General Restoration Information:

Note in the photo's above that both the 1962 and 1963 body color (White) is showing through the grille.  All 1963, 1964 and most 1962 GT Hawks should have had the area behind the grille painted flat black as shown in the photo of a 1962 GT Hawk at the left.

 

Except for a few early 1962 GT Hawks, all 1962, 1963, and 1964 GT Hawks should have the inner portion of the air intake under the bumper painted a low luster black.  The outer portions should be body color.  The lower hood locking mechanism was also painted low luster black.

 

In looking at many photo's of GT Hawks, I noticed that many do not have front bumper guards.  Others  have them closer to the center, then others (1963 photo above) show them further out.  I wondered about this, and this is what my research has uncovered.  All three years the front bumpers were optional equipment.  Item No. 68 in 1962 & 1963 and 71 in 1964.  In close examination of the 1963 front above I discovered that there were no holes in the bumper where factory installed bumper guards would have been mounted, thus these must have been dealer installed or added by one of it's owners.  Some information I picked up on the SDC forum indicated that front bumper guards were optional, that factory installed bumpers were inboard and dealer installed were outboard as there were no bumper holes to install them inboard.  If you have any thoughts on this let me know using our "Contact Us" page on this site.

 

The wheel color on all GT Hawks (all years) was Pebble Sand on off-white color.  Only two styles of exterior mirrors were offered for 1962 to 1964 GT Hawks, Stratoline (AC-2918) and Strato-Vue (AC-3188).  The correct radiator and heater hose clamps are the spring wire type, except for the lower radiator hose clamp on the water manifold which was the flat metal type with the small screw and nut.

 

All GT Hawks are equipped with 289 cubic inch V8's.  In April of 1962 the full flow oil filter system was adopted.  Duel exhaust and finned brake drums were standard equipment.  The engine block, heads, pan, air cleaner canister, pulleys, power brake unit, power steering unit, and electrical components (except alternator) were black.  The valve covers and automatic transmission dip stick handle were painted yellow.  The oil filler cap (or caps), fan and the oil dip stick handle were painted orange.  The air conditioning compressor was natural metal color.  STP decals are found on the oil filler caps (breather caps).  The Avanti Jet Thrust engines were the same as above, except the valve covers, oil dip stick handle, air cleaner canister and R2 air inlet were chrome.  R2 superchargers were Orange from the factory and black if rebuilt by Paxton.  The R3 & R4 engines blocks, heads and pans were red, none were factory installed in any GT Hawks.  Any 1963 or 1964 GT Hawk would be correct if equipped with the Avanti dress up kit AC-3421, which included chrome valve covers, oil breather caps and dip stick handle.

 

 

Recent history for GT Hawks indicate that while the early Hawks are going down in value, the GT Hawks are in fact getting more expensive to purchase.  The probable causes might be that there were far fewer of them made, especially 1964.  The GT Hawk production started October 30^th 1961 and ended in December 20^th 1963 (64V-20197).  In addition, these cars had a lot more of the driving comforts available, like power steering, power brakes, front disc brakes (mid 1963), factory air conditioning and power seats.

 

The GT Hawk styling is done by Brooks Stevens Design.  A lot of the work on the GT project was done by Gordon Kelly, Stevens design department director, but Stevens was deeply involved in the project, acting as liaison between his company and Studebaker's design chief, Randy Faurot¹.  The the project is given to Stevens by then Studebaker President Sherwood Egbert, with a nearly non-existent budget and very short lead time.  Stevens is going for the European-inspired, clean look.

Foot Note¹: TW March 2008

The exterior.  The hood from the older Hawk's remained (for 1962 only) minis the chrome air scoop, but retaining the raised area.  However, a new much lighter front grille that closely resembled that of a Mercedes-Benz is added.  The Gran Turismo would draw on American influences as well, with a roof line that looks heavily inspired by the Ford Thunderbird.  A chrome edge that runs from front to rear, at the top of the bodywork, similar to that on the contemporary Lincoln Continental.  The new taillights look like they may also have been borrowed from Lincoln.  The deck lid is given a faux "grille" overlay (to hide the grooves of 1956-61 deck lid), something similar is seen on the rear of the Lincoln Continental.  The rear window is nearly flat and recessed.  New nameplates and emblems, along with a new grooved rocker panel molding, complete the changes.  After a three year hiatus, the GT would come back as a hardtop.  Stevens's extensive yet inexpensive modifications to the body completely removed 1950s-style tail fins and body side trim of past Hawks, creating that clean luxury look still in high demand today.

 

Stevensnew interior, with a modern instrument panel, could be ordered with a full complement of large, easy-to-read gauges, in the correct driver's line of sight.  The gauge portion of the dash is a three plane affair with wood grain background.  A new metal overlay would cover the rest of the dash.  The top 2/3rd's of the dash was padded to serve as a crash pad.  Door panels have vertical vinyl pleats on the top, a center metal panel and carpet on the bottom.  This treatment continues on into the back seat panels.  The GT featured front bucket seats and a console, befitting a grand-touring car.  All the seats were upholstered in either cloth and vinyl or all-pleated vinyl.  Sadly, the 62's vinyl was of very poor quality and quickly cracked along the pleats.  It doubtful any 1962 GT Hawk exists today with usable original upholstery.  1962 GT Hawks were the only year the seat pleats were horizonal.

 

Mechanically the GT Hawk remained very similar to it's inheritance.  The 289 cu. in. V8 engine is used, along with a Flight-O-Matic, manual four speed, or standard three-speed transmission. The manual three-speed was available with the optional overdrive.  The chassis was very similar to the 1961 Hawk.  The greatest 1962 mechanical change would be a mid-year change making the 289 a full flow oil filter engine.

 

From the front, small rectangular signal/running lights are seen in the two small side grilles.  The surrounds should be painted body color, many of the 1962 GT seen today have chromed surrounds which are not correct, but look nice.  This is the only year, that there would be no emblem on center grille and the grille pattern is simple series of squares.

 

From the side, “Gran Truismo” door badges are present, without the later years red/white/blue badges.  For most of the year, the standard full-wheel covers have a black scallops on the outer edge, with a black lazy “S” in the center on a red center back ground.  The plastic spears on the front fender are about twice as high as the ones used on the next two years would be, and are not back-lit.

 

From the rear, the faux "grille" overlay checkered pattern is painted black, while the smooth area containing the script “Studebaker Hawk” is not painted.  The deck lid badge is a chrome circle with a gold Hawk in the center.  The new tail lights have body painted housing with chrome trim around the lens.  Most 1962 GT Hawk, if equipped with a radio have a center mounted rear deck-lid antenna.  This was because the new trim on the front fenders would not allow for a cowl mounted antenna.  This issue was addressed late in the model year when a cowl mount antenna was designed, so 1962 GT Hawks are the most likely ones to have a rear antenna.

 

From the interior, 1962 would be the only GT with horizontal seat insert pleats.  A metal dash overlay is seen on the right 2/3rds of the dash, although some early 1963 models would also feature this overlay until the inventory is used up.

 

 

Hubcaps:  In 1962 there were no less then four different hubcaps that could be correct.  Initially the hubcaps used were exactly the same as 1961 Hawks and Larks, black “S” on chrome center with black peripheral scallops (AC-3071).  Shortly after production began they switched to red centers (AC-3276).  Two optional set were available at extra cost, Air-Flo (AC-3277) or Air-Strut (AC-3280).  Both (photos left & right) seem to be fairly rare.