1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk

- California Car
- Purchased New from Milton Motors in Oakland, California
- Factory Regal Red
- Numbers Matching 289 V8
- 4 Speed Manual Gearbox
- Original Dealer Invoice
- Power Steering, Power Disc Brakes
- Exceptional Collector Car

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 145 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“After a masterful facelift by designer Brook Stevens, the new GT Hawks were received with great acclaim when they were introduced….” AmericanClassics website, October 2016

The website—“conceptcarz”—added more detail: “The Hawk received its most dramatic appearance for 1962 with updates by designer Brooks Stevens, who was working on a shoestring budget as the company's future was surrounded by uncertainty. The Loewy design took on a more formal and modern appearance with reworked roof contours, rounding the rear of the vehicle, and the Mercedes-like grille gaining broad chrome outer moldings. The previous softly arcing roofline was replaced by a more squared-off roof inspired by the Ford Thunderbird. The fin craze of the mid-to-late-1950s had lost its appeal by the early 1960s, so the car now had a finless rear deck. Although it was an inexpensive facelift, the design appeared completely new, and the new appearance brought about a new name - the Gran Turismo Hawk. The R1 and R2 engines of the Avanti, introduced in 1963, became available as Hawk options. Other features sourced from the Avanti were disc brakes, heavy-duty suspension, and a 160mph speedometer.”

Offered here is a 1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk in red over black. Purchased new from Milton Motors in Oakland, California, the car has logged 103,465 total miles, fewer than 1,800 miles per-year on average. Together with its handsome, timeless design, and original specifications, the car's California ownership, impeccable maintenance, and meticulous owner care resulted in this remarkable, collector-quality Grand Turismo.

With Studebaker nearing the end of its history in 1963, the Gran Turismo Hawk put a real exclamation point on the storied American manufacturer's long run. The 5-passenger coupe melded European design influence with American comfort, power, and style. This rare example wears its factory-original Regal Red exterior paint beautifully: the finish retains excellent overall gloss, free of damage. It is an arresting color on the still-appealing design. In the same way, stylish chrome trim—on the bumpers, center-front grille, hood “S” ornament, side mirror, door handles, and body trim (on fender tops, lower body, and wheel wells)--has been painstakingly maintained. Patina is minimal. (To best assess the quality of the paint and trim finishes, be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) Cabin glass (including the impressively raked windshield) and lighting lenses are clear and undamaged. European-influenced factory badging—the tri-color front-grille emblem, the same emblem combined with “Grand Turismo” in gold script on the doors, the gold “hawk” symbol on the roof sailplanes, the round rear-deck tri-color emblem with gold hawk, the “Studebaker – Hawk” trunk lettering (in black on a textured bright metal panel)—is all present, in excellent original condition, and properly located. Steel wheels with pristine, chrome, “S”-branded wheel covers are mounted with Bridgestone thin-stripe whitewall tires.

Inside the car, the Hawk's original design and current condition is no less impressive. Fold-forward front bucket and rear bench seats are upholstered in vertical-patterned black vinyl. The front seat backs have integrated storage pockets for the rear passengers. The upholstery is free of damage and barely shows any evidence of normal use. Door trim employs the same vinyl on top, but adds a horizontal, textured-brushed-metal trim, and a black carpet panel below. Cabin floors are covered in black carpeting in very well-maintained condition. A black steering wheel with Hawk center emblem and chrome horn ring frames a complete and comprehensive cluster of circular analog gauges set in woodgrain trim. The center 120-mph speedometer is flanked by a clock, a coolant-temperature, and alternator-output on the left, and a tachometer, fuel-level, and an oil-pressure gauge on the right. (No then-available American performance automobile offered a more complete gauge package.) The woodgrain panel continues across the dash with the factory Studebaker-branded AM radio and a gold Hawk emblem. The shift-lever for the 4-speed manual transmission is floor-mounted, and the car is equipped with power steering and power brakes. Virtually every interior surface is in exceptional, damage-free condition.

The trunk is pristine with vinyl-mats covering the floors and spare tire.

Under the hood, the numbers-matching Studebaker 289-cubic-inch V8 features an open-sided, chrome air cleaner (with Studebaker identification) and chrome valve covers. All components appear properly mounted and all surfaces are spotless. Hoses and wiring are correctly routed. Viewed from below, the car's chassis has been very well-maintained. There is no sign of damage of any sort and surface rust is light and very limited. The full-length dual-exhaust system with performance mufflers and chrome, down-turned, rear exhaust pipes is a focal point. There is no sign of body panel rust.

The car's factory-mounted data and identification tags remain mounted. The sale includes the car's original dealer invoice.

While the more than 145 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '63 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

This rare, beautifully maintained, stunning red Studebaker Hawk Gran Turismo would certainly have turned heads back in the day. In its current condition, it just as certainly will turn heads today. At every stop—at a street corner, in the garage, or at a weekend car show—its next owner can expect questions and compliments aplenty. This is a special automobile.