1956 Swoops on K Bodies

[studegary]

Of my 50 plus Studebakers, I have not owned a 1956 K body. I have worked on many, but I do not remember the details of them.

There is something that I have been thinking about, that I do not have the answer to. 1953-1955 C/K models had a long door swoop that ended about one inch above the bottom of the door. 1956 Golden Hawks had a swoop that ended about four inches above the bottom of the door (due to the raised side moulding). Did all 1956 C/K or all 1956 K bodies use the short swoop on their doors or was the short swoop only used on the 1956 Golden Hawks? There was no swoop on 1957-1964 C/K models. This seemed like an expensive change for a small number of production units. The inside front cover of this month's Turning Wheels shows a 1956 K body Sky Hawk with a long swoop. This is a picture of a prototype car. I wonder if this pre-production car used 1953-1955 doors or if this long swoop was correct for 1956 Hawks other than Golden Hawks.

We can't go by existing cars because many have had doors changed. I can think of a 1956 Golden Hawk that had/has one of each type of swoop. The 1953 Starliner that I bought from the original owner in about 1970, had one door replaced prior to that. (The original door contributed to the restoration of Bob Bourke's 1954 Starliner.) I digress.

[Dwain G.]

That was covered very nicely in the 56J Only Newsletter # 81. If you don't get the newsletter already, it can be accessed through the 1956 Golden Hawk Register. http://www.1956goldenhawk.com/

[brngarage]

I have a driver's side door I removed from a '56 Sky Hawk parts car to use on my '53 Commander Starliner. At that time, I didn't realize there was a difference, but I can tell you for certain; the Sky Hawk door has the "short swoop" like the '56 Golden Hawk. I have since purchased a correct ('54) door for my '53, so the Sky Hawk door is now for sale.

[studegary]

That was covered very nicely in the 56J Only Newsletter # 81. If you don't get the newsletter already, it can be accessed through the 1956 Golden Hawk Register. http://www.1956goldenhawk.com/

I do not have them. In your reference, I see them listed by date, not issue number (81). Could you possibly just answer my question as to usage?

[studegary]

I have a driver's side door I removed from a '56 Sky Hawk parts car to use on my '53 Commander Starliner. At that time, I didn't realize there was a difference, but I can tell you for certain; the Sky Hawk door has the "short swoop" like the '56 Golden Hawk. I have since purchased a correct ('54) door for my '53, so the Sky Hawk door is now for sale.

Thanks, that means that the Sky Hawk prototype on page 2 of this month's Turning Wheels had a 1953-1955 door with the long swoop.
It is probably safe to assume that 1956 Flight Hawk hardtops also used these new doors with the short swoop.
I still do not know about C bodied 1956 Hawks. I would guess that they did not change.
I am still looking for definite information, not my assumptions or guesses.

[Dwain G.]

Issue number is right beside the date. (56Jon81.pdf 06-2015)
That article is the best information available. It's odd that some original door numbers were superceded by new numbers, meaning if someone bought a replacement door the body sculpture would be shorter than the original. Same thing applies to C body coupes.

[mbstude]

Thanks, that means that the Sky Hawk prototype on page 2 of this month's Turning Wheels had a 1953-1955 door with the long swoop.
It is probably safe to assume that 1956 Flight Hawk hardtops also used these new doors with the long swoop.
I still do not know about C bodied 1956 Hawks. I would guess that they did not change.
I am still looking for definite information, not my assumptions or guesses.

I was looking at a pair of doors from a 56 Power Hawk today and the swoop went all the way to the bottom edge, just like all the 53-55 C-Ks.

[studegary]

I was looking at a pair of doors from a 56 Power Hawk today and the swoop went all the way to the bottom edge, just like all the 53-55 C-Ks.

Thanks. I thought that was probably the case (C body doors did not change).

[studegary]

Issue number is right beside the date. (56Jon81.pdf 06-2015)
That article is the best information available. It's odd that some original door numbers were superceded by new numbers, meaning if someone bought a replacement door the body sculpture would be shorter than the original. Same thing applies to C body coupes.

Thanks, Dwain. I see it now.
I believe that article only addresses the K bodies (not C).
My understanding is that the existing door die was modified. That would be the reason that only the 1956 K doors were available as replacements and not the 1953-1955 doors.

[studegary]

Issue number is right beside the date. (56Jon81.pdf 06-2015)
That article is the best information available. It's odd that some original door numbers were superceded by new numbers, meaning if someone bought a replacement door the body sculpture would be shorter than the original. Same thing applies to C body coupes.

I do not believe that the article addresses C bodies. See Matthew's post no. 7.
I believe that the C body doors continued with the long swoop.

[studegary]

If any of you are wondering why I call them "swoops", it is because that is what I remember Bob Bourke referring to them as.

[Lou Van Anne]

OK, I've been a Studebaker fan all my life.....never heard of a "swoop"....just what is a swoop?

[studegary]

OK, I've been a Studebaker fan all my life.....never heard of a "swoop"....just what is a swoop?

The swoop is the feature line from the front fender into the door of 1953-1956 cars. Besides styling, it was to prevent "drumming" of the door panel. Bob Bourke said something to the effect that Deusenberg used a swoop, so could he.

[Dwain G.]

Here's what the latest body parts catalog and the 1959 Book F parts book has for C coupe body doors:
1953-54----302980, 302981---use 1321360, 1321361
1955--------308738, 308739---use 1321360, 1321361
1956--------1314656, 1314657
This seems to indicate that 1956 door pillar coupes (C bodies) used one door throughout production. Based on photos and field reports they probably retained the long swoop. I wish I could see an early version of the 1956 body parts catalog.

[studegary]

Here's what the latest body parts catalog and the 1959 Book F parts book has for C coupe body doors:
1953-54----302980, 302981---use 1321360, 1321361
1955--------308738, 308739---use 1321360, 1321361
1956--------1314656, 1314657
This seems to indicate that door pillar coupes (C bodies) used one door throughout production. Based on photos and field reports they probably retained the long swoop. I wish I could see an early version of the 1956 body parts catalog.

Of course with part numbers on body parts, you do not know what the differences are. It may be simply a difference in moulding or nameplate/script holes.