1956 Power Hawk hardtop

[Michael]

According to the books there were no Power Hawk Hardtops built
in 1956. There were however 560 Flight Hawk hardtops built.
They were mostly sold in Europe and Canada.
This car which is now for sale in Belgium

http://www.oldtimerfarm.be/oldtimer.php?id=420

was sold new with a 259 engine and Power Hawk badges in 1956.
I've seen a few other cars here in Europe with the exact
same specification.
Was this considered a Sky Hawk (56H-K7) in the statistics and
on the production order, even though it carried a 259 engine?
The Power Hawk was ofcourse the only Hawk which had a 259 in
the USA.
Well, maybe someone with access to the production orders could
check this odd Hawk VIN: 7178165
(The three first numbers of the VIN: 717 makes it something
within the President (56H-series) since regular Power Hawks
started with 843 or 844)

In 1957 there were Silver Hawk hardtops both with six cylinder
engines and 259 V8 engines. They were both officially Silver
Hawk hardtops.

Michael Bostedt
Gavle, Sweden

[studegary]

The serial number plate has been reattached - probably moved from another car.
This Hawk could have gained the Power Hawk nameplate at any time in the past 52 years.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[Michael]

Well ofcourse, anything is possible...
but like I said, I've seen other 1956 Hardtops with 259 engines and Power Hawk nameplates.

Michael Bostedt
Gavle, Sweden

[monomaniac]

We've covered this before in TW. D'Ieteren Freres in
Belgium built some Hawks that were slightly different than
what we see in North America. This included some Power Hawks
that were actually Sky Hawks but with 259 and slightly
different appointments. The production records from Belgium
were destroyed in a fire some years ago but you could still
order your production build record from Studebaker National
Museum.
It would be interesting to see that ticket.

[PekkaP]

I had one of these Belgium assembled Power ( Sky ) Hawks for a short while few years ago.

It is now in Sweden being restored by the current owner's son.

I think I never ordered the production order but clearly this was one of these Sky Hawks with Power Hawk emblems. It had a 259 and T86 and still had its original interior. But it needed more work than I was willing to commit to and thus I did let it go.





Pekka

1955 President State Coupe

1961 Lark Regal VIII Convertible

[studegary]

I agree with the 259 V8 Sky Hawk story for Europe. I just didn't know/remember that they were badged as Power Hawks.

On the subject car, what bothers me the most is the changed serial number plate.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[barnlark]

The P.O. and the rear cross member (if they had the stamped numbers in '56) should settle whether it was changed, or just received screws in place of the spot welds. Weren't those cars shipped in pieces and assembled there anyway for whatever was ordered to Belgium's specs? I seem to remember in TW, wood bodied trucks and cars being fitted to Studebaker steel, too.

[Michael]

monomaniac
Thanks for reminding me about the article in TW.
A few years ago I owned a finless 1959 Silver Hawk which was
assembeld in D'Ieteren Freres in Belgium. That Silver Hawk
came finless from the factory, That is also an an example of
an odd D'Ieteren Freres option. It would certainly be interesting
to find a Belgian 1956-61 Hawk Sales Brochure.

Pekka
Thanks for the pictures of your old 1956 Hawk. I hope to see that
car on the road here in Sweden eventually. Also, I still own
that 1953 coupe I bought from you in 2004. I love it.

Gary
That serial number plate could ofcourse have been replaced. It has
happened on many Studebakers over the years I assume.
On this Hawk though the serial is also stamped on the firewall.
I know some European countries demand that. This stamping could
ofcourse also has been altered after the car was built.
I guess finding the production order on this car would probably
help us with the truth.

Michael Bostedt
Gavle, Sweden