Soaring to New Heights
Hawks Performance focuses on GM F-body performance, restoration & customization.
By Maura Keller Photos courtesy Hawks Motorsports
Suradet Rakha - stock.adobe.com
Maura Keller is a freelance writer based in Minnesota. She can be reached at maurakeller@yahoo.com.
For more than two decades, Hawks Motorsports has been a destination for muscle car enthusiasts around the world. From classic Camaros and Firebirds to modern Corvettes and Cadillac CTS-Vs, the Easley, South Carolina-based company has built a reputation as one of the most trusted names in GM performance, restoration and customization.
At the center of it all is founder and president Bruce Hawkins, whose lifelong passion for all eras of muscle cars has shaped both his business and his personal legacy.
“We provide early- to late-model muscle cars and performance upgrades along with restoration parts. We are a full-service install shop along with full dyno and engine calibration, as well as paint and interior,” Hawkins says, summing up the scope of the operation.
What began as a small family business has grown into a global brand serving customers across continents. Yet, despite its reach, Hawks Motorsports still operates with the mindset of a close-knit shop built on personal relationships and deep automotive expertise.
Hawks Motorsports is a destination for muscle car fans from around the world.
FROM USED PARTS TO INDUSTRY LEADER
Hawks Motorsports has been in business for 26 years, but its roots are humble. The company originally started as a used parts operation, catering primarily to owners of third- and fourth-generation Camaros and Firebirds. Over time, customer demand and Hawkins’ own ambitions pushed the business into new territory.
“We have evolved from a small, family-owned used parts business to a leading builder of full later-model and early-model muscle cars,” Hawkins explains.
That evolution didn’t happen overnight. It required reinvesting in equipment, expanding shop space and building a team capable of handling everything from engine builds to full restorations. Today, Hawks Motorsports offers a comprehensive lineup of services: performance upgrades, complete restorations, custom fabrication, paint and interior work, dyno tuning and engine calibration.
The company also stocks a large inventory.
“Yes, we have over 10 acres of in-stock products,” Hawkins says, emphasizing that having parts readily available is a major advantage in an industry where delays can stall entire projects.
From classic Camaros and Firebirds to modern Corvettes and CTS-Vs, the Easley, South Carolina-based company has built a reputation as one of the most trusted names in GM performance, restoration and customization.
The success of Hawks Motorsports is built on personal relationships and deep automotive expertise.
FAITH AS A FOUNDATION
When asked what he is most proud of, Hawkins doesn’t point to horsepower numbers or rare builds. Instead, he highlights something far more personal.
“Our success has been on putting our Lord and Savior first in our lives and holding daily prayer in the mornings,” he says.
That faith-based culture is central to how the shop operates. For Hawkins, business success isn’t measured in revenue or growth—rather, it’s about gratitude, humility and staying grounded.
“It’s just the blessing of life and success in general. I think we could all be a little more appreciative of the blessings God gives us every day,” he adds.
This perspective shapes everything at Hawks Motorsports, from leadership style to workplace environment. The company employs 27 people and is always on the lookout for more.
“We are looking for perfect-fit employees weekly,” Hawkins says. “Finding the best employees for our growth” remains the company’s biggest ongoing challenge, he adds.
Hawks Motorsports sees customer service as its defining feature.
A WORLDWIDE CUSTOMER BASE
Despite being based in a relatively small town in South Carolina, Hawks Motorsports serves a global market.
“Via the internet, and they are worldwide,” Hawkins says, when asked about where he finds his main customers.
The company’s reach is driven largely by its website (hawksmotorsports.com), online forums and word-of-mouth marketing. Traditional advertising has taken a backseat to community-driven promotion.
The shop also maintains an active presence across major social media platforms.
“Facebook, Instagram and TikTok,” Hawkins says, noting that those channels help showcase builds, connect with enthusiasts and attract new clients.
Digital visibility has helped Hawks Motorsports become the go-to shop for LS performance in third-generation F-body platforms, as the company is widely recognized for its technical expertise and deep inventory of hard-to-find parts.
The company originally started as a used parts operation, catering primarily to owners of third-and fourth-generation Camaros and Firebirds.
THE FIREHAWK CONTINUATION LEGACY
One of the most significant chapters in Hawks Motorsports’ story is its Firehawk Continuation Series—an ambitious project rooted in the legendary SLP Firehawks of the early 1990s.
