1958 Packard Hawk RedGold Jacksonville0901184681

The last attempt to save the Packard name, it probably shouldn't have been built considering the dire economic straights Studebaker Packard was in. Only 588 of these models were made, and I've seen very few in my days at car shows. This one is in beautiful condition. Note the vinyl trim on the outside of the doors, the "fish mouth" grille, and the faux spare on the decklid. It deserves a special place in Studebaker Packard history. Here's an article about the development of this car:
www.hemmings.c...
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[@ncautoman57]

Packard/Studebaker were ahead of their time in design..These were lovely cars that the public was just not ready for. Thanks for sharing this beautiful car.

[@coolrides]

Hey, Rich! It certainly is a rare car, and surely is an interesting makeover of an exceptional car. The company was just about broke, and all their efforts would soon be focused on the Lark, the Avanti hadn't saved it as hoped for. Thanks! :) Jack

[@drakbar5957]

Hurley’s Folly. The CEO of Curtiss Wright (who wielded power at SP) loved the looks, but the market said otherwise. By 1958 what Packard dealers were left had only rebranded Studebaker’s to sell, and they weren’t crazy about what South Bend did to Packard. But for a one year only car, it continues to attract attention and is a true collectible. Nothing like having an armrest on the outside of both doors!

[@coolrides]

I love it when an executive with perhaps little design knowledge makes big styling decisions! It can go well, or it can go horribly wrong. It did keep the Packard name alive for one more year, and it was better than the '58 sedan and stationwagon which had the third and fourth headlight added via a pod. Thanks! :) Jack

[@drakbar5957]

Studebaker wouldn’t build a Packard Hawk unless there was a confirmed order for it. The Packardbakers were placeholders until Studebaker Packard found financing for new Packards in 1959. That financing never materialized, so Studebaker dropped their larger cars (and all Packards) to launch the Lark in 1959. The Hail Mary pass worked for a couple years, but the onslaught of compacts and the sheer strength of the Big Three became insurmountable for this South Bend car maker. One and done for the Packard Hawk.

[@monarch1957]

I can't remember seeing one up here in Canada but it is a very nice rare car. Thanks for showing it Jack.

[@coolrides]

Hey, Barry! I don't remember seeing one when new....and it is years between sightings now. There just aren't many out there. Thanks! :) Jack

[@ferlenarab]

Factory supercharged engine, Stwart-Warner gages on the dash, always liked these cars.

[@coolrides]

Definitely some strong points here....but without funds, Packard couldn't go forward. Sad day for Packard, as it has been for Corvair, Pontiac, Olds, DeSoto, Mercury, Nash and Hudson. And lets not forget Kaiser Fraser Thanks! :) Jack

[@CNDCarManiac]

Wow, nice to see one of these. I knew they existed but just forgot about them. I like it myself but I agree with you Jack, without the faux spare it would look alot sleeker.

[@coolrides]

Yes, the deletion of the faux spare would help that car a lot....and I'd delete that trim on the outside of the window sill. I can't imagine it surviving snowy winters. Thanks! :) Jack

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Hey Jack. Lovely looking Packard Hawk. There was a time when I found the Packard Hawk more attractive than the Studebaker Hawk. If you look at the front of the two cars, you'll see what I mean. The Packard looked more sporty and ready for racing. The Studebaker Hawk looked more like a CEO's coupe. :)

[@koioo2]

never saw it so nice looking coupe

[@coolrides]

Hey, Jason! I think it's hard to give such a unique car a different identity. I think they did a fair job considering the lack of development money which must have been a problem. Thanks! :) Jack

[@coolrides]

Hey, Alberto! it really is a very rare car. Thanks! :) Jack

[@jasoncarpp7742]

That can certainly be a problem. They both look the same overall. It's the front of the Packard that sets it apart. :)

[@andypittman9850]

If they called this car the 'Catfish' it may have garnered more sales as that is what I saw as a first glance, with the bulging eyes and bumper protrusions looking like whiskers. I can see how the exterior door padding would be designed by a driver who liked to rest his left arm on the door during summer cruising, the vinyl is what could be best described as 'necessity is the mother of invention'. The interior roof trimmings looks like they tried to emulate what would have been what you see if this had been a convertible.

