Paint: 1956 Sky Hawk - Duel Exhaust - 4bbl - Day Light blue & Air Force blue

[Jerry Johnson]

Thinking of refreshing the paint on my Sky Hawk. My car was painted Air Force blue on the bottom (side below the belt line) and Day Light blue above including the top. I have looked at a lot of 1956 Hawks and it seems to me that from what I have seen, that the top should have also been Air Force blue. Does anyone have the two-tone 1956 color locations (what parts of the car were painted base and which were painted accent).

[StudeRich]

The '56 Sky Hawk Hardtops were not Three Level Painted so your's is one of the Choices but reverse was usually available also.
The '56 Light Blue, (Baby Blue) was called "Daybreak Blue".

The '56 Golden Hawk Hardtops WERE 3 Level Painted, they used a different Paintline.

#1 is a Golden Hawk, #2 a Sky Hawk Paint Scheme.

[doofus]

This really caught my attention, my '56 pelham wagon project was a "3Level" paint. white top, pima red window area then white to belt line then pima red below. what gives? inquiring minds want to know. Luck Doofus

[Jerry Johnson]

So, other then the fact I can't remember the difference between Daybreak and Daylight, my car was painted correctly. Thanks Rich

[Jerry Johnson]

By the way, I forgot to ask if anyone else noticed that the 1956 Golden Hawk "StudeRich" posted has a 1957 or 1958 rear decklid?

[StudeRich]

By the way, I forgot to ask if anyone else noticed that the 1956 Golden Hawk "StudeRich" posted has a 1957 or 1958 rear decklid?

I have a Power Hawk that is that way, and I have seen '56 Power Hawks, Sky Hawks and Now this Golden Hawk and it seriously makes me wonder if THAT many got rear ended and '56 Lids were NLA in '57 to ? and replaced.

OR, were there Late '56's with '57 Style Trunklids? FYI, we HAVE been here before, not a new question actually.

And one with Factory B/U Lts.
Here's a REALLY Nice one: 9876544.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

All those trunk lids, from 1956 to 1964 have a tendency to rust out at the bottom rear, where the outer sheet metal folds over the inner piece. They will also rust at the hinge attachment areas, or get bent there.
-Dwight

[4NStudy]

I have a Power Hawk that is that way, and I have seen '56 Power Hawks, Sky Hawks and Now this Golden Hawk and it seriously makes me wonder if THAT many got rear ended and '56 Lids were NLA in '57 to ? and replaced.

OR, were there Late '56's with '57 Style Trunklids? FYI, we HAVE been here before, not a new question actually.

And another.
Here's a REALLY Nice one: 9876544.

My car is painted similar to the blue on in your picture. What is the name of the colour combination (assuming its a Studebaker colour combo) and the names of the colours used?

[j.byrd]

Jerry Johnson, this was our Sky Hawk, and I did repaint it, but followed the color and masking lines exactly. Fabulous old car and we miss it.

[StudeRich]

My car is painted similar to the blue on in your picture. What is the name of the colour combination (assuming its a Studebaker colour combo) and the names of the colors used?

I believe Shasta White was used on Solid Color '56's, and Snowcap White, a Whiter/Bluer White for Two Tones.

But you would have to consult the Oct. 1992 Turning Wheels Issue, the article was: "Studebaker Hawks: a primer" with the1956 Details by Fred Fox for specific Two Tone Combo Names. My Dupont 1956 Color Chart doesn't show Combos.

The '56 Medium Blue Color as this one, is Air Force Blue Metallic (Poly).

[63looks59]

Generally it better to have darker on bottom and lighter up top
but sometimes DEPENDING ON THE COLOR, light bottom looks good

[Jerry Johnson]

http://rrvcsdc.org/1956-to-1958-Commander.php#1956 This page on the Rock River Valley Chapter website has a list of the two-tone color combination for 1956 Sedans and Wagons (you will need to move down the page to find them) The codes that involve Daybreak and Air Force blue are 5620 & 5621. That information comes from TW October 1989 article by Fred Fox on 1956 Sedans and Wagons. I don't know if all the combinations listed were available for Hawks, but two codes listed that were available only for Hawks and not available for Sedans and Wagons are 5619 & 5641. However exactly what colors were in these combinations was not listed. The article from TW October 1992 "The Studebaker Hawk: a primer" does not list the two-tone paint combination. In fact, in the section "1956-64 Hawk Engine & Wheel Colors", page 18, Fred starts this section with the following quote "We do not have room in this article to list all the Hawk body colors, but can give a quick overview of the engine and wheel colors." (I have both articles on my desk as I am making this post). If anyone has information about what colors were used for codes 5619 & 5641 that might be helpful information for others. If you are wondering what good the paint combination codes might be, they show up on your cars production order, my car lists them as "P 5620 AB-DB" in the section Paint No.

It does make sense that 1956 deck lids would be hard to come by. My former experience in manufacturing (stamping in particular) makes me think the deck lid stamping die was most likely modified to make the 1957 through 1963 lids. If that happened and is most likely because of Studebaker lack of tooling dollars, no 56 lids could have been stamped after the die change which would have had to happen early in 1956 in order to have lids for 57 production which would have started about mid-year 1956. (Just my two cents worth).

[StudeRich]

That's good to know, and totally makes sense that they underestimated the demand for the '56's and then it was too late to make more.
There probably is a Service Letter or Part Number Substitution for that.

Personally, I like the simpler, later version ('57-'58) of the Trim and Nameplate location at the Lower Right side.

[rkapteyn]

An old post but you should contact Ron Johnson in Rockford. He bought a green 56 Golden Hawk from me 50 years ago and the paint on it was only available on the 1956 Golden Hawk and the President classic. Those maybe the codes that you eluded to.
You live close by me in Joliet and I have a disassembled 1956 Sky Hawk. Come visit some time.

[doofus]

Thank You Jerry, the Parkview pic is my 56's layout in red and white. great article! Luck Doofus