The development of the Hawk line was done by Robert Bourke, Raymond Lowey's South Bend styling chief. With little design money to work with the existing C&K body gets a new hood, rear deck with a new rear panel with horizontal grooves, a new die cast somewhat square mesh grille, and a new engine-turned instrument panel facing.  The Hawk would feature round Stewart-Warner gauges.  There would be four models this first year, the Golden Hawk & Sky Hawk (K-body) hardtops and the Power Hawk & Flight Hawk (C-body) coupes.  The Golden Hawk would feature a 352 cubic inch Packard V-8, the Sky Hawk Studebaker's 289 cubic inch V-8, the Power Hawk Studebaker's 259 cubic inch V-8 and the Flight Hawk Studebaker's 185 cubic inch flat-head six.  However, there were actually nine Flight Hawks built using the K-body hardtop.  Another 52 Flight Hawk hardtops were built in Canada and 499 (56G-K7) hardtops were exported from South Bend.  The Golden Hawk would be the only 1956 Hawk to be fitted with that small vertical fiberglass rear fender fin.  Also, unique to only the Golden Hawks would be that grooved bright metal molding just above the rocker panels and the wide stainless-steel trim just above the rear window.

 

Tells for 1956 Hawks: The hood is unique to 1956 as it is the only year that the scoop ends just behind the Hood Ornament.  The rear deck is also unique because of the combination lock and badge arrangement (lock in the lower edge of the badge).  There is also a flat spot where the grooves are discontinued to create the mounting surface for that badge and lock.  Also, the model name badges and their location on the rear deck lid are unique to 1956.  The front fender mounted turn signals are mounted about four inches farther back on the fender then they would be in 1957 & 1958.  The side grille openings are plain with no mesh, parking lights, or moldings.  Only the 1957 Silver Hawk side grilles would look like the 1956 side grilles.

 

 

 

For 1957 the number of models is reduced to from to  (2).  The Golden Hawk is retained, the only hardtop (K-body), a new name appears for the coupe (C-body) the Silver Hawk.  1956 Golden Hawk Packard engine is history, to maintain the 275 horsepower it provided, the 1957 Golden Hawk uses the 289 Studebaker V8 with a McCulloch supercharger.  This combination required that a triangular hole be be cut into the hood to make room for the supercharger.  This hole was covered with a fiberglass overlay which started near the front of the hood and continued till the hood meets the cowl.  A small gold V badge is placed on the front of the overlay.

The Silver hawk's hood is also modified, but while it did not require a hole (no supercharger) it used the hood ornament from 1956, but the hood bulge behind the air scoop would continue very close to the end of the hood near the cowl.  The grooved lower molding seen on the 1956 Golden Hawk would not appear on the 1957 Golden Hawk.  The Golden Hawk stainless-steel wheel trim is retained, but the Silver Hawk would be void of this trim.  The chrome moldings below the windshield and doors seen on 1953 to 1955 K bodies would be returned for the Golden Hawk, but not appear on the Silver Hawk.  However, the scallop indentation in the doors ,which started in 1953, would disappear for both the 1957 Hawks.  Both Hawks would sport the new outwardly canted metal rear fender fins styled by Ducan McRea.  However, the Golden Hawk would also have five vertical chevrons near the back of the fin.  New round tail lights and back-up lights would be found in a painted tail light housing.  In late spring of 1957 Studebaker would release a limited edition Golden Hawk 400.  Initially 10 show cars were built and later another 41 regular production units were built.  These cars featured true leather upholstery in tan or white and a fully lined Burtex covered truck compartment.  Something else that is unique is the accent color of the rear fins was also made present inside the side grilles in the front of the car.  The tan leather would be carried over to the 1958 Packard Hawk.  The first 10 show cars were identical, painted Tiara Gold with Arctic White fins and side grilles.  As of a few years ago, supposedly two of these have survived.  The production units were of a wider variety of colors and two-tones, supposedly eight are known to have survived.  A few (maybe as few as three) clones have been created.  The status of the survivors and clone information I found was from posts on the SDC Forum dated 2005.

