1955 Speedster

1955 President Speedster

The predecessor to the 1956 Hawks is a special 1955 President hardtop called the Speedster.  The first President Speedster was completed on August 27th, 1954.  It was quickly followed by another 13 units over the next week or so.  These 14 Speedsters were intended for display purposes only, but as they quickly became big hits, Studebaker decided to test the market and put the Speedster into production at about mid-year.  Even though it was the most expensive model offered for 1955 at $3,253, around $800.00 more then a President hardtop, it sold well.  When 1955 production ended, 2,215 domestic Speedsters had been assembled.  South Bend manufactured 1,795 and Los Angeles (Vernon plant) assembled 420.  Another 81 were built for export in South Bend.

Speedsters are distinguished by their stainless-steel roof band, “shoemaker-stitched” diamond-quilted genuine top-grain leather upholstery, an engine-turned instrument panel, a 8,000 rpm tachometer, a 160 mph speedometer, an electric clock, tinted glass, carpeting front and rear, and six two-tone and three three-tone paint schemes.  It had a map pocket, but no glove box.
 
The buyer had a choice of either Automatic Drive or standard transmission with overdrive.  Other standard equipment included power steering, power brakes, four-barrel carburetor, oil filter, oil bath air cleaner, turn signals, two speed electric windshield wipers, duel exhaust, duel back-up lights, triple horns, tubeless whitewall tires, fog-light bumperettes, hood-length hood ornament (gold plated), special Speedster badges, chrome plated ashtrays, chrome plated rear-view-mirror moldings, (six) two-tone and (three) three-tone paint schemes, tailpipe extensions, and simulated wire wheel covers.

While the Speedster is often praised as the reason for the Hawks, the actual 1956 Hawk design had been on paper for some time before the 1955 Speedster was ever created.  However what the Speedster did do is confirm for Studebaker that the Hawks were going to be a winner.  Studebaker’s target with their “Family Sports Car” was pointed directly at the Chevy Corvette and Ford Thunderbird, but in this authors opinion the target they hit was the first “Muscle Car” / “Personal Luxury Car”, which would become even more apparent with the release of the Gran Turismo.