did studebaker copy the hard top from ford thunder

[studegary]

quote:Originally posted by 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.

Yes, the basic design of a '58-'60 Thunderbird roof was copied to create the Gran Turismo Hawk.
The car pictured was created from many earlier Studebaker parts and a real Thunderbird roof in a body shop in South Bend.
I believe that the roof change was primarily to change the look (update ?) of the K body and to provide more rear seat headroom.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[Milaca]

1958 Ford Thunderbird....judge for yourselves.


It even has similar trim at the bottom of the rear roof pillar and has an emblem in the same location on the rear roof pillar as where the Hawk emblem was placed. The GT Hawk may have copied the Squarebird's roof, but the 1958 and newer 'Birds copied the original Hawks idea to create a 5 passenger luxury sport car.


Autumn at Lake Barget
In the middle of Minnestudea

[bams50]

To me, it was visionary to change the most iconic part of an iconic car- the C/K roof, in particular the rear side window, The result was so well-done that I prefer it over the C/K! Much more formal and classy.

Robert (Bob) Andrews- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys)
Parish, central NY 13131

GOD BLESS AMERICA

[Samjoe]

I'd say yes they borrowed the design. But it looked sooo much better on the Hawk.
Malcom

[56H-Y6]

Hi

All Designer are influenced by the work of other designers, especially those designs that succeed in the marketplace. Consider the following: Thunderbird sales for 1958: 37,892; 1959: 67,456; 1960: 92,798, more remarkable for an approximately $4,000 car selling into a recessionary economy . The four passenger Thunderbird was defining the market for the personal luxury coupe, in ways the Hawk hadn't quite managed to.

Brooks Stevens recognized the basic Hawk body, with a restrained styling clean-up, was prefect to compete. The wide, formal sail panel (C-pillar) was one of the design halmarks he chose to emulate (remember, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery).

There was the practical reason to use a higher, more formal roof: to increase the rear seat headroom to an appropriate volume. Because of the Hawk's falling beltline, the relatively tall section height of the C-pillar demanded the wide, grooved stainless applique to visually mitigate that height, a styling device Ford designer employeed as well. When you happen to see a GT Hawk without that applique, note how visually tall the height truly is.

Everything considered, Brooks Stevens did a yeoman job of creating a newly appealing car from a nine year old body, on a shoe string budget. It's fortunate Sherwood Egbert knew and understood Steven's genius for creating something wonderful out of what other designers might consider passe.

Steve