1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk Jet Streak Road Test

Take a test drive with me in a 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk with the Jet Streak engine option that was contemplated, but never offered by the factory.

I was reluctant to make this because at the time I was riding on 22 year old radial tires that made a severe thump the faster I went. A month later I replaced the tires. When I took off the front passenger side tire, I noticed a split of about 18", right down the tread.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 1956
• Studebaker
• Golden
• Hawk
• Authenticity
• Guide
• Jet
• Streak
• Road
• Test
• Packard
• 352
• V8
• Challenger
• Champion
• Silver
• Gran
• Turismo
• GT
• Flight
• Power
• Sky
• Starliner
• Starlight
• Dictator
• President
• Broadmore
• Avanti

[5610winston]

330 Horsepower? Who needs a supercharger?

It may be a sore subject, but how's the fuel consumption?

[56sghor]

@5610winston Believe it or not, I've gotten as high as 20 MPG on the highway, and normally 14 - 16 MPG or so around town. Of course, that's when I'm driving like an adult. I can still manage that kind of mileage even if I "punch" it a couple of times. I've never really driven it hard for one full tank, so I don't know how much the mileage would suffer with my using a heavy foot. This road test really didn't make that much difference in the mileage for one tank.

[marcabear]

my uncle just restored this same car

[56sghor]

You'll have to let me know his name to see if he is on my 1956 Golden hawk owners ]Rregister

[5610winston]

I had the pleasure of driving a Golden Hawk with two four-barrels and a stick shift in the mid-70's; it belonged to a little old lady whose husband had died right after buying it new, and it had less than 20K miles on it. She was a customer at the gas station-repair shop where I worked and most of the miles on the car were probably the four-mile round trip from her house to the shop and back, and the Winn-Dixie in the adjacent shopping center. Wish I knew what happened to that car!

[56sghor]

It's very possible that it is currently on my 1956 GH Owners Register.

[goldbergje]

Thank you so much! A great video, and a great history of the Hawk.

[oldboatsguy]

Really loved the ride! My Stude had the "Sky Power" engine. Plenty of power. Great!

[angryretardcereal]

Boy oh boy my great grandad had one of these back in the day and he said the people in 57 chevys were too scared to race him in talladega, he had a blower on that monster. I believe him!

[WickedTornado]

Man, did I ever enjoy that! Thanks for uploading. I'll be 57 in a few days, and truly..while riding along with you just now it brought back memories that I haven't had in half a century. Just the look down the hood from the driver's seat, the sound of the door closing, the sound of the engine going thru the 3 on the tree...I swear, you gave me a momentary ride back to when I was very very small. We never had Studes, but rather a 56 Chev 2dr with the 210 option. Wish we still had that. Thanks!

[packardnut]

Hi, dont know if you remember me, but, I really love both your Golden Hawks with the Packard 352 V8 in them. One with stick, and the other with the Ultramatic in it. Wish I could take a ride in them. Hope all is well with you. Thanks so much for the videos and for loving these fine cars !

[ShadowGraveyard]

I know that the 275-hp engine in the 1956 Golden Hawk is a

352-CI Packard. But how about the 330-hp Jet Streak, is this

also a 352-CI or is this a 374-CI Packard?

[RayGettings]

That's the way a Studebaker should sound

[Gazpacho8]

I don't think eight carbs are enough... lol

[Tri608]

Of the studebakers the landcruisers and the golden hawks were my favorite, If my lucks right ive found a 19548 landcruiser for sale that i might buy

[luk1954]

I had a 64 commander that got 39 mpg on the road. Could do 60 in 1st gear. WAs all rusted out. 1 day at Harry Weber's repair shop he had a 58 President with 8K actual miles in sparkling condition. this was in 1974. Now that was a lovely car.