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A roll call of sorts
  • Posts: 0
    Hey all, Im missing my hudson manual.

    When I bought my ’53 hudson Hornet I thought it was a “cool old car I really liked” model. Turns out its either a “rat rod” a “hot rod” or a “restoration” model. Can anybody help me out?



    Things that make me feel it’s a “rat” model

    I drive it every day. Clearly Im wearing out irreplaceable parts by doing so.

    My hands are always covered in grease.

    Im using rattle can black primer as I go.

    I dig the old speed parts and crazy old engineering.



    Things that make me feel it’s a “hot rod” model

    Im having the engine built for power.

    My tires are as wide as I can stuff between those frame rails out back. (still on 15”s of course, I know they didn’t make a 22” “bling” model… or did they?)

    Im contemplating disc brakes. I have this thing against smashing into those crappy little Hondas that always cut me off.



    Things that make me feel it’s a “restoration” model

    It’s a Hudson flathead, not a chevy, under the hood.

    Im carefully putting back all the old chrome. OOH that’s definitely not a rat thing!

    I like the interior. I think Ill get that duralee fabric that looks pretty close to my checkerboard… wait! That’s not really original is it! Is that a hotrod thing? Its all so confusing….

    Oh god no! I just saw there is something called a “resto rod” model as well.

    I really need that manual folks! Help! Tell me what to do!
  • nhp1127nhp1127
    Posts: 2,275Platinum Member
    One day I'll post pictures.... I found my 1948 Hudson Commodore 6 in South Dakota about six months ago. My friend saw it while he was doing his annual pheasant hunt. He is a car guy and fell in love with it. Fortunately, he spent $34,000 on an antique gun collection and gave me first dibs. This car was from the estate of the original owner. His name was LeRoy "Roy" Nessiem. Anybody know him? He lived in Washington state for years and years. He got the car brand new for his high school graduation and kept it ever since. He had it repainted the original two-tone burgundy and ruby in 1952. I think because of early paint production problems (the car is very early production, the 5006th built). He had the factory seat covers on it. The drivers area of the cover was very worn so I decided to remove all the covers.... both front and rear seats are mint original. Same for the dash, headliner, etc. Options include drivemaster / vacumaster trans with overdrive, rear window shades, fog lights, dual spotlights, aluminum head, ash tray, radio, heater, front and rear delux bumper guards, stainless window vent shades, sunvisor and original fender guides that lite up at night. This was a young guy who put every conceivable accessory that a 17 year old could want or find.

    I have had many, many neat cars in my 47 years (Sunbeam Tiger, 57 Chevy convert, 59 Impala Convert, 59 Caddy convert, 71 vette convert plus others) but nothing so cool and / or original.

    The car had been stored on and off inside a heated garage for approx 35 years.

    I've had to replace the original cracked tires with wide white wall radials, replaced all the brake lines, brake cylinders, master cylinder, had the gas tank resealed and new gas line all the way up, recored radiator, etc. It finally runs like a top but I still need to replace a few old wires that may be an issue. I'm obviously keeping this thing original. It is a real piece of history.



    One last interesting note.... I had called my mother and told her that I had just bought a Hudson. She says "Oh, your father had a Hudson. "It was a 1948 Hudson and it was Maroon". How's that for coincidence? A couple weeks later, my Mom went thru some old photos and found one of her standing in front of my Dad's Hudson in 1949. She was 19 years old and on their honeymoon in Palm Springs. I'm going to make a copy and send the picture into the WTN.

    She said my Dad sold it because it would never start in the rain. He traded it in for a new 1951 Cadillac..... Niels
  • wkitchens
    Posts: 304Gold Member
    Sorry to hear the bad news, mrkramer, but it's sounds like you own an official "Whatyamacallit", for which there is no known cure.
  • TOM-WA-TOM-WA-
    Posts: 485Platinum Member
    While we all debate the pressing topic of Restore to Original, Rat Rod or Street Rod a much more pressing issue has come up in the GENERAL TOPIC AREA..

    Just asking who every1 thinks is the sexiest women on the planet today? Several co-workers, myself included, say Joanna Krupa. I’m not sure what playboy paid her to show off her birthday suit this month, but compared to the swimsuits she’s worn in the past this is amazingggg.

