Packard Hawk


The Packard Hawk is a model of automobile. It was the sportiest of the four Packard-badged Studebakers produced in 1958, the final year of Packard production.

History and description

The Packard Plant in Detroit, Michigan had been leased to Curtiss-Wright, and Packard models in this dying-gasp year were all rebadged and retrimmed Studebaker products. The 1958 Packard Hawk was essentially a Studebaker Golden Hawk 400 with a fiberglass front end and modified deck lid. It was positioned as an alternative to the market favorite Ford Thunderbird, which offered an all-new version in 1958 as well.
Instead of the Studebaker Hawk's upright Mercedes-style grille, the Packard Hawk had a wide, low opening just above the front bumper and covering the whole width of the car. Above this, a smoothly sloping nose, and hood—reminiscent of the 1953 Studebakers, but with a bulge as on the Golden Hawk—accommodating the engine's McCulloch supercharger that gave the Studebaker 289 in³ V8 a total of 275 bhp. At the rear, the sides of the fins were coated in metallized PET film, giving them a shiny metallic gold appearance. A fake spare-tire bulge adorned the 1953-style Studebaker deck lid. PACKARD appeared across the nose, with a gold Packard emblem in script—along with a Hawk badge—on the trunk lid and fins.
The interior was full leather, with full instrumentation in an engine-turned dash. As on early aircraft and custom boats, padded armrests were mounted outside the windows, a rare touch.
The styling was definitely controversial, often described as 'vacuum-cleaner' or 'catfish' by detractors. The styling has come to be appreciated more today than in its debut. Only 588 were sold, with Packard's impending demise a likely contributing factor. Most were equipped with the Borg-Warner three-speed automatic transmission. Approximately 28 were produced with the B-W T85 3-speed w/overdrive manual transmission. Studebaker-Packard was the first manufacturer to popularize the limited slip differential, which they termed Twin-Traction. Most Packard Hawks came with TT. It was certainly the fastest Packard ever sold, since it shared the majority of its components with Studebaker's Golden Hawk. The price was $3995, about $700 higher than the Studebaker model, but with a more luxurious interior. Electric window-lifts and power seats were optional extras.
Its rarity and status as the best-regarded of the 'Packardbaker' final-year cars have made the Packard Hawk quite collectible. Values are roughly double those of the equivalent Studebaker, although they are still low by comparison with Corvettes and Thunderbirds. Because a Studebaker drivetrain was used, mechanical parts are more readily available, although body and trim parts are more difficult-to-impossible to find. While it is a unique car, current restoration costs almost always exceed the selling price.

Specifications

;Engine
  • Type: Cast iron 90° V8, Silv-O-Lite dish-type pistons
  • Displacement: 289 cubic inches
  • Bore X stroke: 3.56 X 3.63 inches
  • Compression ratio: 7.5:1
  • Power at rpm: 275 hp at 4,800 rpm
  • Torque at rpm: at 3,200 rpm
  • Valvetrain: Overhead valves, solid lifters
  • Main bearings: 5
  • Ignition: Delco-Remy breaker-point
  • Fuel system: 2-bbl Stromberg 380475 downdraft carburetor, McCulloch supercharger, max
  • Lubrication system: Full-pressure, gear-driven
  • Electrical system: 12-volt, 30 amperes
  • Exhaust system: Cast iron manifolds, dual exhaust
;Transmission
  • Type: Borg-Warner Flightomatic automatic
  • Ratios
  • *1st: 2.40:1
  • *2nd: 1.47:1
  • *3rd: 1.0:1
  • *Reverse: 2.0:1
;Differential
  • Type: Semi-floating hypoid, Twin-Traction Spicer-Thornton limited slip
  • Ratio: 3.31:1
;Steering
  • Type: Power assist, Saginaw recirculating ball
  • Ratio: 19.2:1
  • Turns, lock-to-lock: 4.5
  • Turning circle:
;Brakes
  • Type: Four wheel, power-assist Wagner hydraulic
  • Front: Cast-iron finned drum, 11 X 2.5 in
  • Rear: Cast-iron drum, 10 X 2 in
  • Swept area: 172.8 sq in
;Chassis & Body
  • Construction: All-steel, box section, double-drop side rails, 5 crossmembers
  • Body style: Two-door, five passenger hardtop, soft top prototype
  • Layout: Front engine, rear-wheel drive
;Suspension
;Wheels & Tires
  • Wheels: Kelsey-Hays tubeless 5-lug stamped steel
  • Front/rear: 5.5 X 14 in
  • Tires: Bias-ply
  • Front/rear: 8.00 X 14 in
;Weights & Measures
  • Wheelbase:
  • Overall length:
  • Overall width:
  • Overall height:
  • Front track:
  • Rear track:
  • Shipping weight:
;Capacities
  • Crankcase:
  • Cooling system:
  • Fuel tank:
  • Transmission:
;Calculated Data
  • Bhp per c.i.d.: 0.95
  • Weight per bhp:
;Performance
  • 0–60 mph : 12.0 seconds
  • ¼ mile ET: 16.7 seconds at
  • Top speed:
  • Fuel mileage: 12 mpg city, 20 mpg highway
;Production
  • 1958 Packard Hawk: 588