Studebaker Car Club Of New South Wales Inc.

1963 GT

Originally posted by Darryn F, 2nd March 2011.

This was a written off, but was restored by Granville TAFE '67.

Dale F worked there at the time & remembers the car, and it was displayed at the '67 Sydney Motor Show.

Updated 23rd March 2012, when Rick Marks provided the following photo and information.

Alex and Jean Marks, 1970.

"My late father, Alex Marks, purchased this car in 1967 as I recall.

I was 15 at the time and not sure how it came about although he had a ’53 Champion (ALT 686) from 1954 to 1960 and always wanted an Avanti.

The GT Hawk just came up at the right time. I don’t believe he knew it had been a write off and rebuilt by Granville TAFE but it had obviously just been repainted and re-trimmed as it was immaculate with very low mileage.

It had a black vinyl roof and turquoise woollen upholstery and its registration was ERB 272.

I undertook my driving test in it in January 1969 and amused the testing officer by not being able to do a u-turn given the turning circle of the car. A three point turn had to suffice.  I drove it on “P” plates whenever my father would let me.

I then bought a one owner ’60 Silver Hawk (CDF 399) which I kept for a year or so.

The manual steering in the GT Hawk got to my father eventually and he bought a rare ’69 Rambler AMX in 1971.

After keeping both for a time, we traded in the GT Hawk for $1,200 on my new Torana XU-1 in March 1972 (40 years ago almost exactly).

Les Vagg Holden prominently displayed and advertised the still immaculate car for $1,950 after which it was sold never to be seen again!

Rick Marks"

Thank you Rick.

Last known whereabouts -Les Vagg Holden, March 1972.

Where is it now?.