ClassicCar

No chrome on rear window = Super, black face on gauges, clock & speedo = Super, dash woodgrain ends at the doors = Super, no rear dome lights or armrest = Super, rocker chrome = Super, trunk latch & small trunk emblem = Super. I'll bet the VIN plate is screwed or pop-riveted on. :eek:

As I've stated in a previous thread, I believe Super 8 2-doors or converts are very rare. The fact that this guy probably had to use a '48 Commodore 8 VIN plate to validate his '49 Commodore 8 title (or vice-versa) would tend to confirm that... he likely couldn't find a 2- OR 4-door Super 8 plate. The only way left to tell the real origin of this car might be the engine serial number, tranny casting date or the dates inked on the back of the speedo, clock and some radios. Of course, he could have swapped all those out, as well. I'll bet a case of GOOD beer that the engine serial number starts with "493".

Clutch guy wrote:

Don't forget about the serial # on the pass.side front frame;)??

Doug; Where exactly is that stamped?

Hudson308 wrote:

Doug; Where exactly is that stamped?

On top of frame between the cowl and bottom of brace from frame to cowl.

on pass side

I wrote to th seller who is selling for his Brother in law. First I explained that he had a brougham, or two door sedan, not a coupe.

The interior door trim is Super,the rocker panel trim is Super series, the steering wheel is super and last but not least, they didn't make a two door sedan in the Commodore series. I told him that he had a 48-49 Super that had been updated with Commodore pieces and a vin number off a 48 Commodore eight by a previous owner.

He said he had gotten the same information from others. I also told him it looked like a nice car. I love those eights.

The next owner of my 49 Super Six four door is at least getting the original vin plate, but that's about all!

You know, it wouldn't take much to rebadge this car with the correct VIN as found on the frame with one of the repro plates available from KGAP. You could then retitle the car here in Minnesota with the correct info. Swapping the taillights and dash trim back would be a piece of cake. You'd end up with a car that's not only correct, but much more rare than a '49 Commodore 8. A little more research revealed they didn't make ANY 8-cylinder broughams in 1948, no matter what the trim level. '48 Super 8's were available as sedans and 6-passenger coupes only. They made approx. 5,000 Super 8's in 1948 (both body styles). In '49 you could get a Super 8 as a sedan, 6-passenger coupe or a brougham only. They made approx. 6,000 Super 8's that year (all three body styles). No Super 8 convertibles were available either year.

Yes it is true. On the 48 Hudsons the clip is up front near the vent window. On the 49's it was centered over the front door window.



Another differance found only on the Super Series is that the dashboards were all dark woodgrained and not two toned in 1948.

Glad to see he added the correct serial number info, even though it wasn't enough to get his reserve price. I emailed to let him know he can get repro VIN plates if he wants to correct that.

As a clarification, Hudson obviously DID offer the brougham body style in '48... just not as a Commodore and not with an 8 cylinder. In '49 you could get one with a 6 or 8 in Super trim only.

Another thing I wanted to point out is that Hudson DID start putting the lighter (two-toned) dash trim in their Super line late in the '48 model run... I've got proof sitting in my driveway.

I thought the auction ended with a very healthy price for this car. Can't imagine what the reserve may be, but I would think it's more than fair for this one, especially the color combination that is not very appealing.