[@coolrides]

Hey, Andy! I think that front end has been likened to a fish's mouth...the catfish does seem to parallel this front end. I think the designers were faced with the basic design of the Hawk, and wanted to make this car as different as they could....and simply eliminating the Hawk's Mercedes like grille and planing down the front end certainly achieved a new look. Whether it was pleasing or not depended on the individual looking at it! Thanks! :) Jack

[@MrFandex]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I like the faux spare. I liked it on Imperials and Plymouths also. I find it odd that a Packard would have power windows up front, but cranks in the back. For that price it should have all windows powered assisted. It is however a beautiful example of a very rare car.

[@coolrides]

I just never got used to those faux spares. I think the lack of power windows in the back just showed how little money was available for the development of this car. The regular '58 Packards used strange pods to house the new four headlamp setup. Details suffer when there's a slim budget. Thanks! :) Jack

[@robert3302]

Studebaker also had an option of power windows for the front doors only. This was the end of power windows for Studebaker until the Avanti, where again, the front windows only were offered. The GT Hawks of 1962-4 cost more than a Thunderbird but did not offer power windows as an option. This was a major marketing error that helped kill Studebaker.

[@AMCmachine]

Hi Jack! Hope you guys enjoyed summer. The Stude Hawks boasted Packard V8s for 1956 if I recall right.

[@coolrides]

We did enjoy the Summer, but sure wish for the lower temperatures of fall! Right now, you'd never know Fall was a couple days away! You are absolutely right about the Packard drivetrain. Thanks! :) Jack

[@rx6180]

Gosh. Leather on the outside of the doors, in the weather. How strange. The interior looks lovely and comfortable. The front end reminds me a little of the Daimler SP250 sports car, another vehicle with controversial looks.

[@coolrides]

Hey, Mick! That leather would have a short lifespan, in my opinion, unless the car was garaged except for occasional drives. Either the sun would get it or the salt spray! I know what you mean by the similar looks to the Daimler! Thanks! :) Jack

[@rondye9398]

I would hope if you could afford to buy this car, you would have a place to store it INSIDE, when not driving it. A very premium car that you would not leave outside in the elements.

[@dsteele27]

A very good looking car, but not as a Packard in my opinion. No one is fooled into thinking this is anything more than a badge-engineered Studebaker with a strange (but good looking in my books) grille. Very nice car but a sad ending to Packard.

[@coolrides]

Oh the indignity of it! Too bad that Packard just didn't stop making cars after the '56 Caribbean! Unfortunately, I don't like the front end of this...looks suspiciously like a fish. Thanks! :) Jack

[@Matt_from_Florida]

Check out the one & only *convertible* Packard Hawk, created by Stanley Pridachuk, the chief engineer at Studebaker/Packard: bringatrailer.com/listing/1958-packard-hawk/ It sold last year for $102,000. I wonder how many of the 588 are left. In the UK all you have to do is type in the make & model of the car you wish to have that answer to. www.howmanyleft.co.uk/ It tells you how many are licensed in the UK. Use their easy A-Z Index to make sure you get the name right. The last supercharged Packard prior to this was the 1954 Packard Panther show car, of which 4 were made. They supercharged the old Packard 359CID INLINE 8! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packard_Panther Apparently they hold these rather dear. www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1954-PACKARD-PANTHER-CONVERTIBLE-137921 I'm gonna go read your attached article tonight.

[@danconlan64]

I like these ones The ones with quad Headlamps are not so pleasing

[@coolrides]

Hey, Dan! Yes, these cars had the benefit of much of Hawk's styling. The quad headlamp Packards were so obviously converted Studebakers. Thanks! :) Jack