Then and Now
By Tom Barron
The year was 1964, it was the first day for the introduction of the Mustang. Much fanfare and publicity about it compelled me to visit the local Ford dealership that evening. There was cake and soft drinks being served and balloons all about. Lots of people and good prices for the new offering. Prices starting at around $2400 stick in my mind.
Serving in the Air Force at the time, near a community called Newburgh New York, $2400 may as well have been $60,000, because military pay was next to nothing then.
After my visit to the Ford dealer, I thought I would stop at the local Studebaker dealer and see my favorite marque’s offerings. My memory is still very vivid of that evening 49 years ago. It was a dark side street, that reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes movie scene. I was greeted by a very well dressed elderly gentleman. On display in a one vehicle showroom, that looked more like a converted horse shed, was a black 63 Hawk. This was the only vehicle they had, and it was way more than the new Mustang. Needless to say there was not going to be a purchase that evening or ever for a new Studebaker.
Like so many things in life, when you would really like to have something, you can’t have it and when you can have it, it’s no longer available or it’s not important anymore. I knew it was just a matter of time before there would be no new Studies forever!
Now to the present time as I look at Hawk’s for sale on the internet, you read ads that say was running when parked 30 years ago, ready for restoration, good glass or has small rust hole in trunk. Don’t forget that galvanized sheet metal claim. One look at the photos of these cars means there will be no new purchase in 2013 either!
Gran Turismo Hawk Factory Photo
