Story
1964 Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk
The 1964 Gran Turismo Hawk was the final production development of Brooks Stevens' formal K6 hardtop. Studebaker revised the grille, badges, deck lid, tail-lamp housings, cabin trim, and wheel covers and added an optional forward-half vinyl Sports Roof. Production ended with the South Bend assembly line on December 20, 1963.
Standard, R1, and R2 production paths
The regular domestic 289 remained available at 210 gross horsepower with a two-barrel or 225 with a four-barrel and dual exhaust. The optional naturally aspirated R1 produced 240 horsepower, while the Paxton-supercharged R2 produced 289. The 1964 date-coded engine stamp begins with P, JT, or JTS according to application. A badge, supercharger, or current engine alone cannot establish factory configuration.
Studebaker also cataloged 304.5-cubic-inch R3 and R4 engines. The museum and marque record agree that no production 1964 GT Hawk was built with either. A surviving R3- or R4-powered Hawk must therefore be described as a later installation, clone, dealer-era conversion, or other documented path rather than a factory-built R3/R4 car.
Engine option versus complete package
An R1 or R2 engine did not automatically establish the complete performance package. The coordinated package combined the engine with a four-speed or Power-shift transmission, Twin-Traction, Bendix front discs, heavy-duty springs and shocks, rear radius rods, a rear stabilizer, belts, and performance instruments. Production orders and the complete surviving installation matter because engines, badges, discs, axles, and suspension pieces can be changed separately.
Transmission, axle, brakes, and suspension
Regular cars could use three-speed, overdrive, four-speed, Flight-O-Matic, or Power-shift paths according to application. The base chassis retained independent coil-spring front suspension and a leaf-sprung live rear axle. Self-adjusting drums were standard; Bendix front discs with rear drums were optional and included with complete performance packages. Twin-Traction remained optional outside those packages.
Final-year body and cabin
The grille kept the basic 1963 pattern but recessed and blacked out its bars, added a gold Hawk center emblem, and gained a stand-up circled-S hood ornament. Chrome replaced gold on scripts and badge bases. At the rear, the old overlay disappeared in favor of a smooth deck lid with chrome Studebaker Hawk script and fully chromed tail-lamp housings.
Inside, Studebaker removed the upper-dash pleats, added a lower crash pad, changed the door inserts to woodgrain, turned the upper-door pleats horizontal, and used a black instrument background with chrome surrounds. Cloth-and-vinyl and all-vinyl trims were offered only in solid colors. The optional Sports Roof covered the forward half of the roof in black or white vinyl and followed body-color compatibility rules.
Paint, production, and proof
Ten documented P64 paint colors were offered without a factory two-tone body scheme. The Studebaker National Museum reports 1,767 cars. A reviewed club table lists 1,489 South Bend and 283 export cars, which sums to 1,772. This page keeps the museum total as the published figure and preserves the unresolved five-car conflict instead of silently choosing a plant arithmetic explanation.
Authentication starts with the 64V-K6 or export 64S-K6 identity and production order, then reconciles the date-coded engine, induction and supercharger, transmission and controls, axle and Twin-Traction, brakes, suspension, final-year body trim, protected paint, Sports Roof evidence, upholstery, dashboard, component dates, ownership chain, and restoration history.
Price and market context
The base price was $2,958 before delivery and options. The reviewed complete R1 and R2 package totals imply $371.70 and $581.70 increments; the Sports Roof cost $65 and all-vinyl trim $31.74. Dated market records intentionally span standard, R1, restored, stored, modified, sold, and reserve-not-met subjects. They provide historical context rather than a current appraisal or proof of another Hawk's identity.