Do you know this '57 Golden Hawk? Help needed!

[lakeview7]

Living In NE Ohio, and recently a local history buff contacted me with an interesting question. A local early aviation pioneer, Ernie Hull, (taught to fly by the Wright Bros., worked with the Army flight corp around WW I, etc.) was from Warren, OH (plus living and flying here). This history buff found that Ernie's pride and joy late in his life was a 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk that was sold in 1973 from Ernie's estate after his death. The local "Ernie Hall Aviation Museum" is having a big event on Aug 8, 2015 for which they are expecting between 10 & 15,000 visitors. One of the things they are looking for is Ernie's '57 Golden Hawk. HAVE YOU SEEN IT?
Its "VIN" number is 6103729 and it was originally gold in color with white fins. Is there a Golden Hawk registry where I could help them look for this Hawk? In your travels, have you possibly run across this car? In 1973, it was sold in Warren, Ohio supposedly in good condition, but I realize that 42 years later, things might have changed. Thanks for any help or suggestions!
Larry

[57pack]

Hope it's still around and you are able to find it! Good Luck!

[StudeRich]

Gentlemen and Ladies, please check your Serial Numbers for Golden Hawk #: 6103729

[studegary]

If known, or could be found with research (SNM production order), it would be advantageous to post the GH's engine number. Here in NYS, and many other states, cars of that vintage were/are registered/titled with the engine number, not the Serial Number (called the VIN by you). For example, I know the engine number for my '57 GH, but have no idea of the S/N (not the car because mine was black and then white).

[SN-60]

That's probably the most common '57 GH color combo....and there are many excellent examples extant. Perhaps one of these other cars would do if the exact car cannot be located?

[kurtruk]

Is there a '57 Golden Hawk registry. That would be the quickest way to start.

[Anne F. Goodman]

It wasn't mine

[StudeRich]

If known, or could be found with research (SNM production order), it would be advantageous to post the GH's engine number. Here in NYS, and many other states, cars of that vintage were/are registered/titled with the engine number, not the Serial Number (called the VIN by you). For example, I know the engine number for my '57 GH, but have no idea of the S/N (not the car because mine was black and then white).

Did New York hang on to that very poor system beyond 1954?
I thought when Calif. stopped using it it in 1954, that was when all the States scrapped that system.

Maybe our "Resident Licensing expert" Skip Lackie knows.

[studegary]

Did New York hang on to that very poor system beyond 1954?
I thought when Calif. stopped using it it in 1954, that was when all the States scrapped that system.

Maybe our "Resident Licensing expert" Skip Lackie knows.

Yes, New York did continue to register (no title until 1973) cars via their engine number later than 1954.
That is why I know the engine number, but not the Serial Number, of my 1957 Golden Hawk.
Even after new cars were registered by Serial Number rather than engine number, those already registered by engine number kept that system unless the owner went through the trouble of getting the number changed. I had numbers changed when I changed the engine in a Studebaker. By changing the registration from engine number to Serial Number, the cars retained that number for the future.

EDIT: I just thought that my Golden Hawk came from New Jersey, so I guess the use of its engine number for ID came from there (in that example).

[handworn]

You could try to get the title history for that car. This site

http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/faq_vehicle_titling.stm#tog

offers this information about that:

"I need to get a title history done on a vehicle. How is this done?

Visit your nearest county Title Office, or download the BMV 1173 Title Request form from our Web site. You may also call to request for a form at 614-752-7671, or write in to the Ohio BMV, Titling Support & Dealer Licensing Section, P.O. Box 16520, Columbus, Ohio, 43216-6520. You will need to supply the Vehicle Identification Number, the year and make of the vehicle. There is a $5.00 charge for each individual listed in the title history. This history will reveal all previous owner information if you meet the requirements according to the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). Otherwise, you will only receive vehicle information."

[handworn]

There's also this online search, which turned up nothing with the VIN as you gave it, but it might have been keyed to the engine number, so you could give it a shot.

https://ext.dps.state.oh.us/BMVOnlineServices.Public/TitleSearch.aspx

[Dave Bates]

I remember that Hawk.It was his daily driver until he passed.It was sold at auction with all his other cars and his planes.Since it was such a large auction,maybe try the Tribune archives and see if the auction company is still around and has any record of who bought it.It didn't have too many miles but the Ohio winters were starting to take there toll on the body.

[kurtruk]

There is a registry for 1957 Golden Hawks: http://www.1956goldenhawk.com/57gh/index.htm