1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk Is a Gold Nugget on Wheels With a One-of-None Feature

The innovative Avanti is perhaps the most iconic example, but I should also mention the Lark, one of the first American-made compact cars. However, I'm actually here to talk about the Golden Hawk, the company's entry into the personal luxury car market.

Following the limited-edition 1955 Speedster, Studebaker debuted the Hawk series in 1956. The lineup included four different versions, starting with the entry-level, straight-six-powered Flight Hawk. The latter was topped by the Power Hawk, which slotted below the Sky Hawk. Both featured V8 engines.

The Golden Hawk acted as the range-topping model and came with a more luxurious interior, unique trim, and Studebaker's most powerful V8. In 1956, the Golden Hawk drew power from the Packard-sourced 352-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) V8, rated at 275 horsepower.

With the latter no longer available, Studebaker switched to its own 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8, adding a McCulloch supercharger to keep the ratings at 275 horses. Even though it had a reputation for being nose-heavy, the Golden Hawk outperformed most of its competitors in 0-to-60 mph (97 kph) acceleration and quarter-mile runs.

The Hawk series soldiered on through 1964, close to Studebaker's end, but the Golden Hawk was retired in 1958 after three years on the market. It's now widely regarded as one of the greatest Studebakers ever produced. This gold-painted 1957 example is proof that the Golden Hawk aged like fine wine.

An older restoration with a few small issues, this Golden Hawk still has what it takes to stand out at local car shows. The gold paint still shines, and except for a small spot on one of the front fenders, there's no sign of rust on the sheet metal.

The interior is just as gorgeous, mostly due to the three-tone layout that combines brown, cream, and gray. Both the upholstery and the headliner are solid. The seller says the windows were tinted.

The supercharged 289 V8 is impressively clean and appears to be highly original. The owner confirms it is a numbers-matching powerplant that runs well. The gearbox is a different story, though. Born with a Flight-O-Matic auto, the hardtop got a four-speed manual during the restoration.

Since Studebaker didn't offer a four-speed at the time, this Golden Hawk is pretty much a one-of-none rig. And while purists will argue that the conversion is inaccurate, I think it should be retained as it adds to the fun of driving this hardtop.

If you agree and it's the kind of classic you'd park in your driveway, the Golden Hawk is available in Frederick, Maryland, for $35,000. You can also add to the auction's starting bid of $30,000, but a reserve is in place and probably closer to the buy-it-now price. For reference, 1957 Golden Hawks in this condition usually go for more than $21,000.