The original SLP Firehawk was one of the most exclusive and performance-focused GM vehicles of its era. Only 25 cars were ultimately built between 1991-92, making them among the rarest factory performance Firebirds ever produced.
Hawks Motorsports took that legacy and reimagined it for the modern era. The company’s Continuation Series uses legitimate 1991 and 1992 Formulas and Trans-Ams and rebuilds them with today’s technology. Modern engines, updated drivetrains, advanced braking systems and current aftermarket suspension components transform the classics into contemporary performance machines.
Where the original Firehawks were competitive with top OEM performance cars of their time, the Continuation versions are significantly faster and more powerful. Offered in three performance stages, they allow customers to choose a build that fits their goals and budget.
Hawkins explains that the vehicles aren’t replicas or tribute cars—they’re continuation builds, designed to honor the spirit of the original Firehawks while delivering performance that meets modern expectations. For Hawks Motorsports, the series represents the perfect blend of history, innovation and craftsmanship.
The Hawks Stage 1 Continuation Firehawk sets the foundation for the entire series, blending classic Firehawk styling with modern performance engineering. Featuring a contemporary drivetrain, standard 1LE disc brakes and WS6 suspension components, it delivers a refined balance of heritage design and OE-quality performance parts. The result is a uniquely immersive driving experience that feels both nostalgic and thoroughly modern, Hawkins explains.
The Hawks Stage 2 Continuation Firehawk elevates performance dramatically, producing 700 hp and 650 pound-feet of torque from a Hawks Motorsports-built LS7 engine. With tubular suspension components and double-adjustable struts, it offers a sharper, more aggressive ride.
Outfitted with premium aftermarket performance brands, the model redefines Pontiac’s iconic “Driving Excitement” promise for a new generation, Hawkins notes.
The Hawks Stage 3 Continuation Firehawk pushes the concept to its limits. Delivering an impressive 1,200 hp and 1,100 pound-feet of torque from a supercharged LS7, the model features race-inspired suspension and top-tier performance components throughout. Designed to be the most extreme Firehawk ever created, Stage 3 represents the ultimate expression of modern muscle, according to the company.
For each project, the goal is to make the process transparent, personal and trustworthy for clients.
Hawks Motorsports’ Firehawk Continuation Series is an ambitious project rooted in the legendary SLP Firehawks of the early 1990s.
CUSTOMER SERVICE AS A CORE VALUE
Despite the technical complexity of its work, Hawks Motorsports still sees customer service as its defining feature.
“We are a small, family business, and our No. 1 priority is customer service. We have all been in the customer’s shoes at one point or another,” Hawkins says.
That empathy translates into how the company operates daily. Whether a customer is ordering a small replacement part or commissioning a six-figure custom build, the goal is the same: make the process transparent, personal and trustworthy.
“We keep most parts in stock; however, some items are special order,” Hawkins adds.
And, if Hawks Motorsports doesn’t carry something, the team will help track it down. That commitment has built long-term loyalty, and many customers return again and again, sometimes over decades, as their projects evolve or new vehicles enter their garages.
PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNITY
Hawks Motorsports doesn’t operate in isolation. The company works closely with several local businesses, forming partnerships that benefit everyone involved.
“We work in conjunction with several local companies to both of our successes,” Hawkins says.
These alliances allow Hawks Motorsports to expand its capabilities, streamline workflows and support the regional automotive ecosystem.
While the customer base may be global, the company remains deeply rooted in its local community.
When asked about the future, Hawkins doesn’t offer a rigid business plan or growth forecast.
“We plan to go where the good Lord takes us,” he says simply.
That philosophy reflects both faith and flexibility. Hawks Motorsports continues to grow, adopt new technologies and take on increasingly complex builds.
But, at its core, the mission remains unchanged: serve enthusiasts, honor automotive history and pursue excellence without losing sight of gratitude.
For Hawkins, the business is more than a company—it’s a calling.
As an avid collector and lifelong enthusiast of F-body cars, he’s personally owned several original models. His enthusiasm is inseparable from his profession. To him, it’s not just his business, it’s his passion, and the shop isn’t just a workplace, it’s a living archive of GM performance culture.
The Continuation Series uses legitimate 1991 and 1992 Formulas and Trans-Ams and rebuilds them with today’s technology.
Modern engines, updated drivetrains, advanced braking systems and current aftermarket suspension components transform the classics into contemporary performance machines.
