63 Hawk R1 - Grease pencil writing on frame

[mbstude]

Today I separated the body from the frame of an early ‘63 Hawk. Serial - 63V-2682. The plan is to build up the frame with a full flow 289” and 4 speed. When it’s finished, I’ll slide the completed chassis under my ‘53 coupe.

The Hawk left the factory with a few fun options, including an R1 engine. The car was stripped and parted out about 40 years ago. The shell has some weird rust problems (coastal car), but the frame is good.

Never seen one with factory grease pencil writing still intact. Most of the abbreviations are pretty obvious. Anyone care to guess?

[r1lark]

My '62 GT had the writing on the frame also:

[Milaca]

The frame paint is gone but the grease pencil writing remained? Wow, I guess I will rust-proof everything with a grease pencil from now on.

[StudeRich]

People here have reported before and I have seen them myself usually on the Outboard side of the Frame under Left Front or Rear Door, but could be anywhere, usually the Body Type that is to go on the Frame and possibly the Line Number.

Does ANY of that upside down hens scratch resemble that? Can't really read it.

[Bills R2]

Did Stude make their own frames or where they outsourced, say, to AO Smith?

[StudeRich]

Budd did Studebaker Frames, Wheels and Main Bodies without the Bolt-ons made in House.

[Mark L]

I believe the frames were outsourced to Budd.