 

In 1958 the same line-up continued with few changes.  However, the 1958 Packard Hawk (one year model only) was released (58L-K9).  It would have nearly the same leather upholstery as the 1957 Golden Hawk 400's (apparently the color and texture were slightly different).  The Packard Hawk featured a 53-55 rear deck, sloping fiberglass hood and a wide narrow fiberglass grille enclosure.  Gold anodized mylar overlays graced the rear fins and a imitation spare tire cover was placed on top of the deck lid.  This would be the only Hawk to ever have painted headlight rims.  Another unique feature was the vinyl tan pads that run along the outside of the windows. Mechanically the Packard Hawk is identical to the supercharged 1958 Golden Hawk.  All1958 Hawks (except optional on Silver Hawk six) sported 14 inch rims and tires, so new hubcaps were featured.  1958 would be the last yearfor front fender mounted turn signal lights and the only year they sported rear fins.  These fins were gold on the Packard Hawk and Chrome on Golden and Silver Hawks.  This is also the first year in the Hawk series where a single piece driveshaft is employed. Factory air conditioning is first offered including supercharged Golden Hawks & Packard Hawks.  The door sill plates are narrower on the 1958 Hawks and are now stainless-steel instead of aluminum.

 

The three moldings on the bottom of the side grilles on 1957 Golden Hawks (right photo) is unique to this year.  For 1957 Silver Hawks, it is not so much what you see as what you don't see.  You will see plainly adorned side grilles (no mesh like 1958 and similar to 1956).  No fins on the back of the front fender signal lights (exactly like 1956) but placed much closer to the front of the fender.  The Silver Hawk badge (left photo) on lower right of deck lid is exactly like 1958 but a lot different then 1956 when there was no Silver Hawk.

 

Both Golden (Golden Hawk shown left photo) and Silver Hawks can be easily identified in the front by rear fins on the back of the fender mounted front signal lights.  Mesh in the side grilles with no signal lights.  The very large round Hawk badge in the lower part of the front main grille.  This badge is the most significant tell for 1958 Hawks as it is the only year it would be seen.  Packard Hawks need no tells, they were actually a one-of-a-kind model.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1959 the Golden Hawk, Silver Hawk and Packard Hawk hardtops are retired.  Also gone was the 185 Six and 289 V8's for Hawks.  The only remaining Hawk was the Silver Hawk coupe, only offered in 170 Six or 259 V8.  The thinking for the engine changes is to keep Hawk production inline with the new Lark engine offering, making the Hawk more profitable.  The V8 version has stainless-steel wheel opening moldings, chrome taillight housings, and stainless-steel roof drip moldings which were not seen on the Six.  However chrome moldings were added below the windshield and side windows on both models.  Two-tone paint would not be offered on any 1959 Hawks, even though it is commonly seen today.  Reclining front seats were made optional in 1959.  The fins trim is modified from the 1957 & 1958 Hawks and would be similar on 1960 & 1961 Hawks.  15 inch wheels return as the standard after a one year use of 14 inch wheels in 1958.  Note that the car shown is a 259 V8, but it lacks the chrome wheel opening trim and the chrome drip rail trim.  These items, if missing in a restoration are hard to find today and most likely accounts for the reason they are missing.

 

In 1960 Studebaker again offered only one model in the Hawk line, the same coupe offered in 1959, but Studebaker would drop the use of “Silver” and call the 1960 & 1961 just a “Hawk”.  For 1960 the 289 cubic inch V8 returned as standard power, the 259 V8 and 170 six would still be offered outside the U.S.  Stitching is added to the padded dash and carpet is added to the lower panel of the interior door panels. Split front seats are first offered as an option.  Early 1960 V8's still had the four nut valve covers, but shortly after production started for the 1960 model year, the valve covers changed to the two nut version which would be seen until the end in 1963.

 

 

The 1961 Hawk coupe is nearly the same as 1960.  Some minor trim changes on the rear fins are made, but the big news for 1961 would be the availability of a four speed manual transmission, Semi-bucket seats and the color band on the rear fins.  The export 170 six would use the new overhead valve engine, however no domestic Hawks would be built using this engine.

 

The fender mounted front signal lights are gone and are replanted in the side grille openings (photo left) .  The large center round badge found on the center grille of the 1958, is replaced with a simpler round black background Hawk badge on the lower right of the same center grille.  1959 Silver Hawk is the only Hawks to sport “Silver Hawk” badges on the rear fins.  They are moved there from their prior location on the read deck lid. (photo right)

 

The background on that black badge is now red.  The rear fins show three chevrons near the door and “Hawk” script with the red background hawk badge near the rear portion of the fin.

 

The rear fins have an additional chrome trim through the center of the fin, creating a color band.  The “Hawk” script replaces the 1960 chevrons near the door and the hawk badges move to the back of the fin, pretty much just reversed from last year.  The horn ring is replaced with a horn bar.