    Anyone see it yet?



    Tom
  • SRCraftsman2SRCraftsman2
    Posts: 417Platinum Member
    http://www.classiccar.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1484&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=1



    I am trying for the first time to post a photo of my 1952 commodore 8, off the Classic Car Gallery. If this works I will give a further explaination of it.



    It worked.



    My question could be, What do I do with it now?



    I purchased this car in Feb. in pretty much the condition you see. I further dismantled it by removing the doors and rear fenders. I got all the parts in boxes and a partial parts car.



    Motor and dual range hydro have been rebuilt. New master cylinder. brake cylinders, and brakes. All new front suspension parts. Rebuilt generator, starter, and carburator. Except for two small holes below the trunk lid, there was only minor surface rust on the car. There are a number of small dents and dings which need to be bumped out.



    I had purchased this Commodore with the purpose of putting it back togeather to have a nice driver. I had planned on making a few minor modifications, 12 volt, Air, possibly power steering and upgrading the brakes.



    The problem is that, I have found that 1952 Commodores are rare. There were only a little over 3000 made. Going through the club directory I found only 11 '52 Commodores and only 4 of those were sedans.



    Now do I restore it to original condition? Make the driver I wanted? I have even considered selling it and buying a Hornet to do with want I want. I know, the answer to these questions are in the above posts.



    It's a good thing I have a limited budget. Before I removed the doors, I was looking at the lines of the body and thinking, with the right paint, mild custom accessories and the right mechanicals I could make a sweet sleeper for the street.
  • Club Coupe
    Posts: 206Gold Member
    Personally, I don't see anything wrong with doing the modifications that you are considering. Two things to keep in mind are comfort and safety when driving the car and what you are talking about are nothing more than upgrading to today's standards. Another thing to keep in mind is that your modifications are indeed minor and if you ever wanted to go back to 100% original it would be an easy project. My car is 12 volt with an alternator, electronic ignition, halogen sealed beams, seat and shoulder belts and radial tires. It feels safe, starts and runs good and other than other Hudnuts, nobody knows the difference. Go for it!
  • tristansdaztristansdaz
    Posts: 624Platinum Member
    If you didn't live so darned far away, I'd look at swaping you. My first car was a 1952 Commodore 6 sedan back in 1972. I've got a 1952 Hornet sedan now that will go back together after all of the "hunting and gathering" (my wife's words). If I don't have all of the parts ready to go when I start, I'll not get started again easily if I hit a roadblock. Oh well...
  • Geoff C., N.Z.Geoff C., N.Z.
    Posts: 2,267Platinum Member
    Hey, this must be the "most viewed" topic ever by now! Regarding the '52 Commodore, nobody is going to chew you out for doing what you plan with it. There are modifiications, and there are alterations which change the whole character of the car (like chopping the top, etc.). As stated, most folk have "modified" their cars in one way or another, but the character and presentation of the car can still be maintained as pretty original in spite of such mods. As a long-time Hudson so-called purist, I do like to see the basic car kept all Hudson, but there are improvements which can be made to enhance road safety and driveability. My '29 Hudson 7 passenger sedan is restored as near as possible as I can to original, but does have the wrong wheels ( wood 19" instead of wire 18"), and has telescopic shock absorbers at the rear to overcome body roll. My '28 Essex Coach looks completely original, but has internal mods in the engine to enhance performance and economy, has indicators, shock absorbers, and a higher geared rear end. My Jet and Hornet are all completely original in every respect, as for my purposes they are completely usable and roadworthy in that state. Good luck with your re-assembly of a rare and desireable car.

    Geoff.
    If you're stuck in a hole, stop digging.
  • Aaron D. IL
    Posts: 1,648Platinum Member
    TwinH wrote:
    Well said Mark. Rat rodders ARE true purists in the traditional sense.

    Their "avoid the Boyd"[Coddington] mentality is the deserved backlash against

    $100,000 hot rods that they refer to as "gold chainers" Cars/bikes that are

    owner built without the benefit of vast aftermarket resources. They are for the

    most part very era specific hot rods built with "junkyard" parts.



