The 1953 Studebaker Starliner hardtop coupe was a classic American car design as was its less-sleek Starlight coupe with its solid B-pillar. The pillar itself and some side-effects it created diminished the Starlight's comparative appearance and appeal.
Due to its less-expensive, entry-level status compared to the hardtop, B-pillar coupes continued in production through model year 1961. Hardtop coupe versions only lasted through 1958.
All Studebaker coupes were given a major front-end facelift for 1956 and received the name "Hawk" with modifiers such as "Sky." I wrote about them
here and
here.
Since then, many nice photo sets showing for-sale Hawks have appeared on the Internet. One dealt with a 1956
Sky Hawk, the hardtop coupe powered by the largest Studebaker V8 motor (the top-of-the-line Golden Hawk had a Packard V8).
Photos below are from the fine set via Connors Motorcar Company, West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Gallery
In 1956, American car grilles had horizontal formats, so this tall shape was unusual, Mercedes-like. (Studebaker marketed Mercedes-Benz cars in America 1957-1963).
The original "Loewy" coupe two-tone colors schemes had only tops painted in contrast to lower-body colors. The scheme seen here required a chrome strip as a demarcation line.
I dislike that checkmark feature on the separation strip. A simple upkick aligned (as here) with the after edge of the C-pillar would look better.
Actually, I prefer no two-toning and no separation strip. But marketing and competitive environment needs drove what we see here and think about some 60 years later.
The sculpting on the trunk lid is a facelift feature. More attention to rear end appearance was growing in styling studios during the 1950s.
Some for-sale photos show the running motor's exhaust effect. I hope it has to do with the winter air and not pollution.
Yes, without side chrome and two-toning, this is a nice-looking car. Though the 1953 version is better, a classic.
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