Most car people would agree that the Raymond Loewy-designed 1953 Studebaker Starlight coupe was a stunning car in its day and, over six decades later, still looks sweet. The 1954 models added needless style clutter and the 1955 Speedster coupes had too much front-end chrome. Studebaker's attempt to create other models (sedans, Conestoga wagons) using the same style were less successful, producing ungainly cars which lost all the swoopiness of the low-slung coupe.

In 1956, the aging Starlight coupe was given its first substantial restyle and rechristened 'Hawk'. Studebaker promoted the '56 Hawks as "family sports cars" with seating for five adults. The top-of-the line model was the Golden Hawk, a two-door pillarless hardtop coupe fitted with a big 275 horsepower Packard engine up front. Hawks featured a large, distinctive eggcrate grille and raised hoodline replacing the earlier Studie's low, pointed nose. At the rear, a raised, squared-off trunklid replaced the earlier sloped deck, resulting in a more usable trunk. Top of the line models sported small fins.

Many car enthusiasts gravitate toward the 1957 Hawk models, which had more prominent and distinctive finnage and could be equipped with the slightly lighter supercharged Studebaker V8 motor and more reliable Studie automatic tranny. The '56 Golden Hawk used Packard's troublesome Ultramatic transmission.

Nevertheless I've always liked the style of the 1956 model better - the handsome front end dominates without the distraction of those large '57 fins. The Packard-engined Golden Hawk was muscle-car like; its power to weight ratio was about the same as the heavier, 340 horsepower Chrysler 300B.

In 1956, 4,071 Studebaker Golden Hawks were produced. 11,484 units of the lesser Hawks (Sky Hawks, Power Hawks and the stripper L-head six cylinder Flight Hawks) were sold. Studebaker Golden Hawks were priced at the same level as the 1956 Ford Thunderbird and Chevy Corvette. While Golden Hawk sales were better than that of the 'Vette, it was handily outsold by the two-seat T-Bird - 15,631 little Fords were produced in the '56 model year.

The '56 Golden Hawk handily outsold its predecessor, the President Speedster (4,071 units vs. 2,215 Speedsters). This is, perhaps, a testament to the 1956 restyle. Sales of the 1957 Golden Hawk peaked at 4,356 hardtops. The 1958 model year was a tough one for all car manufacturers, due to the recession, but the Golden Hawk models were especially hard hit; only 858 vehicles were sold. The pillarless hardtop version of the Hawk disappeared after the 1958 model year but was resurrected with the introduction of the restyled Gran Turismo Hawk of 1962.

Over the years, Loewy's Starlight coupe carried several names: President Speedster, Silver Hawk, Packard Hawk and finally, the handsome Brooks Stevens-restyled Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk of 1962-64. But I still have a soft spot for the '56 Golden Hawk. (origionally posted 3/25/10)