By Matt Nelson
Just after the close of World War II, the automotive industry began to undergo several major changes. One of the then-new developments was a move away from the old-school, high-fendered, tall styling of yesteryear into a sleeker, smaller, and lower-slung era. Around the same time, the sports car as a concept was born, with models like the Jaguar XK120 entering the fold in 1948 and the C1 Chevrolet Corvette, which came about in 1953.
Speaking of the Corvette, its release marked a period of sped-up advancements in automotive design, especially within the United States. Carmakers that still clung to the old-school styling, such as Nash and Hudson, were quickly being pushed into the proverbial irrelevance corner, as the larger American automakers were embracing the new, sleek '50s styling gripping the nation. One such American marque, called Studebaker, decided to take things a step further.
Not only were they interested in building a car to compete with the Chevy Corvette, they were also keen to be seen as forward-thinkers in terms of design. So, with a fighter jet as their muse, Studebaker came up with one of their next – not to mention one of their final – sports cars: the Golden Hawk.
Fighter Jet Looks With A Supercharged Engine
Studebaker Golden Hawk Key Points
- Introduced in 1956
- Based on the standard Studebaker Hawk
- Featured a supercharged engine
- Boasted some fiberglass body panels
- Discontinued following the 1958 model year
While Studebaker is a somewhat forgotten brand these days, it was once one of the most popular automakers in the United States. The brand's claims to fame were few, but important, in the overarching history of the automobile. The South Bend, Indiana-based manufacturer traces its roots all the way back to 1857, before the American Civil War. After making a successful transition from building horse-drawn carriages and wagons at the dawn of the 20th century, Studebaker became one of the more popular car brands in the States for quite a few decades.
During the height of the Second World War and just after, Studebaker was heavily invested in advertising for and encouraging women in the workforce, as much of its industrial might during World War II was built on the backs of thousands of working women. Studebaker was also known for its attention to detail and overall build quality. Reportedly, Studebaker's keen eye for detail and a knack for building well-made cars rivaled even Cadillac, at a time when the famed American luxury brand was known as "The Standard of the World".
When the Chevrolet Corvette first hit the streets in late 1953, few folks bothered to turn their heads. This was mainly due to its lackluster engine, a piddly six-cylinder with only 150 horsepower. However, come 1955, the 'Vette gained a small-block V8, and sports car fever quickly spread throughout the US. Several automobile manufacturers were interested in jumping on the sports car bandwagon, including Studebaker. So, in 1956, they released the Hawk.
The new Studebaker sports car came with a choice of four grades, beginning with the base "Flight Hawk". There was also the Power Hawk and the Sky Hawk, with the Golden Hawk taking the top-of-the-line spot. On top of a number of luxurious amenities, special color combinations, and tweaked styling, the Golden Hawk also received a significant power boost with the addition of a supercharged engine. With this blown mill, the Golden Hawk was well-equipped to compete with Chevy's finest.
The Studebaker Golden Hawk's Design
Beginning in the early 1950s, an interest in the Jet Age began to mount among the American population. The Space Race, fought between the United States and then-Soviet Russia, was beginning to heat up. Jet-powered commercial aircraft were quickly becoming commonplace at this time, as well. This new age was reflected in automobile design, with nearly every American automaker incorporating some sort of airplane-inspired styling into their models. Studebaker was no exception.
Their Hawk-line of sports cars derives much of its styling from the North American F-86 Sabre, a fighter jet produced by North American Aviation. It saw much of its use during the Korean War, fought by the US between 1950 and 1953, and spent most of its time battling MiG-15s, Russia's then-prized fighter aircraft. The Hawk's low, slung profile and swept tail fins were the most glaring examples of the fighter jet-based styling, along with its low-slung front end featuring a prominently tall and narrow grille, along with a thin bumper line.
Sources: Supercars.net, AudrainAutoMuseum.com, Auto.HowStuffWorks.com, MotorTrend.com
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