    I agree that the rod vs. original debate will never be resolved because all car guys are eccentric anyway and getting them to agree is like herding cats. Seems to me even the hot rodders can't agree with eachother and we're talking about more like 4 classes of cars on a spectrum. 1. Original 2. Modified. 3. Rat Rods 4. Customs. And all of them span the range of socio-economic cost of fixing up. Seems to me that for all the talk about improved roadability and improved ability to drive your Hudson in modern traffic I don't see hot rodders on the road with more frequency than people with restored/modified cars nor do I see any used as daily drivers (at least in my area). Why? My guess... you put so much work and money into these things you hate to see them smashed up by some teenager in a new Honda. Of all cars of the '50s Hudson's were probably the most road worthy in handeling and I think are adeqaute by today's standards since they were built in a time before the interstate system (Interstates built in 1956). Before that there were less cars on the road and more 2-lane highways. Me I got a set of radials on my car and so it's modified in a minor way but I'm a rare youngster in that I prefer original...just my personal taste. I have the most respect for people that work on their own cars as much as possible within the ability of their garage space and inventory of tools allows them. I love to hear that some of us are getting our cars out to shows and driving them rather than trailering them. That's what HET is supposed to be about. We're going to be facing some challenges in the next few years keeping our cars on the road at all and I hope we don't loose sight of the big picture. :) Now let's get back to the original intent of this thread which is show and tell about our cars.
  • greggd
    Posts: 145Expert Adviser
    I'd like to show everyone my 37' Terraplane after 3 1/2 years of searching for parts. Folks on the forum were a big help (Jon B and Alex ). Robbie Williams was the greatest help of all.

    I have the photos in Classic car Hudson gallery. I don't know how to get them to the forum. I think restoring this old car was easier, but I am probably wrong.
  • Jon BJon B
    Posts: 4,761Moderator
    93537_Hudson_T-Plane_006-med.jpg



    Nice car, Gregg! Nicer than mine, that's for sure!



    It's not difficult to post photos or the URL for their location, Gregg (and everyone else!). It's basic 'cut and paste'. You can simplify the following directions if you want; simply scribble down the URL on a piece of paper and re-type it. But cut-and-paste gives you less of a writer's cramp.



    First, the photo has to be SOMEWHERE on the internet. You cannot directly upload pix to this Forum. Gregg has posted his photos over at the Classiccar photo site so we can do this.



    Just open the largest photo of your car (the Classiccar site has 'thumbnail photos' -- just click on them and a much larger photo opens up).



    NOW...if you simply want to post the URL (or printed 'location' of the photo), RIGHT-click on your mouse while holding it over the photo. A dialog box opens up. Look for the line of type in the box that says, PROPERTIES. LEFT-click that. Then a new box opens up.



    Read the line that says ADDRESS: slide your cursor over what's written there while holding the left button down, to 'highlight' it. RIGHT-click immediately and select COPY. Now you've copied your photo's URL (or location code) to your computer.



    Now close the various windows and go back to where you're posting your message on the Forum. Place cursor in the message box (where you're writing your message), and RIGHT-click again. When dialog box open, LEFT click on PASTE and your URL is transferred to the message box. People can then click on this after you post it, and will be taken to your photo.



    Want to actually put the photo in your message?



    Hit the GO ADVANCED button when you want to make a new post. Above your message area, you'll see some little symbols. Press teh square, yellow one. A little dialog box opens. Put your cursor in it and RIGHT click. Then LEFT click on PASTE in the dialog box, and your URL will be copied to the dialog box. Then hit OK in the dialog box. The words will appear around the URL, in your message and this will open up as a photo when you post it.
  • TOM-WA-TOM-WA-
    Posts: 485Platinum Member
    showphoto.php?photo=1438&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=1
  • TOM-WA-TOM-WA-
    Posts: 485Platinum Member
    929S3000039-med.jpg
  • greggd
    Posts: 145Expert Adviser
    Jon B]93537_Hudson_T-Plane_006-med.jpg



    Nice car, Gregg! Nicer than mine, that's for sure!



    It's not difficult to post photos or the URL for their location, Gregg (and everyone else!). It's basic 'cut and paste'. You can simplify the following directions if you want wrote:
    will appear around the URL, in your message and this will open up as a photo when you post it.

