for sale - cars 1961 Studebaker Hawk 1 of 2 factory rumble seat $35K Sand Lake, Michigan

[StillOutThere]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3583905435267099/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A9b7e8628-ae70-4ef5-9288-47f2735be89c

"1961 Studebaker Hawk, one of a kind. Has built in rumble seat. 2 were made, this is the only one left. Excellent shape. 63,000 original miles. Interior great condition. Very clean car.
Engine 289 CU / 259 HP 4 barrel Auto trans. All chrome and badges are excellent with zero rust on body
$50,000 Serious calls only. No text.
six-one-six, nine-eight-four,six-one-zero-eight. Ask for Pete
Reason for selling, can't drive anymore."

Appears to be documented as one of two factory produced "market test" cars. Original ad price was $50K. Current ad says $35K.
For your historical interest and consideration!
Especially sorry I am unable to post pictures!

[Fossil]

Seems like there was another one of these posted in the last couple of years. I'm guessing that it was red and there were photo's of it at an auto show. 

[wayne sheldon]

8 hours ago, Fossil said:

Seems like there was another one of these posted in the last couple of years. I'm guessing that it was red and there were photo's of it at an auto show. 

 

I remember that also!

[JACK M]

Marketplace - Studebaker Hawk | Facebook

[KVP]

This particular car has been advertised for sale for the past couple years with the same picture, written description and location.

[StillOutThere]

As I pointed out, the price has been lowered now by $15,000.

[kingrudy]

Very attractive car.

Edited August 16, 2023 by kingrudy (see edit history)

[classiclines]

Well, the car is "interesting-enough" for me to do some homework...    ...if you go to The Studebaker Drivers Club Forum...   ...and dig...

 

You can find plenty of documentation that 2 Hawks and 2 Larks were NOT modified by or for Studebaker.  Instead, Frank Hilker in Chicago Heights, Illinois, new owner of the local Studebaker franchise, had these four new cars driven about 30 miles to the south to Bradley, Illinois where the Cooley Brothers, Len and Corky, designed and built the rumble seat conversions.  He wanted an attraction in his dealership and hoped to spark interest by Studebaker or others to adopt the concept.

 

Posts and pics from 2004 to 2008 are helpful (obviously the Studebaker forum keeps its history)...

 

The Studebaker Drivers Club Forum post excerpts...

Quote

THE UNIQUE HAWK OF DALE KUHN
by Richard Quinn

<<<see first pic of Flamingo "Hawk" --- which appears to be the car for sale, probably a different owner>>>

 

Unique (an adjective)... Being without a like or equal; single in kind or excellence; unequaled; matchless.

 

Unique aptly defines the 1961 rumble seat Hawk owned by Dale Kuhn of Pekin, Illinois. Unique in that it is the only one of its kind in existence! The flamingo beauty shown in this issue rolled off the South Bend assembly line on November 23, 1960. Except for its unusual array of options it did not differ markedly from most other '61 Hawks.

Some very special things were in store for this Hawk, however, since it was heading for the Studebaker dealership of Frank Hilker in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Mr. Hilker had recently taken over the Studebaker franchise and being of a pioneering nature he thought he might increase showroom traffic in his Halsted Ave. dealership by offering something a little different. The Hawk was driven about 30 miles to the south to Bradley, Illinois where the Cooley Brothers, Len and Corky, designed and built a rumble seat conversion.

 

As far as Frank Hilker was concerned, he liked the rumble seat idea and the looks of the conversion. It did increase the traffic in showroom and gave him national recognition in various trade publications. Unfortunately, publicity and increased exposure did not bring a corresponding increase in sales and the rumble seat idea did not catch on

 

The Studebaker Corp. sales department never seriously considered production of the units and it seems the only representative to see the conversion was zone manager Glen Finney. As Frank Hilker tells it, Finney's first reaction was that the conversion had "destroyed the car.” Hilker says that Finney thought he was “out of his mind!" There is no evidence to suggest that Studebaker executives ever gave the rumble seat idea any serious consideration as a production option. Even if Studebaker execs were not impressed, there were many who at least admired Hilker's pioneering spirit. A scrapbook of articles and letters now in his possession contains letters from many important people including one from the White House.

 

Dale's Hawk is but one of four rumble seat conversions made by the Cooley Bros. for Hilker Motors. Another Hawk and two Lark convertibles were also completed.

Dale purchased the car in April 1971 and by that time it was showing the ravages of time and misuse. It had considerable rust and was generally run down. Too rare to be abandoned to its customary fate, Dale began acquiring parts until he had accumulated all new fenders, chrome, panels and interior for the restoration. The car was taken for the body restoration to the same Cooley Bros. who had done the original conversion.

 

Happy to see it had survived, they restored it to its present show quality. Dale has entered only one show with the car since the six-year restoration was completed. At the Fall zone meet in St. Louis he was awarded two trophies including Ladies Choice. With a rumble seat and Flamingo paint is it any wonder? Hopefully you can see Dale's car in person this summer (1978) at the National meet in South Bend.

Richard Quinn
Editor emeritus: Antique Studebaker Review

UnQuote

 

 

Also a Black and White photo from The Studebaker Drivers Club Forum
Posted 04-17-2008, 04:33 AM with a caption stating:

Quote
It seems like the other 1961 rumble seat Hawk was painted
a darker color than Flamingo.

by Michael Bostedt,   Gavle, Sweden
Unquote

 

And finally:

1) press clipping on one of the Larks, and

2) two pictures of one of the Lark's with the rumble seat after it's restoration (also painted Flamingo)

 

Thanks to The Studebaker Drivers Club Forum for open access to their very interesting collection of posts.

 

So now we know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[B Jake Moran]

Much prefer the Lark. If someone were to send the seller any of this information it would make no difference.  He would continue with this same ad and content. No one has ever questioned him and no one cares.  He is not getting any serious interest.   But Facebook marketplace is free to run an ad - forever.