The 1956 Golden Hawk was the only “product synergy” to come out of the marriage of Studebaker and Packard before the automaker’s spectacular collapse.
The strategy behind the Golden Hawk would become a common one for Detroit in future years: Plop a powerful V8 into a light body and watch the tires chirp. One might even go as far as to argue that the Golden Hawk was the granddaddy of 1960s muscle cars such as the Pontiac GTO.
The Hawk was a 1950s-version of a mid-sized car. Although its length was almost 204 inches, which was longer than a Chevrolet, its 70.4-inch width was right down there with the compacts. This resulted in a relatively light body. When matched with the big-block Packard V8, the Hawk reportedly had the best horsepower-to-weight ratio of any mass-produced U.S. car of the time (Holland, 1956).
Road tests lauded the car’s power but complained about its nose-heavy handling. The 1957 Golden Hawk, which reverted back to Studebaker’s 289 cubic-inch V8, was considered a better-balanced sporty car. The 1957s also looked cleaner, with better integrated tailfins and less gaudy chrome trim.
In the end, the 1956 model didn’t make much sense from a practical standpoint. Not surprisingly, output barely topped 4,000 units. That this was the best product synergy Studebaker-Packard could quickly come up with illustrates how they were a match made in hell.
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RE:SOURCES
- Holland, Bill; 1957. “Studebaker Golden Hawk.” Speed Age. March issue: pp. 11-15. Reprinted in Studebaker Hawks & Larks: Limited Edition Premier. Compiled by R. M. Clarke. Brooklands Books, Surrey UK.
“Gallery” presents original photographs relatively little narrative. Photos of the vehicles shown may also appear in articles.
The statement that the Packard engine was heavier than the Studebaker engine and affected handling is a common misconception. The weight of the car and front end balance was similar to the 1957 car. As for the styling, I find the smaller fin than the ’57 car is very attractive; The car was best looking of the Hawks up until the 1962 GT Hawk. (IMHO).