The Studebaker Golden Hawk is a beautiful car with its exceptionally beautiful radiator grille and particularly beautiful lines of the front and the sturdy looking bonnet. Large chrome bumpers and many chrome mouldings to accentuate the body. A particularly nice flash in the wings of the rear fenders makes it a real American car. Meccano Liverpool did a nice Job to reproduce this beautiful American car. The assembly drawing dates 24.5.57. I presume that reproduction from model 1957 may be assumed.

With this Studebaker Golden Hawk I now have 5 Studebakers which I will also show in my contribution.

My Studebaker Golden Hawk with red ridged hubs and white treaded tyres. Note the “spun” concave hubs depicted on the box.

The Studebaker Golden Hawk was introduced in MM November 1958 together with the 167 A.C. Aceca Coupe.

Introduction Studebaker Golden Hawk in MM November 1958. Note the concave hubs.

Technical description of the Studebaker Golden Hawk in MM November 1958

MM November 1958. Note the spun hubs which were first fitted in December 1958

Esso petrol pump station with 169 on back side of the Dutch introduction leaflet October 1958

Meccano Liverpool was apparently quite fond of the Studebaker brand, because a month earlier the 179 Studebaker President Saloon was already introduced in MM October 1958, see below.

Introduction Studebaker President in MM October 1958.

Introduction Studebaker President in MM October 1958. Note the spun hubs which were first fitted in December 1958

My 179 Studebaker President with cream ridged hubs.

UK catalogue May 1959 with Studebaker President

179 Studebaker President in UK 1959 catalogue depicted with bleu/green ridged hubs

My 179 Studebaker President with cream ridged hubs.

The 1950s were the heyday of the American automotive industry and also the glory days of Meccano Liverpool. After a range of military models in 1957, in 1958 and 1959 various British and American car models were produced. I limit myself here to the American classic car models. From May 1958 to March 1959, Meccano Liverpool produced 8 new classic American car models.

In 1958: May 173 Nash Rambler; August 175 Hudson Hornet; September 180 Packard Clipper; October 179 Studebaker President; November 169 Studebaker Golden Hawk; December 192 The Soto Fireflite. In 1959 January 178 Plymouth Plaza; March 191 Dodge Royal Sedan.

I show here the Dutch leaflet of February 1959 with British and American car models that were produced in 1958 and 1959. It shows 6 UK and 6 American car models, of which 2 Studebakers, the 169 Studebaker Golden Hawk and the 179 Studebaker President. In the 1959 catalogue you see clearly the transition period from ridged to concave hubs. Some have ridged hubs and some have concave hubs. The concave hubs were first fitted from December 1958 onwards but apparently the stock of ridged hubs had to be first drawn up.

Dutch leaflet February 1959 with 169 Studebaker Golden Hawk and 179 Studebaker President.

In the leaflet you clearly see the transition period from ridged to concave hubs. Some have ridged and some have concave hubs. Concave hubs were fitted from December 1958 onwards.

Dutch leaflet February 1959 with the Studebaker Golden Hawk depicted with spun hubs.

169 Studebaker Golden Hawk with spun hubs as depicted on the catalogue and box. (Photo Ebay)

UK catalogue May 1959 with 169 Studebaker Golden Hawk. Some models with ridged and some with concave hubs.

UK catalogue May 1959 with the Golden Hawk depicted with red ridged hubs. The same as mine.

My 169 with red ridged hubs: Note the excellent contours of the doors, door handles, ventilation flap, fuel cap and chrome mouldings.

My 169 with shiny baseplate.

My 5 Studebakers: 3x UK - 169 Golden Hawk - 172 Land Cruiser - 179 President and 2x French: 24y Commander - 25o Camion Latier.

Studebaker Golden Hawk 1957. A beautiful very impressive car.

Wikipedia:

Studebaker was an American automobile manufacturer based in South Bend Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 as the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the firm was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the military.

Studebaker entered the automotive business in 1902 with electric vehicles and in 1904 with gasoline vehicles, all sold under the name "Studebaker Automobile Company". Until 1911, its automotive division operated in partnership with the Garford Company of Elyria Ohio, and after 1909 with the E-M-F Company. The first gasoline automobiles to be fully manufactured by Studebaker were marketed in August 1912. Over the next 50 years, the company established a reputation for good quality and reliability.

After years of financial problems, the company merged in 1954 with luxury carmaker Packard to form the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. However, Studebaker's financial problems were worse than the Packard executives had thought. The Packard marque was phased out, and the company returned to the Studebaker Corporation name in 1962. The South Bend plant ceased production on December 20, 1963, and the last Studebaker automobile rolled off the Hamilton Ontario, Canada, assembly line on March 17, 1966.

The Studebaker National Museum is a museum in South Bend Indiana, United States that displays a variety of automobiles, wagons, carriages, and military vehicles related to the Studebaker Corporation and other aspects of American history.

Studebaker National Museum South Bend Indiana USA

Studebaker Golden Hawk 1957 sales brochure 

Studebaker Golden Hawk 1958 brochure.

Studebaker Golden Hawk 1958 brochure.

Some interesting facts worth to know: (GBDT)

April 1958: windows first fitted to vehicles.

December 1958: first “spun” wheels fitted to 192 De Soto Fireflite

February 1959: first four-wheel suspension fitted to 150 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith

August 1960: first “Directional Control” steering fitted to 195 Jaguar 3.4.

1961: change from plain to treaded tyres on cars.

1962: “prestomatic” steering

Jan Oldenhuis 18 January 2019