    As always, thank you Jon B!

    Gregg
  • DAK
    Posts: 96Expert Adviser
    I normally lurk around this forum, but felt that I should throw my two-cents in for once.



    I have a 1953 (possibly 1952) Twin-H 4-door. Inherited it from my father when he passed away about a year and a half ago. He obtained it in the mid-sixties, so probably only one previous owner. When he moved out to the country, he put it in "storage", by which I mean that it was parked in a covered area on his farm. It sat there until the early nineties, when he decided to bring it out and restore it as a retirement project. The body (and most of the interior) was intact, but needed repainting, chroming, etc. The engine had to be completely rebuilt. Rats had made a nest under the hood. You can still see where their piss corroded the block! Many thousands of dollars later, it was back in beautiful condition. Not show-room, but still looking damned fine.



    I've since moved the car to the underground garage of my apartment in the city. But I moved clear across the continent for a year ago, so its been just sitting there, waiting for me to return (in another year or two). I start it up whenever I return, but it makes me sad to think of it. Such a fine vehicle deserves to be out on the road!
  • Chuck H
    Posts: 5Hitchhiker
    Funny! When I realized I would probably never get around to restoring my Hudsons, I tried advertising them for sale and got no interest at all. So who cares if I rod them or even cut them up for parts.
  • 46HudsonPU46HudsonPU
    Posts: 5,147Moderator
    Chuck H wrote:
    Funny! When I realized I would probably never get around to restoring my Hudsons, I tried advertising them for sale and got no interest at all. So who cares if I rod them or even cut them up for parts.

    Depends upon how and where you advertised them... I don't see many on Ebay that don't get lot of attention, and if they were posted here you would get quite a bit.



    As for 'rodding' - to each his or her own. It's your car, do what you will with it. If it is for 'parts', so be it - keeps the others going.



    You don't happen to have a 'tree' growing out of the engine compartment of one of those "field queens", do you?
  • tristansdaztristansdaz
    Posts: 624Platinum Member
    Just two cents worth for information: Bill Albright can verify without question that my partner and I personally junked over 150 RUSTFREE Stepdown Hudsons in the early 1970's. Nobody wanted them. The restorers of the day had what they wanted and didn't care to save any more of them. We saved as many trim parts and sheetmetal as possible and Bill ended up with a good portion. The 'restorer' cars of the time frequently were the type of the 1953 Hornet Coupe on EBay that's all original. The restore/rod debate will go on forever. Now that it's 30 years later, the cars that did survive frequently were 'parts cars' of the 1970s. I think that the owner of the car should be able to do what he wants with it. That the Hudson name lives on no matter what incarnation is a solice to me.
  • Ruth&Jerry
    Posts: 60Senior Contributor
    Well here goes for the 3rd time !

    Just trying to answer your roll call but keep getting kicked out.

    Hi guys this is Jerry of 'RuthandJerry' in England..

    Now I don't want to get caught up in all your side-shooting discussions on stock v modified v rodded Hudsons, just listing for your interest our little collection.



    First up is my 1934 H8 Convertible, which incidently I had up for sale recently on this very forum and in the WTN with little to no interest.

    After 7 years of a nut and bolt restoration, with no foreseeable end, and the car being a no sale, a decision was made to put it on the road as a roadster i.e no fenders, hood or top. This now means it will be back on the road next year after an absence of nearly 40 years. People are now gagging to see this car finished to that point, and for me while I'm still of an age to enjoy it. The fenders can wait til I'm an old man.

    Next up is Ruth's 1935 Terraplane Coupe, which we imported 4 years ago basically as a rolling shell and boxes of parts (been there ?!?). Now 3/4 of the way through a 95% correct restoration.

    Also have 2 1935 H8 LWB sedans awaiting restoration. Ruth has ideas of wedding car use so modifications to meet whatever legalities will have to be made.

    Then we have 'The Trucks' ....

    First one is 1942 C20 SWB which was imported around 4 years ago, bought unseen and was a mess. I doubt many of you would have took this on as a restoration. This is now, thanks to good old Ebay, friends and the bank manager, back together, painted and with insignia to represent a miltary vehicle that would have been used on any of the US air bases here in East Anglia during WWII. Now I know Hudson probably never issued such a vehicle to the miltary during this period, but this is just my tribute to the servicemen who flew from the bases in this area.

