ClassicCar

Lars

Hello everyone!!

As you most likely will notice I am NEW to this forum!

I am hoping that someone around somewhere will be able to help me with my present problem. I very purchased a 1928 Hudson Super Six Phaeton "seven seater" which is something like 90& restored but needs the remaining 10% which consists mainly of the top.
I need to purchase the top material and to get some clues as to how the top must be to look as original. I might consider side curtains as well but that would be in a second stage, after the top is ready.

As to the purchase, I believe Haartz would be the right place to go; my main concern is those "clues" I mentioned. Ideally, I would need drawing, pictures, videos or anything similar to aid me in the right direction.

Can anyone give me any good suggestions as to where to locate this information....or better yet, actual photos or drawings??
I should mention that I have been a member of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club for exactly 10 years but it doens't seem like I can get help from them.

Happy holidays!!
Lars

Jon B

Lars, I am not aware that the H-E-T would have anything that detailed, for constructing a convertible top. Especially one as old as 1928.

Have you attempted to contact other '28 phaeton owners (by using the national roster) to see if they'd let you take some measurements and photos of their cars? My guess is that there are very few if any '28's in existence, though.

The fall-back position is to simply find a good antique auto top shop and have them construct a new top for you, using the methods of the day. Most 1928 cars, I'm guessing, would have been constructed similarly. So, if the guy's done a 1928 Olds phaeton, he could give you a pretty fair approximation of what a '28 Hudson would have looked like. And if indeed your car is the "last one standing", you have the benefit of knowing that no one is going to point out how his convertible top is more authentic than yours.

mars55

Well, here are two photos of a '28 phaeton. It is owned by a Enrique Zarak from the Republic of Panama

[attachment=9059]1928_Hudson_Phaeton_and_LandauBut.jpg[/attachment]

[attachment=9058]1928_Hudson_PhaetonBut.jpg[/attachment]

essexcoupe3131

I think 1 of the NZ HET club members has 1 of these as well talk to David Webster in NZ he mighty be able to put you on the right track

Mike

Lars

Many thanks for all three replies!!!

All were very useful! I'll first search the HET roster, then see if I can locate this Kiwi Hudson fan and last, try the experienced upholsterer approach.

Who knows, maybe in the meatime some photos might drop in!

Merry Christmas!!
Lars

ski4life65

Doesn't the Hostetler Museum have one of these? I think they would be willing to take extensive pictures to help out a fellow member. Just a thought. Of course, I could be way off on them having one.......

mars55

It looks like the Hostetler Museum has a 1928 Sedan Convertible not a phaeton.

ski4life65

[attachment=9069]29dualcowlsport_02.jpg[/attachment]
Correct you are. I was off by 1 year. They have a 29.

Lars

Thanks for the photo...however mine is a 1928 7 passenger phaeton, not a "dual cowl" phaeton as the one pictured..

Still appreciate your help!

Lars

BJ__TN

I may be wrong but I think that Butlers book on Hudsons has a drawing of the 28 in it I can't get to mine right now or I would look to make sure. Anybody got their butler book Handy?
Bob Hickson

30essex

I don't have any experience with open Hudson tops since my Essex is a sedan. I do have experience with making a top for my '26 Chevrolet Touring which I completed this fall. I steam bent the top bows and sewed the top myself using "Cobral Short Grain Vinyl". I did not do side curtains. This material is basically a heavy black canvas with a layer of textured vinyl on one side to make it waterproof. It's relatively cheap and easy to sew with a regular sewing machine. One source for this is Mac's Auto Parts.

http://macsautoparts.com/model-a-roofing-supplies/camid/MDA/cc/463/start/0/

They are a Vintage F**d Parts supplier. They also sell other roof materials. You would want something that would look similar to what was used by Hudson in 1928. I looked at the Haartz site but their materials seemed to be geared to modern cars.

Lars

Yes!
I have the book and just checked, on page 115 the top left photo shows a car similar to mine. its a 7 seater and has a WB of 127.7".

Lars

Lars

Well, that's more experience than I have (so far only a Model A F--d paheton).
I'll check Mac's material, they might have something appropiate.

I had thought Haartz was "the" supplier if they are aiming more towards modern cars then not.

Thanks for the comments!
Lars

30essex

I wrote an article in our local club newsletter about my experiences in making a touring top. This can be found at: http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/eacc/RB.pdf
It's on page 7, "Making a Touring Top".

Lars

Thanks very much, 30 Essex!
I hadn't seen your reply till now, hence the delay.

Your artcle seems very useful to me (and the magazine quite interesting as well).

Btw, I also have a 1930 Essex sedan but it need to be restored (badly).

Thanks!
Lars

SteveW

I have an unrestored 1928 Hudson 7 Pass. Phaeton. As the car is in storage on the other side of the country (Canada) I can't recal exactly what of the top I have, but seem to think some of the folding framework was there. Contact me and we can swop notes.
steve @inspirationswallart.com

ESSX28-1 · ESSX28-1 October 2012 Posts: 995Platinum Member

from the Hudson factory booklet for 1928. not a Phaeton but it is a 7 seater!!

Browniepetersen

Glen Cox in Salt Lake City, Utah has a seven passenger super six Phaeton (phone 801 262-9169) that he is in the process of restoring. Glen is not a member of the HET and I expect that he does not do email. Glen woiuld be a good contact and might be able to help you out.

oldhudsons

I'm sure Eldon & or his Museum would be glad to be of assistance. I know he has the one pictured above but believe he has another, a pretty nice original out of the Mendoza collection he acquired a few years back.

VicTor Z

Richard Riggs (Dick) had a NOS Top for a touring '20's +/- at the W'tern Reg meet in Oxnard Cal. this year.
VicTor Z

Lars

For the following members:

Victor T, Oldhudsons, Browniepetersen, ESSX28-1 and SteveW: I would like to thank all of you for your help commenting re my question on the top for my 1928 Hudson convertible!

It seems very strange to me, but today I received in separate emails th e comments from all of (probaly replied long ago, I am not sure) to my problem. It seems like a time lapse (?):

Whatever, this subject was nearly a couple years ago and unfortunately, I haven't come very far and have mereIy got the top material so far. I need both photos or drawings of a similar top and a good upholsterer, which is becoming the hard part here (remember I am located in Valparaiso, Chile).

Victor T, would you be able to give me Richard Riggs' email address so I could try contacting him?
Oldhudsons, would you be able to tell me how to contact Eldon and/or his museum?
Steve W I'll contact you at the email address given.
Unfortunately, only email will do, as I have little practice in spoken English.

Many thanks again to you all!

Lars

Lars

yt

VicTor Z

Lars, Richard Riggs, Email raftwido@spirtone.com , HET Roster 2008-2010
VicTor :)

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