Curious '59 Hawk on Craig's List

[Pat Dilling]

The ad states that the car is from Australia or South Africa as the Hawks there did not have fins. I have never heard of that. Truth or Fiction? It is a nice looking car.

http://chico.craigslist.org/cto/2788765840.html

Not far from me if anyone is interested and wants an inspection. Now that I am retired I have time to do those things :-)

Pat

[monomaniac]

The serial number will tell you (checking with SNM). Otherwise most likely fiction.

[klifton1]

Surprised it dosn't have right hand controles.
Klif

[PackardV8]

It is always amazing how sellers choose to invent a twisted legend about the car they own, when the car is plenty good to sell with just a factual description. The incorrect description and BS aside, that's a very nice custom coupe. I'd buy it and drive it with a smile on my face.

Wish I had a set of those "Original finned Studebaker valve covers", but I had to settle for the Offenhauser aftermarket version.

jack vines

[53k]

The ad states that the car is from Australia or South Africa as the Hawks there did not have fins. I have never heard of that. Truth or Fiction? It is a nice looking car.

http://chico.craigslist.org/cto/2788765840.html

Not far from me if anyone is interested and wants an inspection. Now that I am retired I have time to do those things :-)

Pat

It sort of sticks in my mind that it was possible to get finless Hawks assembled in some foreign locations. The '60 Hawk I brought back from England was finless, but it was assembled in the US, taken to England by an American, sold there and the man I bought it from took off the tins.

[Bob Andrews]

It is always amazing how sellers choose to invent a twisted legend about the car they own, when the car is plenty good to sell with just a factual description.

In all fairness, this seller may not have invented the story; rather he was given the story when he bought it, and saw no reason to doubt it. Seen it happen many, many times.

Now, if someone is presented with facts and still refuses to consider them, that's another story. Unfortunately, I've seen that happen many, many times also.

[studegary]

I believe that there were some Hawks made in or originally sold in Europe that did not have fins. If this was a car made in or originally sold in Australia, it would be right hand drive.

[8E45E]

I thought the Belgium plant assembled Hawks without fins.

Craig

[StudeMann]

I thought the Belgium plant assembled Hawks without fins.

Craig

I actually prefer the Hawks without fins. I don't mind fins on cars but I am not fond of the way the Hawk fins flare out away from the body.

[Chris Pile]

I would be suspicous of this car.... it is listed on Craigslist in 3 different states, by 3 different sellers....
There are different pictures and text on each listing, and it IS THE SAME CAR in all 3 listings.

[Pat Dilling]

Good catch Chris. Did you flag it?

[Corvanti]

Good catch Chris. Did you flag it?

agreed!!! as with others here, i wouldn't have even looked at it (except here) since there was no price on it...

let's call this one "bogus" until proven otherwise.

[hausdok]

Hi,

Well, they're on a whole different time frame, but I bet when Matt P. or one of the other Aussies checks in here they'll be able to confirm the fin story.

Mike O'Handley
Kenmore, Washington
hausdok@msn.com

[stude dude]

This is an old tale that has been around for many years. Finned Hawks were assembled in Australia during the 1961 model year only. They all had fins and were much the same to look at as US built cars. Prior to that, we received export RHC Hawks from South Bend (1958-60) that also had fins fitted.

Many Hawks had there fins removed in later years which has probably given birth to the rumor. These days, fins are popular once again so restorers are busy re-fitting them!