1958 Packard Hawk on My Car Story with Lou Costabile

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On "My Car Story" we're in Wheaton IL at The 9th Annual Cantigny Park Car Show on 9-21-14.
We're looking at a 1958 Packard Hawk.
The car's Owner is Ron Pavlak. He’s had the car since 2011. The car is a Geneva IL Concourse winner.
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[@martentrudeau6948]

Ron has a classy Packard Hawk, great styling, it's all dressed up and ready to go, and its a beauty. It's tragic we lost Packard, it was not only a high quality car company, it also was a major contributor to winning WW2 building the Packard-Merlin V12 engines for war planes, V12 engines for PT-Boats and other uses. Americans knew how to do it back in the day, thanks Lou.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Marten Trudeau, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this one and adding to the story. You're welcome, Lou

[@glenkepic3208]

From awhile ago but still cool. Car is amazing. Liked seeing the Studebaker Packard plaque in the door jamb. I knew a guy who had a Stude Hawk as his first car. Looked alot like this. This is '75 and i think he got it as a graduation present. 4 of us bought tickets to see Leslie West (RIP) open for Elvin Bishop that summer at Winterland. Guy with the most gas was the driver (this is gas crisis days). Hawk 'lost'. Normally when i went there, i'd park in a nearby residential neighborhood. Not this guy,,,he paid to park on site where a crew kept an eye on the cars. Sweet as the Hawk was, i couldn't blame him. Leslie RULED that night. Elvin, we wanted to leave after 2 songs. Go to the parking lot and a VW bug was blocking our way out but had a space next to it. We decided to just bounce it to the side and it worked ! Even the crew let us slide. Great night. Thanks, Lou !

[@loucostabile]

Hi Glen, Happy to read this car brings back memories of the guy you knew and the fun time :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@neildickson5394]

One of my all time favorite cars. Unique and gets better and better with time. Last cars to carry the magical Packard name. It's appropriate the script is in gold. Also, they are becoming prohibitively expensive to own, and apparently the sky's the limit. A 50's Duesenberg in future prices.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Neil Dickson, We have a Winner :-) Glad you enjoy this one, Lou

[@ronsimpson7596]

Interesting logos, very sporty, cool detailing, bat like fins, very unique, fantastic collector car, nice turned dash, supercharger great way to add power, cool showing Lou! You always seem to find em!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Ron, Happy to read the details you enjoy on this one :-) My pleasure sharing them with you, Lou

[@AndrewGraham07]

Extravagant 50's styling reminds me of the British built Daimler SP250 "Dart" which first appeared in 1959. This Packard wears its ornamentation like expensive jewelry and the Packard emblem is similar to the "Winged Figures of the Republic" which adorn the Nevada side of the Hoover Dam. The supercharger was a real surprise ! This car is in lovely, timewarp condition.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Andrew Graham, Great imaginative written comment! Always a treat reading your comments you share with me and the Viewers, Lou

[@RTS222]

The story I heard was these Packard Hawks were built strictly on order - no specs. The Packard dealership network was just about gone by '58, which explains the low production. The nose and spare tire bulge are fiberglass, saving Studebaker die costs. I much prefer the Stude Golden Hawk to the P.H. But this one is a real clean collector car.

[@loucostabile]

Hi DrAkbar1986, Thanks for viewing and sharing your knowledge, Lou

[@seed_drill7135]

The fact that they were more expensive than the Golden Hawk or competing Corvettes or T-Birds also explains the low production.

[@opera93]

Richard RT Simpson thanks, I,for informations, I was born WARSAW Indiana, always soft spot Studebakers.. we had 62? STUDEBAKER pick Ups WHEN I WORKED my Summers at TRICounty Game Preserve, etc. also. Interestingly not see much IN PICK UPS STUDEBAKER s...

[@RTS222]

Studebaker didn't have the money to update their big truck line, so in 1960 they modified the Lark to become the light pickup known as the Champ. Sales were OK, but competition from the Big Three was ferocious - trucks and passenger cars alike. An infusion of capital was badly needed, but no one would lend. With sales declining precipitously in 1963, the Board approved a plan to end production at South Bend and make just the Lark in Hamilton, Ontario. Gone were the Hawk, Avanti, and Champ pickup. By March 1966, Studebaker exited the car business altogether.

