1956 Golden Hawk, manual with stick on the floor.

[JohnnyG]

Does anyone know if there was ever a manual ‘56 Golden Hawk with the stick on the floor that came off the line that way? The vin is 6800T68 on the Golden Hawk I’m looking at.

[drrotor]

No there was not.
I am currently working on one manual trans ‘56 GH for a friend, and restoring another ‘56 GH for myself, also a manual trans car.
I say this because I am becoming pretty familiar with the set-up, and I might have a few hard to find stock manual trans parts that may help you if you buy that car and want to return it to stock. Good luck with your purchase!

[studegary]

Does anyone know if there was ever a manual ‘56 Golden Hawk with the stick on the floor that came off the line that way? The vin is 6800T68 on the Golden Hawk I’m looking at.

No, there were not any.
I have worked on a '56 Golden Hawk with three speed and overdrive (column shift). I remember it as being a heavy transmission (changing a pilot bearing).
The car in question may have been converted from the more common automatic transmission or perhaps just the shift mechanism was changed.
I believe that you are incorrect on the Serial Number. Studebaker used an I for a 1. That is probably what you are calling a T (poorly stamped I).
6800168 would be a Vernon (LA) assembled 1956 Golden Hawk about mid-way through the run.

[Mrs K Corbin]

Besides the build sheet would tell you what it's supposed to be. Manual or Auto. Not sure about stick, vs column tho.

[black56hawk]

VIN 6800168 was an LA car, built 12/23/1955, snowcap white/midnight black, with an automatic trans.

[JohnnyG]

Thanks for the replies! I actually got the wrong vin. The right vin is 6031614. It’s a manual on the floor with bucket seats. I’m guessing someone had changed quite a bit on the car from original. I have only seen pics of bench seats in the 56 Golden Hawk’s.

[PackardV8]

Yes, there have been many floor shift conversions. Back when the '56J was just a used car, JC Whitney sold conversion kits for $19.95.

No, there were none built as floor-shifted, but several automatics have been converted to manual, 3-speed, 4-speed, 5-speed and 6-speed.

Maybe, some more detail would confirm exactly what you've got.

jack vines

[studegary]

Thanks for the replies! I actually got the wrong vin. The right vin is 6031614. It’s a manual on the floor with bucket seats. I’m guessing someone had changed quite a bit on the car from original. I have only seen pics of bench seats in the 56 Golden Hawk’s.

This is a South Bend built Hawk, about mid-way through the run.

[64studeavanti]

If we assume the engine is original, the serial number will be K????. If ultramatric, E???? If any thing else, maybe from a Packard.

[brngarage]

If it was Ultramatic, the engine number should start with an "S".

[64studeavanti]

Correct, S it is. Fumble fingers!

[black56hawk]

VIN 6031614 is a South Bend car assembled January 26, 1956, midnight black/snowcap white, with automatic trans. Body no 2039, engine number S2636.