West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptional example of this beautifully restored and rust free 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk 289/225HP 4BBL V8 rare 4 speed manual coupe, a super striking example repainted in its original 'Ermine White' color paint with a Red interior and original factory wheels with new white wall tires. The floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas are completely solid and rust-free - obviously an always garaged and cherished car since new!
1 of 9,335 Gran Turismo Hawks for 1962
1 of 2,911 in 'Ermine White', of those 2,911 only 1,441 were fitted with Red vinyl interiors.
Of those 1,441 'Ermine White/Red GT Hawks only 536 were equipped with a 4 speed transmission.
Of those 536 only 284 were equipped with a four barrel carburetor.
The car looks extremely impressive with the interior in exceptionally good and mostly completely original looking condition throughout with its original 'Studebaker' AM radio! The dashboard, the headliner, the carpets and all the seats have been restored and are in absolutely exceptional condition throughout! All the chrome-work has also been restored and the original spare wheel and jack are located in their compartment in the trunk.
The car was special ordered with the rare High Performance package, verified with Studebaker Museum documentation and dash plaque. This special order GT is equipped with the factory 4 barrel carburetor 289 V8, dual exhaust and TT (twin traction) and 4 speed manual transmission (4 speed stick on the floor)
The Studebaker Museum verified there were only 284 GT s ordered equipped this way.
Recently refurbished with new 'Ermine White' over rust free (California/Arizona) sheet metal, new chrome bumpers, and professionally polished stainless steel trim. The interior was also refurbished with new foam and a complete detail, study the photos. It performs like a high performance 1962 muscle car, a pleasure to drive.
Under the hood the engine and engine bay are also refurbished and the trunk floor is also solid rust free. The under carriage has been power washed and remnants of some undercoating remain with usual surface corrosion visible, but no rot or rust, again this vehicle is California / Arizona vehicle.
The car has a correct 289 V8 engine which is extremely strong and powerful and this particular car drives absolutely magnificently - must be driven to be believed - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day sports car a run for it's money! The transmission shifts smoothly through all the gears, there are no noticeable oil leaks and the temperature always remains cool!
After the Ford Thunderbird had been restyled in the late fifties, the Studebaker Golden Hawk emerged as one of the most handsome two door coupes on the market in 1956 with performance to match its styling. In 1962, the last year in which Packard would be part of the Studebaker-Packard Corporation, the company's president Sherwood Egbert enlisted the renown designer, Brooks Stevens, to modernize and redesign the Hawk and Lark. Stevens created the the new Hawk model with flowing lines and squarer shapes and it was newly named the'Gran Turismo' Hawk and proved to be even better than before with this last generation of the Hawk (1962-64) to be the only one to earn the coveted 'Milestone Car Status' recognition of the 'Milestone Car Society' of post war cars (1945-72) who judged their cars in five catagories; styling, engineering, roadability, performance and innovation and craftsmanship. A Milestone car had to be superior to its contemporaries in at least two of these catagories.
The GT Hawk Coupe was an update of the pillar-less Hawk body-style of the mid to late 1950's with a bolder grille and a more formal roof-line. Still built on the old 'Loewry Coupe' bodyshell and 120.5" wheelbase from 1953 minus the 1957-61 now outdated tail-fins, Stevens added a Thunderbird style formal roof with broad C-pillars, removed needless trim from the bodysides and outlined them in bright metal, installed a new three element dash design with enough room for a clock and large tachometer. Powered by a 289/225HP V8 engine, it had a top speed of 120mph and although the updated continuation of Studebaker's sporty four-seater coupe received good press, it unfortunately couldn't save the 'Studebaker Corporation', which had been founded as a wagon producer back in 1852 and sadly folded in 1966.
In summary, this particular example must be amongst one of the rarest available anywhere with a 4 speed manual transmission and in great daily driving and turn-key ready condition to enjoy today! An obviously always garaged and rust free example of this increasingly desirable and collectible 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk 289 V8 coupe! A sure-fire investment that's sure to appreciate over the years for any classic American sixties car collector or simply any Studebaker enthusiast!