[@opera93]

Richard RT Simpson thanks for info...we had Studebaker Pick ups in Indiana, STATE GAME PRESERVE( actually my “Mock Family Farm “, is in Tri County PRESERVE ALSO)... drive a couple of summers in 1962-65, before heading to Purdue University, etc. Actually not ,many Studebaker Trucks left, interestingly some “Workd War 2 “FOUR WHEEL DRIVES,ETC HERE Montana and a few others m real,treasure..... We all were affected by Studebaker shut down, even around Warsaw IN.. WE RELOCATED TO,Helena Valley in 2016”.... also, dry Montana area seem to be much nicer on metal auto body’s, etc....more than a Few TREASURES I. BAENS, & fields, etc, we always thought Indiana let some Vehicle contracts to help save Studebaker, ....

[@andrewromano3105]

HOW I LOVE THIS. SET OF. NOSTALGIC. SET OF WHEELS

[@loucostabile]

High praise for this set of wheels :-)

[@1940limited]

At least the other 58 Packards used Packard tail lights. This one has only the whelcovers from Packard. This Hawk is the most "Studebaker" Packard of them all. I do like the parking lights on the front fenders. The oil filters on Studebakers were funny; mounted upside down so the oil spilled all over the place when you changed it. But they were easy to install.

[@loucostabile]

Thanks for viewing & sharing your knowledge.

[@davidschluter6639]

I would love to see a side by side comparison of the hahk, the silver hawk and the golden hawk. Thanks Lou.

[@loucostabile]

You're welcome David.

[@opera93]

Thanks, Lou,and all: nice overview: maybe a follow-up WITH more details some day? This Studebaker Story is fascinating: my Great Aunt in South Be d had a Hawk(?19?.) they traded out for a Port Hole THUNDERBIRD...ETC. INTERESTINGLY, the Presidents, etc & LATER ON THE Hawks, SuperLarks , Avanti........awesome Packers Hawk...

[@loucostabile]

Hi Opera, Happy to read this brings memories of your Great Aunts Hawk :-) Lou

[@srercrcr]

The basic body was the Studebaker of '53 vintage, designed by highly acclaimed product designer Raymond Loewy. Purists hurled seeing this.

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge.

[@bobaldo2339]

Al the Studebakers with that profile - including all the Hawks - were based on the design of 1953 coupe. And the 1953 was the prettiest of them all, in my opinion.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Bob Aldo, Thank you for viewing and sharing. Glad this one is a favorite of yours :-) Lou

[@rondyechannel1399]

IMHO, Packard had a chance to build something very special with the fiberglass custom nose, however they really dropped the ball on the 'fish mouth' look. I have envisioned redesigning the front of this car many times to envision what might have been. I own a metallic blue '57 Golden Hawk. I'm not saying this to offend any Packard owners as I've heard some really like this styling. It just never grew on me.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Ron Dye Channel, Thank you for viewing & glad to read you have a cool 57 Golden Hawk :-) Clearly this one is not for you :-( Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you'll enjoy :-) Lou

[@HighlanderNorth1]

The ironic thing about this, is that I'm here because I was curious what the 1958 Packard looked like, after reading about how Charles Starkweather & Carol Fugate stole a Packard from one of their many victims in 1958. I was actually surprised that Packard was around til 1958, because I assumed they'd closed their doors in the late 40s...

[@loucostabile]

Hi HighlanderNorth1, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@randyrobey5643]

These cars got very little love for many years. They were often called "Packardbakers." Objectively, they were very nice Studebakers, and there is nothing wrong with that.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Randy, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@davidbouffard522]

This is when a "Packard" became essentially a Studebaker, but still a beautiful car.

[@loucostabile]

Hi David Bouffard, Thank you for sharing your knowledge and glad you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou

[@a.leemorrisjr.9255]

One very clean "Stude-Packard." Really like interior & tan color😊.

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy the condition of this car :-)

[@stevenquinn4641]

I love this car Its real 50s stuff Its exciting and over the top the way it's supposed to be

[@loucostabile]

Hi Steven Quinn, Glad you love this one :-) I like that you shared "it's exciting and over the top the way it's supposed to be" NICE! Lou

[@jeffreyrwilliams9345]

Magnificent!!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jeffrey R Williams, High praise :-) Glad you enjoy this one, Lou

[@matthewjohnson9361]

How do you go through a great presentation without making the connection with the Studabaker Golden Hawk?

[@loucostabile]

Hi Matthew Johnson, I start at the beginning, and go through to the end just like I did on this video :-) When I do a Golden Hawk, you'll see it. Here is one you might enjoy, Lou kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWHYlJ9tqd-SgqM

[@opera93]

Lou Costabile super Thanks......

[@opera93]

Interestingly, a thought..... nice History though........my Great Cousin ( from S Bend) had a Hawk Studebaker ( memory has it they traded it for a THUDERBIRD PortHole, (?): but the PACKARD production is long and Famous......

