The American automotive landscape of 1956, with few exceptions, was awash with cars that carried over much of the bulbous shapes and swoops of the pre-war era just prior to the “1957 Age of Space” designs that brought forth rocket themed fins and jet airplane inspired styling. In the mid-1950’s, the Big Three had the U.S. market locked up by virtue of their sales figures which ran in the millions and the general populace flocked to General Motors, Chrysler and Ford dealerships in droves, ignoring the virtues of the automobiles the boys in South Bend, Indiana were making. We liked what we saw in our neighbor’s driveway and we enjoyed being different but not too much so and for most people in 1956, a Studebaker was just too far removed from the tastes of mainstream America.

Never afraid to test the leading edge of styling, Studebaker enlisted the aid of none other than Raymond Loewy in 1953 to design their futuristic Starliner, which though beautiful in execution as a full-production styling exercise, fared poorly in the marketplace. Lowey applied his talents once again in 1956 with an updated version of the original 1953 design which the corporation named Golden Hawk, a low production (4071 units/with approximately 350 units still in existence) and expensive automobile that once again flew in the face of conventional thinking and style.

In retrospect, a comparison between the Golden Hawk and its Big Three brethren is difficult even today because the styling and the amenities in the Studebaker seem so advanced and in many ways more refined than what appeared in most cars manufactured in 1956 as evidenced by the use of fiberglass body components, a power to weight ratio rivaling that of the Chrysler 300B, leather interiors, and an engine turned dash with full instrumentation.

Gwin Stumbaugh, a Corvette guy from way back wanted something different in his garage and he set his sights upon a '56 Golden Hawk, a car that he eventually located in Georgia after two years of searching, followed by another agonizing six months of negotiations before the deal was finalized. He agrees that it was well worth the effort to have a significant piece of automotive history that today embodies the vision and the innovation the Studebaker Corporation had once strived so hard to attain at a time when the odds were stacked against them.

Vehicle Specifications

Point of Manufacture: Los Angeles, California
Transmission: Borg-Warner T-85 3-speed manual/presently Borg-Warner T-10 4-speed
Carburetion: WCFB-2394S/presently Carter/Edelbrock AFB
Brakes: four wheel discs
Engine: 352 cubic inch Packard OHV-V8 rated at 275 bhp
Tires: 850/15 redline bias ply
1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk Photo Gallery