Story
1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk
The 1963 Gran Turismo Hawk kept Brooks Stevens' formal K6 hardtop but gained meaningful mechanical and identification changes. Studebaker replaced the generator with an alternator, made drum brakes self-adjusting, offered Bendix front discs, and opened the Avanti-derived Jet Thrust engine catalog to Hawk buyers. Total production was 4,634 across South Bend, Canada, and export.
Four domestic 289 paths
The regular 289 remained available in 210-hp two-barrel and 225-hp four-barrel and dual-exhaust form. The optional naturally aspirated R1 used 10.25:1 compression and a Carter AFB for 240 gross horsepower. The R2 combined 9.0:1 compression, a Carter AFB, and Paxton centrifugal supercharging for 289 horsepower. Standard engines use a P prefix, R1 engines JT, and R2 engines JTS. A Paxton unit fitted to a P-series engine is a modified supercharged Hawk, not documentary proof of a factory R2.
Jet Thrust is not automatically Super Hawk
R1 and R2 engines could be ordered without the complete Super Hawk package. Introduced in April 1963 as Item 46 or 46A, Super Hawk combined the selected Jet Thrust engine with front seat belts, a 160-mph speedometer, Twin-Traction, Bendix front discs, heavy-duty springs and shocks, rear radius rods, a rear stabilizer bar, and either a four-speed manual or Power-shift automatic. R2 excluded air conditioning. Production orders and the complete package matter because engines, badges, discs, and suspension pieces can all be changed independently.
Transmission, axle, brakes, and suspension
Regular Hawks offered three-speed manual, overdrive, T10 four-speed, and Flight-O-Matic paths. Super Hawks narrowed that choice to four-speed or Power-shift and required Twin-Traction. Standard brakes were self-adjusting drums; front discs with 11.5-inch rotors and 11 x 2-inch rear drums were optional and part of Super Hawk. The basic chassis used independent coil-spring front suspension and a leaf-sprung live rear axle, while the Super package added the coordinated heavy-duty and rear-locating hardware.
1963 exterior and cabin details
The center grille has five horizontal bars, the side grilles use mesh, and the headlamp rims have inner grooves. Gold-base Gran Turismo scripts gained red-white-blue badges, and the deck received a matching emblem plus a revised black overlay with silver waffle squares and larger lettering. Parking-lamp treatment changed during production at serial 63V-11587, so that detail is sequence-dependent.
Inside, seat inserts changed to vertical pleats. Early cars retained the 1962-style metal passenger dashboard overlay; woodgrain replaced it after body 63V-K6-1328. Cloth-and-vinyl and all-vinyl combinations were coded by color. A 160-mph speedometer and tachometer support Super Hawk inspection but cannot replace the production order and complete mechanical evidence.
Paint, production, and identity
The reviewed palette contains eight regular-release colors, two spring colors, and Super Red Metallic, which was restricted to Super performance cars. No factory two-tone or vinyl-roof GT Hawk application is documented. Production totaled 3,649 at South Bend, 360 in Canada, and 625 for export. Reviewed records identify 369 South Bend R1 cars and 278 South Bend R2 cars, including 13 R1 and 44 R2 Super Hawks, but do not provide a complete global split for every drivetrain, paint, trim, and option.
Authentication starts with the serial, K6 body, and production order, then reconciles engine prefix and installation, transmission and controls, axle and Twin-Traction, brakes, suspension, year and running-change trim, protected paint, upholstery, dashboard, component dates, ownership chain, and restoration history. No engine, badge, paint color, speedometer, or one chassis component proves the entire configuration.
Price and market context
The base price was $3,095 before delivery and options. Item 46 added $371.70 and Item 46A added $581.70. Dated market records on this page deliberately separate regular cars, documented R1 and R2 cars, a later supercharger installation, and a reserve-not-met result. They provide historical context rather than an appraisal or identity judgment for another Hawk.