1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk Hardtop

[@BIGBADWOOD]

WOW WITH A/C

[@albertcarello619]

BIGBADWOOD: I'm surprised air conditioning was available on this car with it's super charged engine taking up some room. The automatic transmission has an unusual feature. It's a 3 speed Automatic that starts in 2nd gear. It will start in first gear under wide open throttle from a stand start and hold first gear up to about 45 miles an hour at wide open throttle. Kickdown to 1st gear at wide open throttle from 2nd gear will happen below 25 miles per hour. It's the Flightomatic Transmission.

[@usmale4915]

It's a beauty! Your video is quite good, except when you start talking, there is too much background noise! I can't understand what you are saying, but thank you for sharing this Hawk video.

[@StLouisCarMuseumSales]

Had to work with what we had in 2014. Appreciate the comment! Glad you liked the car!

[@usmale4915]

@@StLouisCarMuseumSales I didn't mean to be so critical. :>)

[@StLouisCarMuseumSales]

@@usmale4915 Not a problem man! We appreciate any feedback. And of course love towards our old inventory!

[@santiagorubio833]

Thanks for sharing this video. Very beautiful car. It seems to be in excellent condition. One thing does not fit me: does the instrument panel belong to a Hawk from 1962 to 1964? Many years ago I had a Golden Hawk 1957 series 400. Until today I remember it as the best Studebaker I've had in my long life .. And believe me they have been at least about 10. The last of them, a canadian 1957 Silver Hawk, I sold it in 2012 to a Museum of Studebaker cars that there is in south of Chile my country, in Osorno, X Region. (Automuseum Moncopulli)

[@ron5935]

My neighbor had a 58 golden as shown. Instrument panel was a tooled aluminum finish all the way across. I remember the Paxton like yesterday. Doc was always cleaning it and I would walk over talk. He joked he used the same tools on patients, just they were cleaner. He was an orthopedic surgeon.

[@MajTom-wd2yt]

WADR I don't think it's a GOLDEN unless the dash has been replaced. Silver most likely. Dad loved Studebakers. We had four during my teenage years. I learned to drive on a 53 Commander V8 stick shift. Never forgot that car. He even let me cool it up. 3" lowering blocks, spun aluminum Bonneville moon hubcaps, glasspac duel exhaust, 3 on the floor and of course the Black DiceI in the windshield.I only had my learners permit at the time, but boy that car was fun .The last Stude I remember was a 56 Golden Hawk with the Packard V/8 that he bought for 'Mom'. My brother and I new better though, the grin on his face when he brought it home gave him away. It was just time for me to be the head of the "crew." Me with my 200ft one wheel burnouts. I still consider to be it the first muscle car, that ride was a HOOT. Aluminum engine turned dash with Stewart Warner gauges, Golden & Cream two-tone paint, it was one cool ride. I still have those Dice...wish I had the car to put them in.

[@rondye9398]

Obviously the dash has replaced with one from a Grand Turismo Hawk.

[@jeromehenen8256]

GREAT CAR

[@edarcuri182]

A couple of thoughts on why Studebaker could not compete with larger companies. In the specific case of the supercharged Hawks, which were a niche auto, the supercharger's maintenance requirements were not suited to the typical buyer. At that time, Americans would pile the whole family in the car, strap luggage to the roof and blast across thousands of miles of country without even checking the oil! I like those Hawks a lot, but they were not what most folks were looking for. That said, Studebaker's problems arose principally from their high cost structure. Most auto company failures were related to financial considerations and not product. There were some poor cars to be sure, but labor costs, slow plant upgrades, stubborn management, poor dealer relations, and high capitalization costs were the bane of most. Studebaker's production costs were just too high in those days for them to be profitable.