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36 Hudson vs. 36 Terraplane
  • sshftnsshftn
    Posts: 46Hitchhiker
    I know that Hudson made the Terraplane but what are the differences? Is the T just a cheaper model? I've been looking at both, trying to find a project, and I just wanted some more information.
    Jeremiah
    1936 Hudson 8
  • StillOutThereStillOutThere
    Posts: 429Gold Member
    The Hudson chassis was a longer wheelbase and offered an 8 cylinder engine. The Terraplane was a shorter chassis and was only available as a 6 cylinder. There are very minor other differences such as in the grilles and tail lamp lenses.
  • ESSX28-1ESSX28-1
    Posts: 995Platinum Member
    Don't forget the Terraplane 8 that Dillinger was reputed to have favoured!!
    Dave Y
    New Zealand
  • hudsontechhudsontech
    Posts: 4,050Platinum Member
    Before we confuse sshftn, Dave, the Terraplane 8 was a one year only offered in 1933 as an Essex-Terraplane 8. The engine was 245 cubes vs the Hudson 8 of 254 cubes.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • terraplane8terraplane8
    Posts: 357Platinum Member
    I have owned both at the same time, A 127" W/B H8 4-door sedan and a 115" W/B Terraplane 4-door sedan. The Hudson is a significantly larger car to drive especially in an urban area, eg the turning circle is much bigger, and of course it is longer. The Terraplane is more compact with a shorter bonnet, and is more manoeuverable, snappier handling, easier to park etc. They both ride pretty well and the 6 is a very smooth engine like the 8. In the end I sold the Hudson and kept the Terraplane, as I found it more fun to drive, and just about as powerful by measured top gear acceleration and hill-climbing ability after the increasing the compression ratio up to around 7.3:1.

    There's a lot of good to be said about the Terraplane; it's a very good car in its own right and shouldn't be seen as an inferior car to the Hudson.
  • Ol racerOl racer
    Posts: 1,679Platinum Member
    FYI
    I understand that Hudson, an oppulent car similar to Packard, Olds, Buick, DeSoto, etc, built the Terraplane to compete in the lower Price class with Plymouth, Ford, and Chevtolet. As a result of still being a high quality car like its larger more expensive counterpart, but cheaper, Terraplane began to outsell Hudson thruout the 30's so Hudson ceased its production (so ive heard)....
  • Ol racerOl racer
    Posts: 1,679Platinum Member
    FYI
    When people ask me the difference between Terraplane and Hudson, I use Ford compared to Lincoln similarities....