There is a prototype Hudson for sale right now on Ebay:
Bob,
You gotta start being more specific during your Ebay searches. Try “Hudson 773” or " Lionel Hudson". [;)]
Odd that the seller didn’t mention the car has factory A/C in his discription. From what I recall, Hudsons and Nashs with this new PininFarina body style had heating systems that readily accepted optional A/C. Installation required little or no body modifications or additional duct work.
Bruce Webster
Love those twin side draft carburetors and snorkles. Wonder what the primer on the front passenger side fender is covering? Rocker panels look a bit fuzzy too. No closeups.
Isn’t that painted in the Pennsy’s ill-fated Brunswick Salmon scheme?
Bruce- That would be an excellent car for you to restore. You could paint it Yellow with Black Stripes & call it your “Hudson Hornet” [;)][;)][:P][:o)][:o)][tup] Take Care.
You Got Me!
I read the thread heading, looked at the poster and thought, “Wow, gotta look at this one”
Dennis
I remember my Dad had a Hudson Hornet when I was young, don’t remember what year, but it was the same body style as “Doc Hudson” for you Cars fans. The next one was somewhat of a letdown, 56 Dodge 2dr hardtop a real funky two tone green if I remember right.
My first car was a 1956 Hudson Hornet, the last year of the 308-cubic-inch (5 liter) straight-six Hudson engine.
It had a padded dashboard, otherwise unheard of back then, and, instead of a dual hydraulic brake system, the brake pedal operated the mechanical brake if the hydraulics failed, as I learned the hard way.
The automatic choke didn’t work any more; so, to start the car, I removed the air filter, choked with one hand over the carbureter, and cranked by operating the starter solenoid by hand under the hood.
For years, I used a knife switch to disconnect the battery because something kept discharging it. One night, I walked past the front of the car and discovered the illuminated hood ornament that was the culprit.
My car had the special aluminum head, which anyone with any sense had long before replaced with the standard cast-iron head. The water eroded it, allowing the pistons to pump oil into the cooling system, which I had to drain periodically. You could see jets of water squirting out of the engine when it ran. Every junkyard had replacement heads, but they were all the aluminum cores from folks who got there first. The trick then was to find a head in slightly better shape than the one you had.
Bob, have a good friend of the family now living in Lake Worth Florida who has a collection of Hudsons…the cars. I have seen some of these restored to perfect condition and they run like champs. These are like the old Lionels, treat them right and they will be around for a long time. Unlike the new cars, that are almost disposable. Would love to have one, even if it didn’t have a functioning AC.
dennis
Bob, somehow I pictured you a Packard guy.
Jack.
Actually the Hudson was a one-off thing. I’m really into old Volvos, right now driving a 1966 220 (Amazon station wagon) and a 1962 Jensen-built P1800.
I always had a little affection for the early 60’s Volvos, reminded me of a 40 Ford sedan.
Not this one. This is approximately what my P1800 looks like:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Volvo_P1800.jpg
It’s ironic that you see a Ford resemblance in the old sedans, Doug, since the new ones are now built by Ford.
Keith,
I’ve always had a quirky kinda love for the earlier bathtub Hudsons…like mentioned elsewhere, the one that looked like Doc in the movie Cars. 48-50 Packards too! I drove a 50 Packard daily one summer back in the 70’s and loved it!
Currently, the project du jour is a light yellow 36 Packard. I just happen to have a gallon of black lacquer and loads of masking tape! One Bumble Bee comin’ up!
Bruce Webster
P.S. Thanks so much for your previous invite, Keith. Sorry I didn’t respond earlier. I’d really like to get down your way and check out the toy train scene around Cleveland. Will let you know.