’s optional Twin-Ultramatic automatic transmission.
● Introduction: 1952 for the original full-size Studebaker, 1955 for the Hawk series. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 5.8-litre, 275 hp, mounted at the front. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Three-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 520 cm. Top speed: n/a. Range: two-door hardtop coupe.
Any mistake you’ve just spotted? A detail to add? A suggestion? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment!
Click to jump to another model year of the same car: 1956 – 1957 – 1958 – 1959 – 1960 – 1961 – 1962 – 1963 – 1964
Click here to return to a list of all Studebaker vehicles presented on this blog.
Click here to return to this blog’s initial post, featuring a list of all vehicles already presented.
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