New to the site & I have questions

[wdills]

Hello all, I'm new to the site and new to Studebakers. I have always loved the Hawk body style and I finally found a project car I could afford. Car was delivered last night and I am sure I will have a ton of questions before I get through this. I've done some restoration and paint/body work before but never on a Studebaker.

The first question I have is, what is the best way to determine what I have. The car is titled as a 61 and the vin tag comfirms it is a 61, but it has silver hawk badges and moulding. From what I have read in 61 it was just called an Hawk. So I don't know what has happened here.

My goal is to build a very nice driver that I can enjoy, not a trailered show car. I just want to know what I really have so I buy the right parts when the time comes.

Thanks in advance to all the folks that take the time to share their knowledge.

[8E45E]

quote:Originally posted by wdills

Hello all, I'm new to the site and new to Studebakers. I have always loved the Hawk body style and I finally found a project car I could afford. Car was delivered last night and I am sure I will have a ton of questions before I get through this. I've done some restoration and paint/body work before but never on a Studebaker.

The first question I have is, what is the best way to determine what I have. The car is titled as a 61 and the vin tag comfirms it is a 61, but it has silver hawk badges and moulding. From what I have read in 61 it was just called an Hawk. So I don't know what has happened here.

My goal is to build a very nice driver that I can enjoy, not a trailered show car. I just want to know what I really have so I buy the right parts when the time comes.

Thanks in advance to all the folks that take the time to share their knowledge.

Pictures? They really are worth a thousand words. In the meantime, your serial numnber as well as the body tag on the firewall near the RH hood hinge will tell us a lot.

Craig

[wolfie]

quote:Originally posted by wdills

Hello all, I'm new to the site and new to Studebakers. I have always loved the Hawk body style and I finally found a project car I could afford. Car was delivered last night and I am sure I will have a ton of questions before I get through this. I've done some restoration and paint/body work before but never on a Studebaker.

The first question I have is, what is the best way to determine what I have. The car is titled as a 61 and the vin tag comfirms it is a 61, but it has silver hawk badges and moulding. From what I have read in 61 it was just called an Hawk. So I don't know what has happened here.

My goal is to build a very nice driver that I can enjoy, not a trailered show car. I just want to know what I really have so I buy the right parts when the time comes.

Thanks in advance to all the folks that take the time to share their knowledge.

As already said pics would be great. It is very possible your car has been rebodied during its life using a silver hawk parts car. Fenders,quarters,doors etc.. all interchange. Steve

[SteveH]

Welcome! You will find some great people here. Hope to see some pics soon.

Studebaker classifieds! www.studeswap.com

[Mark57]

Welcome to the Forum.

If you have not already done so, you really need to join the SDC. Only $19.95 the first year and getting the Turning Wheels magazine each month is a priceless resource to restoring and enjoying your Hawk. You can even join online:

http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/joinsdc.asp

A listing of Studebaker Vendors is also available at:

http://www.studebakervendors.com/

Enjoy! [8D]

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island Chapter
http://visdc.shawwebspace.ca/ </h5>

[Chris_Dresbach]

quote:Originally posted by wdills

Hello all, I'm new to the site and new to Studebakers. I have always loved the Hawk body style and I finally found a project car I could afford. Car was delivered last night and I am sure I will have a ton of questions before I get through this. I've done some restoration and paint/body work before but never on a Studebaker.

The first question I have is, what is the best way to determine what I have. The car is titled as a 61 and the vin tag comfirms it is a 61, but it has silver hawk badges and moulding. From what I have read in 61 it was just called an Hawk. So I don't know what has happened here.

My goal is to build a very nice driver that I can enjoy, not a trailered show car. I just want to know what I really have so I buy the right parts when the time comes.

Thanks in advance to all the folks that take the time to share their knowledge.

It probably is a silver hawk if it has the badges, I could be wrong not seeing any pics, but probably a silver hawk. Also, Studebaker never really made a car that was just a "Hawk", it was always "____ Hawk". Ones like: Golden Hawk, Silver Hawk, Power Hawk, GT Hawk, Etc. Somebody posted a thread about this a few days ago, check it out! By the way, welcome to the forum!

Chris Dresbach

[monomaniac]

You are being led astray. Studebaker DEFINITELY built models called
ONLY "Hawk".
If it's really a 61 then it is a HAWK.
Post the serial and body numbers and people will help you to establish exactly what it is.

[blackhawk61]

[quote]quote:Originally posted by Chris_Dresbach

Originally posted by wdills

Hello all, I'm new to the site and new to Studebakers. I have always loved the Hawk body style and I finally found a project car I could afford. Car was delivered last night and I am sure I will have a ton of questions before I get through this. I've done some restoration and paint/body work before but never on a Studebaker.



It probably is a silver hawk if it has the badges, I could be wrong not seeing any pics, but probably a silver hawk. Also, Studebaker never really made a car that was just a "Hawk", it was always "____ Hawk". Ones like: Golden Hawk, Silver Hawk, Power Hawk, GT Hawk, Etc. Somebody posted a thread about this a few days ago, check it out! By the way, welcome to the forum!

Chris Dresbach

WRONG !......1960 and 1961 both were "just Hawk" !

1961 Hawk 4BC,4-SPEED,TT

Ken Byrd
Lewisville,NC

[blackhawk61]

wdills,

1961 "Hawk" Should look something like this



1961 Hawk 4BC,4-SPEED,TT

Ken Byrd
Lewisville,NC

[StudeRich]

Exactly, but without being lowered in the rear! [)] [)]

StudeRich

[BobGlasscock]

hmm, lowered rear, raised front, parked on a rock??????

Kewl.

'50 Champion, 1 family owner

[barnlark]

Now I want a rare Only Hawk, or its cousin the Just Hawk.

[wdills]

Found the numbers. The S/N is 61V-20890. The body tag number under the hood is 61V-Cb 2209. I assume the since both numbers start with 61, the car is actually a 61 model and somebody added silver hawk badges.

My moulding is also different, I have a single piece along the bottom of the fin and nothing on top. It is definitly not like the picture shown.

Any places out there where I could buy the correct side mouldings for the car?

[avantilover]

From the information that I have - your car is a 1961 Hawk with the 289 Cubic Inch V8 engine - have fun with it.

John Clements
Avantilover, your South Australian Studebaker lover!!!
Lockleys South Australia

[StudeRich]

quote:Originally posted by wdills

Any places out there where I could buy the correct side mouldings for the car?

To answer your question, no unfortunately there is no place that would have those rare '61 only lower fin mouldings new, and there is not sufficient demand for reproductions to be made.

They can occasionally be found in USED condition from parts cars at SDC swap meets, but are quite hard to find in good condition.

Someone most likely replaced the fins with some 1959 ones that they were able to find, complete with all of the mouldings and nameplates.

Also, your body tag reads 61V-C6 that is the correct body type for a '61 Hawk, it is trim level "6" the only one available. Studebaker used straight 6's that look similar to a "b".

StudeRich