did studebaker copy the hard top from ford thunder

[hunter stanley]

did studebaker copy the roff(the top) of the car from the ford thunder bird of 64 or is it the other way around.. just wondering... the tops look amazingly similar

hunter stanley

[Steve T]

Hunter--

If you're referring to the Gran Turismo Hawk of 1962-64, then yes, Brooks Stevens did "borrow" the general lines of the '58 and later T-bird roofline to give his restyle of Stude's K-body more rear seat headroom. (Studebaker, though, preferred to liken the design to the roof on the '56 Packard Predictor show car.)

S.

[StudeMichael]

Are you referring to the GT Hawk? It was designed by Brooks Stevens.

[2R5]

And if your referring to the Daytona , I'd say they copied GM


[IMG]

Home of the Fried Green Tomato
"IF YOU WANT THE SMILES YOU NEED TO DO THE MILES "

1960 Champ
1964 Daytona HT
1966 Daytona

[StudeRich]

Probably not, since the '62 GT Hawk was designed and built in 1961 & probably '60. [:0]

There was a prototype Hawk built using maybe a '58-'60 T-Bird roof, but the original final design is all Studebaker, copied after several cars with swept back sail panels including T-Bird.

Remember, Studebaker had many advanced thinking designers like Raymond Loewy, Bob Burke, Brooks Stevens and a long list of very innovative designers, so they seldom had to COPY anything. [^]

How many times have you seen GM copy Ford? Where do think the opening into the roof doors on every single new car came from? 1984 T-Bird! [^]

StudeRich

[Chris_Dresbach]

Turns out, this is not a prototype. Oops.[|)][B)]

Chris Dresbach

[8E45E]

quote:Originally posted by StudeRich
Where do think the opening into the roof doors on every single new car came from?[^]

The prototype Lark of course!!!



Of course, Tucker had them, and some Duesenbergs had doors that opened into the roof as well.

Craig

[studeclunker]

Poor Brooke Stevens. He had a really great design in the Scepter and all the '66 lineup. It's a crying shame they didn't have a chance of ever making it to production.

That Scepter is a cool car![8D]


Home of the famous Mr. Ed!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith
Where the heck is Lewiston, CA?

[stude62]

I read in an interview with Brook Stevens where he was asked about the inspiration of the 1962 hawk roof line and he did give Ford some credit, however, he felt that the crease line in the roof for a landeau look made the design unique - he called them "ear muffs". Unfortunatly, by the time the landeau was offered in 1964, the end was near.

Stu K


'63 Lark Regal, "Miss Rose"

[Avantidon]

The one who can truly answer this question is the esteemed Richard Quinn. I suspect if we all ask him he will answer the question. I am asked that question all of the time when I show my all original 63 GT Hawk. My general answer is what do you think? With that I get all kinds of answers especially from T-Bird owners.[}]

[lstude]

The Studebaker Century.




Leonard Shepherd

http://leonardshepherd.com/

[jclary]

[52-fan]

The subject of did ... copy Studebaker, or the reverse, comes up from time to time. The truth is that designers get inspiration from everywhere. No one can really lay claim to a design element being truly original because the shapes go back to nature. The art of design is in recognizing those shapes and putting them together in a pleasing way in whatever product is being developed. We can be justly proud of the way our Studebakers are designed, but we don't want to feel too possesive because someone else likes the idea so much that it is integrated into their vision.

"In the heart of Arkansas."
1952 Champion Starlight w/overdrive. Searcy, Arkansas

[studegary]

We should get the names correct on this Forum. Brooks Stevens, Robert "Bob" Bourke, Raymond Loewy

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[55s]

I originally understood it was copied and that there was a prototype car with a T-Bird roof on a Hawk like in the picture. Am I to understand this was a myth?

Many design elements do get copied - such as Quad headlights.

Also many names get copied - like Lark/(Skylark), Starliner, GT, Speedster, Commander.