I see it is a Christchurch car, I remember seeing one in the showroom of Amuri Motors as a school boy. Believe there was also a Golden Hawk which was supercharged.
muzz67,
Dec 7, 7:23pm
One in Nelson too.
nzjay,
Dec 7, 7:30pm
Yes, they did a supercharged model. Set many speed records on the salt as I remember. And this is a "family sports coupe".
bill-robinson,
Dec 8, 5:55pm
not the hawk, but an avanti nzjay
tamarillo,
Dec 8, 6:03pm
Yes. And there was a supercharged hawk too. Didn't they lose their engine supply and had to stick a charger on their in house engine to get enough power to match it.
sifty,
Dec 8, 6:10pm
Cool lines to that.
tintop,
Dec 8, 8:01pm
Here is a bit about the designer, and why Studebaker were so ahead with their post war designs.
Well it's 'different'. can'- ;t say I think it's attractive though.
drog,
Dec 8, 8:19pm
An acquaintance of mine fitted a supercharger off a Studebaker to his early Mustang. This was a very ordinary looking Mustang until he stood on the loud pedal. Smoke city. Used to frighten off the Skyline wannabes no problems.
sifty,
Dec 9, 2:35pm
Wow, quite a catalogue of iconic designs.
tintop,
Dec 9, 7:02pm
The one I like the best is also the simplest - The 'Man on the tractor' iH one.
I have been aware of it ever since I learnt to say 'BTD6', but only learnt about its background when Google ran a feature on him a couple of years ago.
The Avanti set even higher records, but the Golden Hawk did it first. From Wikipedia. "Andy Granatelli, then president of Studebaker's Paxton Products Division, took two 1964-model Gran Turismo Hawks to the Bonneville Salt Flats in September and October 1963. Both cars, which left the South Bend factory with regular-production 289 V8 engines, were retrofitted with R-series high-performance 304.5 cuin V8s that were built for Studebaker by Paxton.
At Bonneville during the September session, the R3-powered car (which was supercharged), designated #5, ran the flying kilometer at a speed of 157.29 mph (253.13 km/h). The R4-powered car (naturally aspirated, but with dual four-barrel carburetors), car #4, set a fastest average speed of 147.86 mph (237.96 km/h).
When Granatelli and company returned to the flats in October, the R3 car was driven to a top speed of 154 mph (248 km/h), while the R4 car made several runs at more than 135 mph (217 km/h)."
bill-robinson,
Dec 10, 5:07am
the word "retrofit" bothers me a little
rob_man,
Dec 10, 5:15am
Courtney?
ajm43,
Dec 12, 7:40am
The supercharger was a Paxton McCulloch variable pulley type. I raced a Zephyr engined special with one in the late 60's. Gobs of power, but engine blew up a few times.
rob_man,
Jun 29, 11:02am
There was a 57 Ford getting around Auckland in the 60s with a McCulloch blower fitted as per the original option. Ran a standard 272 with a four barrel and made lots of tyre smoke.
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