After purchase in 2005, mechanically this car has been almost entirely rebuilt. Originally was a floor plan unit ordered by Studebaker Memphis and left the South Bend factory on September 17, 1963. Car was delivered to first owner for near list price one year later. Has dealer installed air conditioning, which is almost exactly the same installation as from factory. Factory options included the climatizer (heater), disk brakes, and the 3-speed Power Shift transmission. The original odometer read in the 80,000 range, but inspection of the condition of things indicated a lot more than that, but maybe not a roll-through to 180,000. The entire speedometer quit about ten years ago, and was replaced by a "brand new" out-of the box NOS unit. It now reads @3,200 miles since then. The car is driven only in the summer, and only around town.
The car comes with the records of all done to it after purchase. A lot. Actually, almost everything. The front end completely rebuilt. The engine was torn completely out and entirely rebuilt from boiling the block to new pistons, hard valve seals, and just about everything else. The multi-page initial repair bill comes with the car. It was essentially a new 289 and Powershift transmission attached to a rebuilt front end as well as attention to the 3.31 rear end.
Pertronics electronic ignition has been installed.
The rebuilder - Mountain High Performance - was known as the regional Studebaker expert, as the owner started out working at Denver's largest Studebaker dealer. There are a lot of things specific to Studebakers that traditional mechanics can miss.
Accessory components also replaced later on. Replaced AC compressor and clutch in @ 2007. Did blow cold, but have left it alone since then, mainly because when you need AC, weather is hot. That means the constriction of air due to the front condenser makes the car run hot, too. So, here driving up and down the Colorado mountains in the summer, it has not been used. A new alternator installed in 2012, as well as a new power steering ram and kit in 2017.
Has Studebaker AM/FM radio - rare for 1963-64 - which can likely be brought back to life. These cars only had one speaker - in the back - so surround sound isn't in the cards.
Summary: Now, about 6,000 miles on a completely and professionally rebuilt 289, starting with boiling the block and moving up from there. Hardened valve seats installed with new bearings, high compression pistons, and installation of 4-barrel manifold and new Edelbrock carburetor, raising the engine to essentially 225HP JetThrust configuration. Front end reworked. Drives very nice. Studebakers tend to be prone to vapor lock with today's gasoline. An auxiliary electric fuel pump is installed to assure flow and can be turned on when necessary.
In the 17 years since re-build, traditional Studebaker leaks have come back, but none apparently are anything serious. A couple of drips here there, probably.
The car has been owned by people interested in collecting. It appears that the exhaust system (dual) was somewhat newer when it arrived here. Front and rear bumpers were either NOS or rechromed and, while stock, were obviously not the parts on the car when it first left South Bend. Orher than a minor chip on the front cowl, the chrome is really excellent. Other brightwork is ok and there are a couple of pieces extra.
The real value of this 64 Hawk is its mechanicals. I wanted a 64 Hawk I could drive, not necessarily win shows. Cosmetically, it has been pretty much left alone. Please understand that appearance-wise this car is a 20-footer. Over the years some liberties have been taken with attachment of some brightwork, and the re-paints are several kilometers from perfect. Have not found any meaningful rust.
This Hawk is great for everyday driving and going to the local classic car shows. Because the mechanics have been addressed, it would be perfect for someone wanting to use it as a solid base for addressing the cosmetic flaws. The headliner, wind lace, and upholstery are okay, but are worn.. The point here is that they are all attached to a Studebaker into which a lot of investment has been made in making it mechanically sound.
The interior is pretty much original. Bucket seats are comfortable. Carpet was replaced, probably. The dash has the tachometer, which was an option the car did not originally leave the factory with.. A sending unit from an Avanti was located and it works fine. The clock was the original electric-wind unit from the factory. It was rebuilt with a quartz movement by Auto Instruments and keeps time perfectly. Other gauges work great, and there are a couple of back-up gauges in the trunk. Gas gauge sender has been replaced, but it still reads whatever it feels like. The important gauges - oil, temp and amps - work.
The 3-speed floor shift PowerShift automatic transmission was completely re-built. Still has 2nd-gear start, with selected 1st gear start. Very smooth runner. Current TigerPaw tires have @ 1,500 miles on them and ride great.
A lot of paperwork comes with this. The original dealer sticker, and the build document from the factory, also. The sales document from when it was first sold at a Mississippi dealer indicates that the buyer seemed to have paid full sticker for the car. And financed it too. Most of the invoices from the work done on the car come with it.
