1955 Studebaker Golden Hawk

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msipect2@gmail.com - 15 Nov 2008 18:09 GMT

Ok everyone, get your thinking caps on. I had a 55 Stude when I was 16
and sold it when I was 30. In a letter to Studebaker in the 70's, I
described the car as a 1955 Studebaker Speedster Golden Hawk.
I got a nice letter back saying Studebaker never made a '55 Golden
Hawk and if there was an emblem on it, someone put it on. I knew
better since it was embedded in the chrome strip that ran down the
hood of the car. About a month after I sold it, I ran across an
article in a Studebaker book of some kind. They explained that, in
late 1955, Studebaker made 5 prototypes using the 352 V8 and actually
changing a few minor items including the chrome strip with the Golden
Hawk emblem.
I know I don't have anything but pictures left, but does anyone know
the whereabouts of one of the 55 Studebaker Speedsters with the emblem
and the 352 engine? I actually have two valves from my engine when I
had new valves put in back in 1964. I made them into a "trophy" along
with two original spark plugs. So I KNOW it was a 352, the mechanic
thought maybe a Ford 352.
Any thoughts? Please visit my site, http://mikes-show-n-shine.blogspot.com
and leave a comment or write me at msipect2.at.yahoo.com.

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bob m - 16 Nov 2008 02:10 GMT

On Nov 15, 11:09 am, msipe...@gmail.com wrote:

> Ok everyone, get your thinking caps on. I had a 55 Stude when I was 16
> and sold it when I was 30. In a letter to Studebaker in the 70's, I
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Any thoughts? Please visit my site,http://mikes-show-n-shine.blogspot.com
> and leave a comment or write me at msipect2.at.yahoo.com.

Hi Mike,

I too had a 55 President Speedster that actually had a 56 Hawk hood
fenders and side grilles with the parking lights on top of the
finders. This was in 1968 when I was 16 and it had a 3 speed overdrive
on the car. The original owner bought the car in Phoenix and had the
new sheet metal put on the car as he bought it in late 55 when the
56's came out. I still have a copy of the vin number on the car and it
was assembled in California at the Vernon assembly plant.

Now to answer your question: unless you have a copy of the VIN on the
car, everything will be speculation. You can get a copy of the
production order with the VIN from the Studebaker National Museam and
that will answer what car you actually did have. Otherwise, no one can
answer correctly what your car was and "expert" books often contain
errors based on incorrect information passed down.

Hope this helps

Bob M

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