Story
The 1957 Golden Hawk kept Studebaker's low, pillarless K7 hardtop and changed its character with a lighter, factory-supercharged Studebaker 289. The Jet-Stream centrifugal supercharger fed a two-barrel carburetor, while 7.8:1 compression helped the Sweepstakes V8 deliver 275 gross horsepower at 4,800 rpm and 333 lb-ft at 3,200 rpm. The output matched the previous year's Packard 352 even though the engine and driveline were new.
A Borg-Warner three-speed with overdrive was the standard Golden Hawk transmission. The optional three-speed Flight-O-Matic replaced Packard's Ultramatic. Manual-overdrive cars normally used a 4.27:1 axle and automatic cars a 3.31:1 ratio. Twin-Traction limited slip was newly optional. The chassis retained independent front coils and a live rear axle on leaf springs, but the rear leaves gained plastic liners and all four finned drums supplied 195 square inches of lining.
The 57H-K7 body code identifies the supercharged Golden Hawk hardtop. Year-specific cues include the revised hood and deck lid, metal fins, returned beltline molding, five fin chevrons, and a louvered supercharger housing. The five-place cabin used a front bench and rear center armrest, an engine-turned dash, tachometer, 160-mph speedometer, and a combined vacuum-and-boost gauge.
In April, Studebaker added the Golden Hawk 400 as a luxury package on the same 57H-K7 model. Its special paint, white or tan top-grain leather, exclusive trim, and upholstered luggage compartment did not create a different engine or chassis model. The Studebaker National Museum records 4,305 regular Golden Hawks and 51 Golden Hawk 400s, for 4,356 total. A production order, serial plate, 57H-K7 body tag, PS-series engine number, drivetrain identifiers, paint and trim evidence remain necessary for claims about an individual car.