The Hudson Wasp was introduced as a budget alternative to the more popular Hornet from the Hudson Motor Company. It was essentially an upgrade from the Pacemaker and replaced the Super Custom in the Hudson model line-up.

It was originally available in 5 body types; a full line of sedans, hardtop, convertible and coupe. With room for 6 it was equipped with an A/M radio, heater, and a 3-speed column shift transmission. The Wasp has the same distinctive unfussy twin bar grill as the Hornet.

The Wasp ran the same shorter wheelbase and ‘monobuilt’ step-down chassis as the Hornet that brought that model so much success on the track. The rear frame struts sit outside the rear wheels, something so distinctive of this marque, but his was not a cosmetic feature but rather a structural element of the design.

The base model used the 232 cubic inch straight six 127hp engine from the Pacemaker, but a more powerful version of the car, the Super Wasp, was available with a higher quality interior and a 262 cubic inch straight eight engine fed by a 2-barrel carb. It is thought performance was limited on the engines so as not to detract from the more expensive Hornet that was quickly earning racing pedigree. The Super Wasp running the ‘twin H’; induction to its 8 cylinders will match the performance of the big 2 barrel 308 cubic-inch straight 6 equipped Hornet, which is a heavier car.

Often in the shadow of its more famous and popular sibling, the Hornet, the Wasp didn’t sell in huge numbers. Prior to Hudson’s merger with Nash under 40k models were sold. After this merger the Wasp continued to be sold but was essentially a completely different car bar the name, now being based on the Nash Statesman platform running a smaller 202 cubic inch engine previously used in the smaller Jet sedan.

The move to the Nash platform did mean the Wasp benefited from coil spring suspension and an improved heating system, along with optional air conditioning and reclining seats, however in performance terms Hudsons generally were now off the pace. In its new form the Wasp did not sell well, just over 7000 units in 1955, as traditional Hudson buyers shunned the marque, viewing the cars as something less than the legendary Hudsons of the past. The newly formed AMC decided a body makeover was required to rejuvenate both the Wasp and Hornet models.

In 1956 the Wasp was restyled with Richard Arbib’s controversial “V Line Styling” and was available with three tone paint options. Only available as a 4 door sedan by this point, the Wasp certainly looked unique, but buyers were unimpressed and sales dropped still further to 2,519 units making this a particularly rare year for any remaining Wasps.

Steve McQueen famously favored Hudsons, and a 2-door Wasp formed part of his collection.