The fuel injected Nash Hawk

[mbstude]

While stopped for lunch in Alabama along our route to Indy, an old guy came over to look at the ‘61 Hawk. He started telling us about how his buddy once had a Nash Hawk.

He went on to say that they were very rare and only made for two years. Studebaker was apparently having a hard time building cars and contracted with Nash to build the Hawk models. They were 6” longer than the regular Hawks, and had fuel injection with a supercharger.

We told him that we’d never heard of such a thing and that it must’ve been a pretty special car. As he walked away he says; “Well ya learn something new every day, don’t ya!”

My guess is that he was misremembering a Packard Hawk, but I could be wrong. Does anyone know what years Nash built the Hawks, and what sort of fuel injection setup they used with a supercharger?

Made me think of the guy who stopped by my grandfather’s shop when I was a little kid. I’ll never forget the story of his 150 mile per hour ‘55 President two-seat roadster with a supercharged Packard V12.

[Captain Billy]

Matt....I'd suggest you not talk to 'strange' old men with all their fantastical car stories from the past

I guess it's just part of what you have to do....

[t walgamuth]

There are always stories to listen to when you are driving a Studie.

[8E45E]

Does anyone know what years Nash built the Hawks, and what sort of fuel injection setup they used with a supercharger?

Matt,

There was a Nash-Healey, but never a Nash Hawk. And they were all six cylinders.

The only AMC product from that era that would have come close would have been the 1957 Rambler Rebel with fuel injection. Like DeSoto, a few were actually fitted with Bendix's primitive form of Electojector fuel injection, which was temperamental, and unreliable. To my knowledge, I don't believe any 327 AMC engines were fitted with a supercharger.

Craig

[bezhawk]

My dad customized a 56 Golden Hawk in 59-60 with a Nash grille. He made a curved masonite hood. Cut down the radiator, and ran a 2nd radiator in a continental "kit" in the back. Cut the ends of the front bumper off where it wrapped around. He always told me stories of how fast it was...that he pinned the speedometer, and somewhere I have a timing slip of 145mph @ Daytona. All of this took place near Winter Park/ Orlando where I was born.

[Milaca]

Reminds me of the 1955 Studebaker Hawk with push-button automatic transmission that my barber's father once owned.
I kindly told him that 1956 was the first year for the Studebaker Hawks and that they never came from the factory with push-button transmissions..... unfortunately, the next time I went to him for a hair cut, he brought up the 1955 Studebaker Hawk with push-button transmission again.
I find such recollections entertaining, and I choose my battles as to whom I try to correct and I no longer try correcting my barber.

[BobWaitz]

Did you get a picture of him? I am willing to bet that was Bob Palma in disguise.

[Rafe Hollister]

I googled Nash Grill. Some of them would look really cool on a Hawk! Ant pictures?

[Captain Billy]

post removed

[Dwight FitzSimons]

Reminds me of the 1955 Studebaker Hawk with push-button automatic transmission that my barber's father once owned.
I kindly told him that 1956 was the first year for the Studebaker Hawks and that they never came from the factory with push-button transmissions..... unfortunately, the next time I went to him for a hair cut, he brought up the 1955 Studebaker Hawk with push-button transmission again.
I find such recollections entertaining, and I choose my battles as to whom I try to correct and I no longer try correcting my barber.

You might not want to correct someone who has a razor in his hand.
-Dwight

[Dwight FitzSimons]

"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story." At least, that's how some people seem to think.
-Dwight

[Chris Pile]

Matt - you missed a good chance to call someone a liar to his face.

[Andy R.]

...we’d never heard of such a thing and that it must’ve been a pretty special car...

LOLOLOLOLOL!
Nice trolling, Matthew...went completely over his head.

Your description reminds me of the drive-in scene from Two Lane Blacktop, wherein James Taylor baits a guy's ego (and his 427 deuce coupe) into a drag race.
JT: "Say you must have something special here. I'll bet it's pretty quick."
427: "You wanna find out?"
JT: "Well ordinarily I'd jump at the opportunity...but the thing is, I'm just not in the habit of seeing the Chevy work against a two-bit piece of junk."
427: "Let's make it 50."
JT: "Make it three yards, mother****** and we'll have an automobile race."
Bystander: "Hey, this guy just bet 300 BUCKS!"

We Studebaker drivers know so little about our own cars, it's a wonder we can operate window cranks.
All part of our journey...

[Jessie J.]

The '56 Golden Hawk employed the Packard Co. designed and manufactured 352 V-8.
Packard also supplied their V-8 in 320 and 352 cu. in. variations to Hudson and Nash for their top of the line 1956 models.
A 1956 352 V-8 Nash engine is virtually identical to a 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk 352 V-8 engine, although 1956 V-8 Hudson's and Nash's are much rarer than '56 Golden Hawk's.

So in a round about way, ONLY a '56 Golden Hawk could be claimed to have a 'Nash' engine. Certainly far more accurately than the GM lines that called their SBC engines 'Oldsmobile' and 'Pontiac' engines.

[Ron Dame]

My dad customized a 56 Golden Hawk in 59-60 with a Nash grille. He made a curved masonite hood. Cut down the radiator, and ran a 2nd radiator in a continental "kit" in the back. Cut the ends of the front bumper off where it wrapped around. He always told me stories of how fast it was...that he pinned the speedometer, and somewhere I have a timing slip of 145mph @ Daytona. All of this took place near Winter Park/ Orlando where I was born.

Why did he do that, because he could, or because of a boo-boo and the Nash grill was just laying there?
Got a picture?