    Then we have my 1941 C10 SWB truck which when imported was a stock running truck albeit having had a hard life. It was all stock and original, but pretty worn out. Now if you've ever visited England or live here and have experience of driving on our roads, and that's not just sitting in your cab driving around Buckingham Palace Guv, I'm talking about our twisty 10 feet wide 2-way bumpy country roads, or busy 2-way A roads with a big-wheeler up your butt, a 175 ci flatty with sloppy gears at 45mph ain't always fun! So it now has a 289 ci Ford V8, top loader gear box and 9' rear axle. I now enjoy the truck much more, have confidence in it and can drive it 100 miles to a show, where it's normally the only Hudson there.

    Finally we have a second 1941 SWB C10. whih I imported recently to re-build as a project with my son Luke who is now 15 years old. This may well end up his truck so which way we go with it, at this point, I don't know, but I hope you guys will be here to answer his questions when the time comes!



    It's very easy to say 'Oh I wouldn't have done that if it was my car'. We love our Hudsons and do what we feel is in their best interests, to suit our requirements, and also to hopefully keep them alive to be enjoyed by future generations.

    Well that's all, hope it's been fun reading, thanks and Hi to all our Hudson friends around the world.
  • hudsontechhudsontech
    Posts: 4,042Platinum Member
    My opinion, in case anybody gives a damn, is you pays your money, you buys your car - it's yours to do what you want with it and the devil take the rest.

    If you want to street rod or modify, fine - it's yours.

    If you want to paint it pink with purple polka dots - you got to live with it.

    Bottom line is restored, modified or street rodded - it ain't a square bundle of scrap metal ready to be made into razor blades by the Yokohama submarine, screen door and razor blade factory in Japan!!!

    Only thing I ask of anybody modifying or street rodding - try to do it in such a way that someday somebody might be able to restore it to original with as little trouble as possible.

    My soap box for the evening.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr
  • Ruth&Jerry
    Posts: 60Senior Contributor
    I thought this thread was to tell everyone about our cars, not go over and over that same 'ol stock V modified line. Alex I for one am interested in your cars and experiences with them, I'm sure your Hudson knowledge and history with them goes way back past mine.
  • tombpa
    Posts: 253Gold Member
    In answer to your comment. Thats why this is called a Forum. We discuss things, all kinds of things.
  • `Hudsonator`Hudsonator
    Posts: 858Platinum Member
    I'm with Alex completely on this matter.



    I don't intend to do anything that I can't reverse back to original and in the process of looking for the parts I want/need for modification - I'm picking up original pieces that I lack along the way.



    Mark
    Gimme a Hudson, with that "Instant Action"
  • TOM-WA-TOM-WA-
    Posts: 485Platinum Member
    100_0838.jpg

    I always thought it would be great to have so much money that I could

    buy anything in the world that I wanted....



    I would buy the Mona Lisa and since I own it I could Modify it and bring it

    up to date since it is so old and outdated..



    Well since I can't afford That maybe I'll just do a hudson..
  • 46HudsonPU46HudsonPU
    Posts: 5,147Moderator
    Well, I'll say one thing - Anyone that sees that car WILL remember it - maybe in their nightmares. If the tail looks like this, what does the front look like?
  • TOM-WA-TOM-WA-
    Posts: 485Platinum Member
    100_0840.jpg 100_0845.jpg Couple More Shots Of The "RATMOBILE"
  • Club Coupe
    Posts: 206Gold Member
    YIKES!!! "Dagmars" on steroids!!
  • rambos_riderambos_ride
    Posts: 3,123Platinum Member
    YIKES! I like nicely done custom cars but - (insert sound of violent wreching) - Perfect example of what NOT to do to a HUDSON! A Pacer or Matador would have made a better start.
  • toadhaulexpress
    Posts: 3Hitchhiker
    Ok here's to the roll call I have a 1930 Essex Challenger sedan 4 door

    Since its not a Hudson can I do what I want out of it :)

    Rolling frame just about done when I get to the body can I count on any one here for help locating a few things that I need body was going going just about gone.