[@acmeopinionfactory8018]

@@loucostabile What a bullshit answer to a legitimate question.

[@killerontheloose80]

The 1954 studebaker-packard merger: " 2 drunks trying to cross a busy freeway"

[@loucostabile]

Hi SumnerCounty1986, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@oldcodger3509]

GORGEOUS!!!

[@loucostabile]

Glad you enjoy the looks of this car :-)

[@kickahaw]

My Dad was president of a Studebaker Drivers club for a while so we always had several around always wanted one of these ! lol and a 53 coup =)

[@loucostabile]

Hi Kick Ahaw, Glad this video reminded you of Dad :-) Lou

[@MrTrack412]

They weren't fooling around with the speedometer at 160 MPH!

[@loucostabile]

That in 1958 (and today) would be ROLLING!

[@jimhernandez3563]

@@loucostabile So'd the 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk. It was, of course, Packard-powered.

[@jeffking4176]

Super cool ‼️ If only a deal could have been reached with Nash and Hudson, there could have been a “BIG-4”. But a deal could not be reached. I saw the 58 Packard wagon. A neighbor had a friend who had one .

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jeff King, Glad you thought this one is "Super cool !! " :-) Thank you for sharing about your neighbors friends too, Lou

[@shanedarden369]

Well snow flake went not in government at that time.. so their were no government buy outs... Or even GM would not be here today

[@andyreaver1962]

1958 was a great year for styling but not for sales last year for Studebaker and Packard shame😔

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for viewing & sharing your knowledge.

[@StvMcQueen1]

Too little, too late. What a shame that Studebaker and Packard fell victim, just like Hudson, Nash, Edsel, DeSoto, Kaiser, Pontiac and Oldsmobile.

[@loucostabile]

Hi, agreed. Thank you for sharing a comment, Lou

[@carlrae7129]

StvMcQueen1 I was at the Dayton Packard Museum a couple years ago and they had a non restored convertible Packard Hawk. It was a project by Packard to see what the possibilities were for production. Only one in existence and even in it's aged state, it was beautiful!

[@TruthOldSchoolStyle]

StvMcQueen1. Olds made too many mistakes, like using the Malibu body shell for it's 442, instead of the Impala.

[@TruthOldSchoolStyle]

StvMcQueen1. Hudson and Nash formed American Motors

[@rondyechannel1399]

In my barn is a 1957 Golden Hawk stick shift, that is the same color metallic blue as that convertible!

[@brianhardy3582]

I remembered Uncle Alberts pacard i beleive it to bea constlation something like that it had the same system on it where you put your weight on the back end of car the car would level off

[@loucostabile]

Hi Brian, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Uncles car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@1977jed]

Love these cars! Im so sad to say I missed out buying a good resto project 58 P Hawk by 20 mins! UGH...I should have driven faster to get there....

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jay Delancey, Glad you love this one :-) Hope you see many more cars on the Channel you'll enjoy, Lou

[@1hugeturdsundae]

I look at the front, and then the resemblance suddenly triggers my intuition in the similarities; Muddy Mud Skipper from the old Ren and Stimpy cartoons!!

[@loucostabile]

I can see the resemblance.

[@fredfarbin5516]

Hey Lou, you forgot to have him step on the brake pedal. lol

[@loucostabile]

Hey Fred, missed it this time, Lou

[@jimhernandez3563]

It may look like Daffy Duck's face on caffeine and cocaine, but I love it just the same. ♥ 👍

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@earthart2010]

❤️

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@johnnyquest6115]

Interstate battery for this engine, no less. Put in a Walmart battery and it would last for a day, or two.

[@loucostabile]

:-0

[@1940limited]

I don't know why anyone would buy a 58 Packard except you were so loyal to the brand, didn't care or maybe really liked them. I wonder how many bargain hunters bought them off the lots as leftovers at the end of the model year and really didn't care if it said Studebaker or Packard on it?

[@loucostabile]

Clearly this one is not for you :-( Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you'll enjoy :-) Lou

[@shumakerguitarworkssgw9505]

The wheels and hubcaps are wrong. 58 Studebaker and Packard hawks had 14” wheels and hubcaps. 1 year only option.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Shumaker Guitar Works SGW, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Lou

[@shumakerguitarworkssgw9505]

@@loucostabile I do. And I own a 58 Studebaker silver hawk. The Packard hawk is my favorite of the hawk line up

[@OsbornTramain]

Although the owner says it's original, I don't believe that the wheels and hubcaps are correct. The Packard had 14 inch wheels in 58 and a one year only wheel cover...those aren't correct for this car.....it looks like 15 inch wheels and caps

[@loucostabile]

Hi OsbornTramain, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@LorenzoB-vc8rq]

Does this vehicle have any special features

[@loucostabile]

Yes

[@MrTrack412]

Nice car and it looks like you dressed black for the occasion, Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jed, Happy to read you enjoy the car & the outfit too :-) Lou

[@stude2896]

This car has the wrong wheel covers A stock 58 Packard Hawk would have 14 inch wheels and 1958 unique 14 inch wheel covers. 15 inch wheels were an option but cars so equipped were fitted with 1955/56 vintage Packard wheels covers, not the style shown on this car

[@loucostabile]

Hi Stude289, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Lou

[@rogercamp6071]

Well even though these are considered to be an "ugly" car my one question is are they any worse than today's similarly designed fishmouth designs, I think not.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Roger Camp, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts on this design, Lou

[@richardjoubert8471]

the year i was born,nice year 58

[@loucostabile]

Nice :-)

[@russg1801]

This model started out as a Studebaker and it shouldn't have been rebranded.

[@rondyechannel1399]

Russ G, 'nor redesigned!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Russ G, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@gallantxxx]

known as the shovel nose

[@loucostabile]

roger tauber Hi Roger, Good info to know, thanks for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@badhairdye]

I'm viewing this two years later, nvrthlss I like 'shovel nose' -- a clever expression as it has no grill in front -- just hood meets fender. A bold unique design.

[@rondyechannel1399]

I viewed one with an additional set of larger 'Dagmar's' on the front bumper and it really help break up the gaping expanse of the air intake. IMHO really helped.

[@fcburgner35]

I always thought this model was a Frankenbaker that had somehow been transmogrified over night into this near miss. I didn't like it when it came out and still don't.

[@loucostabile]

"Frankebbaker" Good one F C Burgner :-)

[@YFR888]

The designer of the front bumper aspect was not very good at it, the car looks like a Cat Fish on the front view. Tom

[@loucostabile]

Hi Tom, Clearly this one is not for you :-( Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you'll enjoy :-) Lou

[@TWTR4EVER]

Lol.......I'm sorry a PACKARD / STUDEBAKER is as much an oxymoron as trying to lured shoppers to a new department store JC PENNY / NEIMAN MARCUS, simply ludicrous! I have a 1953 Packard 400 Patrician and it has nothing to do with a Studebaker!

[@eltsennestle998]

The Studebaker-Packard Hawk series were cars produced by the merged Studebaker-Packard corporation between 1956 and 1964. All but the 1958 Packard Hawk were badged Studebaker. Described by the company as "family sports cars", they were all two-door, four-seat coupes and hardtops.

[@bobaldo2339]

The Packards of the early 1950's were beautiful. That was the peak of Packard styling in my opinion.

[@loucostabile]

Hi TWTR4EVER, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@rothkopietri]

These Cars, was called in my country- "Packard-cuacks" because the mouth looks like a Duck..

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for viewing and sharing.

[@andrewromano3105]

BEAUTY. PACKARDS. WERE GREAT CARS THIS '58. IS. QUITE A CRUISER DO NOT. EVER. HOT ROD THIS. CAR MOTOR TREND. STAY AWAY

[@loucostabile]

Hi Andrew, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou

[@debonairecatalina6570]

looks ALOT like a studebaker from the sides

[@loucostabile]

+Lucas Winders Hi Lucas, It sure does, I'm hoping one of the Viewers can share details regarding the similarities of the designs. Thanks for viewing and commenting. Take care, Lou

[@waterheaterservices]

That's because it is a Studebaker, with a few modifications.

[@gojoe2833]

That's because it IS a Studebaker! They simply tacked on the Packard name onto the Studebaker Hawk and gave it a unique nose. Years ago these got no respect, but times have changed and now these are very desirable collector cars!

[@stuartshapiro6626]

As a couple of fellas have remarked below these are enormously like Studebaker Hawks. As a kid I never cared too much for Studebaker styling except that the Hawk stood out as being really attractive to me .At least the way I see it it's a real oddball because the basic line of the car is very sleek aerodynamic and in my opinion beautiful but then it has these Howdy Doody like fins flaring up from the back LOL

[@glorialondon5054]

@@Rick-S-6063 it's a '55 Studebaker, coupe, trunk lid. With a, fiberglass, simulated spare tire cover, added.

[@stevev2474]

I saw the tags I guess the companies were together then.

[@loucostabile]

Thanks for sharing what you notice.

[@stevev2474]

If I didn't know better I'd say this car was a STUDEBAKER?

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for sharing.