Studebaker Silver Hawk (1958)
for sale
Price: US $9,500.00
Price: US $9,500.00
This 1958 Studebaker Silver Hawk is a solid, essentially rust free example of a 1958 Silver Hawk with no
known accident repairs. The floors and trunk are rock solid. The brown stain in the trunk photo is from s spilled liquid - not rust. There is no rust
around the headlights or air vents on the front fenders. I have gone all over
the body with a magnet to check for body filler and can find none with the
possible exception of 2 to 3 inch diameter spots on the front fenders just
ahead of the doors. The bottoms of the doors show only a little surface rust. The drains
have remained clear.
The
chrome is very presentable with no peeling or rusting. The car has the
1958-only winged parking light housings on the fenders and the circular chrome
piece on the front grille (not installed in some of the photos). The driver side fender chrome strip has a few dents that can be removed or the strip can be easily replaced.
The
paint shows the effects of spending many years in Tucson, AZ. It is solid
enough to not allow corrosion, but has lost some of its gloss and has some
defects. You could drive it like it is, but it really should be repainted. The
green metallic paint (no clear coat) is a little blotchy in places. A few areas may have been overbuffed - no filler.
The
interior can be described as driver quality. The front and back seat covers
appear to have been replaced. They are in good condition with one minor
repaired defect, about 3 inches long on the rear cushion. The headliner looks
good. The door panels have been recently recovered with black vinyl.
The
rear carpet is good, but the front one probably should be replaced. The dash is
nice and the steering wheel is very nice, having been recently restored.
Head
lights, parking lights, tail lights, and turning signals all work fine. The interior dome light works with the door
switches but not with the toggle switch next to the bulb. The only lights not
working are the backup lights and the license plate light.
The
generator, voltage regulator and ammeter all work properly.
The
brakes were replaced just prior to my purchasing the car and they stop the car
straight and as effectively as any manual brakes on older cars ever do. You
just need to get accustomed to the higher pedal force needed.
The
radiator appears to have been renovated recently. I have not seen the coolant
temperature over 190F as long as I have owned the car. The heater hose bypassed the
heater when I got it and I haven’t had a need to use it so left it as is. The
two switches (heater and defroster) are new.
The
windshield wipers work although I have not had a situation to use them.
And
now to the engine- -The previous owner was less than truthful in his ebay
description and answers to questions about engine condition before I bought the
car two years ago. When I received it, I was prepared to do a major tuneup and
probably make some minor repairs. As I usually do with older cars, I replaced
all the consumable parts of the ignition system, the fuel pump, and rebuilt the
carburetor. This resulted in a good starting, idling, and running 289 V8.
What
I didn’t expect was the decreasing oil pressure from 40-50 psi to 15 psi at cruise as the engine warmed . The shop manual calls for 20 – 40 psi at 40 mph in
high gear (~1600 rpm). The pressure at idle decreased to below 5 psi.
I
decided that since I planned on driving the car a lot, that I would have the engine
completely rebuilt professionally by a reputable Studebaker shop. The one I
chose is a very experienced, reputable Studebaker shop. They have rebuilt
dozens of 289 V8s and do 5 or 6 per year. Eight months and $6K later, I got it
back. It starts, idles, and runs fine, as it should. Unfortunately, it still
has the same oil pressure issue. I have spent hours researching and
troubleshooting the problem with no success.
Therefore, I am putting it up for auction in hopes that a potential buyer knows or, even
better, is someone with the skill, time or money to solve the problem and will keep this car on the road.
If
I weren’t 74 years old, I would have had it apart and probably fixed by now.
The
following is a list of some of the work done at rebuild. I have all receipts.
Stripped, jet cleaned, and magnafluxed block.Magnafluxed
crankshaft and reground .020 under. (Plastigauged)Magnafluxed
heads and milled .010 – 3 angle valve job – new valve guidesReground
cam and new bearingsNew
pistons, rings, main & rod bearings, valve seals, valve guides, oil press
relief kit, water pump and
thermostat.Rebuilt
oil pumpNew
fuel pumpBalanced
complete rotating assemblyRan
2200 rpm for 25 mins Checked OK
An
alternative to repair would be a Chevy 350 crate engine swap. It is a common
enough swap that there are aftermarket adapters available to assist.
The
transmission was sent with the engine to ensure proper alignment with the bell
housing – (something many owners are not aware of). It was resealed and the
bands were adjusted at that time also. It does not leak.
While
waiting for the return of the rebuilt engine, I installed a brand new complete
Waldron dual exhaust.
To
ensure that you are not misled, this car needs:
Engine oil pressure issue
resolved
At least one tire (currently has
3 radials and 1 bias-ply)
Of
course, the car is available for inspection. I wish all those interested could
see it, but I know that these cars are scarce enough that they are often bought
from a long distance. That is why this was such a long description.
I
have a factory shop manual, parts manual, and colored electrical system diagram
to send with the car. A new electric fuel pump to assist in quick starts is
included. Also, there are currently no keys for the doors, but new locks (with
keys) come with it.
I
will be available to assist your shipper if needed. There is no problem driving
it on and off a trailer, but I would not recommend driving it home. I will need a $500 deposit within 48 hours of the end of the auction and the rest of the payment within a week with cashier's check, cash or bank transfer..
It
breaks my heart to pass this car on before finishing it, but I don’t have the
time (or ambition). I need to move on to the next car on my automotive “bucket
list.” In the meantime, someone will likely benefit by getting a great car for considerably less money than I have in it.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me through ebay or call at 843-384-0545.
update: 2016-07-25
Used |
“Although solid and essentially rust free, this car would benefit from a repainting. The engine was completely rebuilt recently, but has an oil pressure issue.” |
Year: | 1958 | Mileage: | 112,460 |
Interior Color: | Black | Make: | Studebaker |
Number of Cylinders: | 8 | Model: | Silver Hawk |
Transmission: | Automatic | Trim: | Base |
Body Type: | U/K | Engine: | 289Cu. In. V8 GAS OHV Naturally Aspirated |
Warranty: | Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty | Drive Type: | RWD |
Vehicle Title: | Clear | Fuel Type: | Gasoline |
Exterior Color: | Green/White | For Sale By: | Private Seller |