    Is there anyone I can bug for pitures of there's so I can get things right?

    Have a good 4th





    As far as it goes what ever turns your crank!!

    My sons are into lowriders they want me to put 20" rims on all my cars LOL
  • tristansdaztristansdaz
    Posts: 624Platinum Member
    20" rims were pretty common when your Essex was new :D Oh, the new styled rims... :rolleyes: Enjoy your car however you want to make it. Welcome to the forum, you'll find a great bunch of folks here that are really willing to help out whenever possible. :D
  • jtroberg
    Posts: 51Greasemonkey
    Hi, this is my first time on this forum so I hope to do this correctly: I own a 1937 Terraplane utility coupe. I've had it since 1973. I used it as a driver thirty years ago until it developed a rod knock. Strange, but even then it was an extremely unusual car - several times I'd be driving along and other cars would come up along side. I thought I'd cut them off or something, but what the other driver really wanted to know was, "what kind of car is that?" At least once I was pulled over by another driver, who wanted to know what kind of car it was and was it for sale? Another time some people followed me home from school, knocked on my door and when I answered, asked if I would take $200 for it . . .

    My favorite story is this: Once a friend and I were at a bar shooting pool until 2AM. We were riding home in my '37 when we noticed a car following us. This was in a dark secluded residential area, so we were a little fearful that it would be a robbery, or that the unknown occupants wanted to start a fight for some reason. Finally we decided to get on with whatever was going to happen. We were two reasonably strong males in our twenties, so we figured we could handle ourselves if worst came to worst. I pulled down a side street, the other car made the turn behind us. I pulled up and stopped and waited for the occupants of the other car to begin whatever they intended to begin.

    The following car pulled up alongside my driver's side. I rolled down my window. The passenger in the other car rolled down his window. The passenger asked:

    "What kind of car is that?"

    Me: "It's a Terraplane"

    The passenger had a talk with his driver that I couldn't hear, then asked: "Is that an American car?"

    Me: "Yes, it's a Hudson"

    Passenger: "Thanks, I just won ten bucks!"

    The other driver gunned it and disappeared. My drinking buddy and I laughed all the way home.
  • tristansdaztristansdaz
    Posts: 624Platinum Member
    Very rare car. Great story, welcome to the forum. Yes, you did it right. Is it time to put her back together again? I hope so, there are very few Utility Coupes left.
  • terraplane8terraplane8
    Posts: 357Platinum Member
    I feel like a relative youngster here being all of 46! It is clear that many people here have a long lifetime of Hudson experience, and that is great. For myself I am more interested in the pre-war cars and have a couple of original, dilapidated but mobile '36's (a Terraplane and a H8) and am currently looking at adding a nice '33 T8 sedan that I can use daily if I want to.



    A Railton Light Sports Tourer replica is also on the "dreams are free" shopping list (0-60 in 8.8 in 1935 and 110mph on a 3.3:1 axle) using the T8 and later the H8 chassis & running gear, but that is a dream that will have to wait quite a while!



    I do find that these cars draw the older folk like a magnet whenever I stop, there are lots of these people who know what a Terraplane is but haven't seen one for years and years. And in fact they still perform pretty well on the hills and corners of which there are many around here. The handling has surprised me actually, one can get around corners quite rapidly and also stop in a hurry.
  • tombpa
    Posts: 253Gold Member
    Amusing, Your member name is the same as my younger sons Email name,
  • jtroberg
    Posts: 51Greasemonkey
    In response to BacktoHudsons, yes the car is in a long process of restoration. The engine is rebuilt, the body welded, sandblasted, primed, painted a dark maroon and back on the frame. Soon maybe it will be back on the road. Since I've figured out how to post on this forum I will no doubt be asking for help now and then . . .
  • DAK
    Posts: 96Expert Adviser
    I feel like a relative youngster here being all of 46!



    Heh.

    In that case I'm a baby at 35.
  • rambos_riderambos_ride
    Posts: 3,123Platinum Member
    Thank god someone is finally older than me... (43) ;)
  • tristansdaztristansdaz
    Posts: 624Platinum Member
    Let's not go there...I'm 50 :cool: