Hudson "Super 8" History Question

Unknown

Hi all. I have a 1930 Hudson Super 8T which I am looking to do a little historical digging on. I've been told by some that in that year Packard sued Hudson for the rights to the name "Super 8"; is there any validity to this?



Anyone have any links or e-mail addresses for where the Hudson company records wound up?



Thanks.



Zac

Jon B

Most of the Hudson records wound up in the dumpster, when Nash and Hudson merged to form American Motors. The biggest repository of Hudson history and lore, resides with members of the H-E-T Club. Sort of decentralized. In 35 years of being in the Club I have never heard this story. You might find the Packard Club's bulletin board and ask the same question over there. I have a feeling that the Packard company records survived more intact than Hudson's.

Unknown

I've read that only 12 Hudson Super 8 models were made in 1930 before the name was changed to Great 8. I'm not sure if the change was due to a law suit, but checking old federal court records might shed some light.

[Deleted User]

I have wondered about this too! I own a 1930 2 dr coach, no data plate on the firewall so I have no real clue if it was "super 8" or not. But the original headlights have Super 8 on the ring, so that makes me wonder! All of the other badges were gone for the car, but I have some now. I also heard that there were only 12 "super 8" models built, but it would be my guess that they still possibly used the badging that they had left over til they got rid of it al rather than tossing it. I dont think mine is a true "super 8" model, atleast I hope not as it doesnt have enough parts to restore it to original, so it is to become a originalish street rod! I would love to see pictures of your car if you got some!

Aaron D. IL

Well the used the Super 8 model designation in the post war period until 1949 (which incidentally had a very small production The figure 1,074 cars comes to mind in 3 body styles) So if there was indeed a legal battle some compromise must've been reached.

Geoff

All the 1930 Hudsons I have seen have "Hudson Super 8" badges on the radiator shell.

Spencer Yarrow

If only 12 were made I have one of them a Brougham. I know of 3 others all standard sedans & the badge on them says Hudson 8.

Unknown

Spencer Yarrow wrote:

If only 12 were made I have one of them a Brougham. I know of 3 others all standard sedans & the badge on them says Hudson 8.

Does it say Hudson 8 or Super 8?

Spencer Yarrow

Dave53-7C wrote:

Does it say Hudson 8 or Super 8?

The radiator badge & headlight rim on my car both have super 8 the other 3 have Hudson 8 on radiator badge & just 8 on the headlight rim. Will post pics later.

Unknown

Spencer Yarrow wrote:

The radiator badge & headlight rim on my car both have super 8 the other 3 have Hudson 8 on radiator badge & just 8 on the headlight rim. Will post pics later.

Besides ornamentation like radiator and headlight badges, wouldn't the serial number indicate if the car was born as a Super 8? By the way, nice car you have there.

hudsontech

Dave53-7C wrote:

Besides ornamentation like radiator and headlight badges, wouldn't the serial number indicate if the car was born as a Super 8? By the way, nice car you have there.

Serial numbers, in themselves, wouldn't differentiate between Super 8 and Great 8.

However, that said, in my General Information Handbook I have a Standard Equipment List and a Body & Chassis Details list - both say 1930 Hudson Super Eight.

In addition I also have in my files Reference Sheet #35 (January 1930), Mechanical Specifications for Hudson Super Eight, 1930 Models. 1931 Hudson Mechanical Spec Sheets say 1931 Hudson Great Eight.



http://www.hudsonterraplane.com/tech/tech_index.htm



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

HudsonTech

Memphis, TN

Unknown

hudsontech wrote:

Serial numbers, in themselves, wouldn't differentiate between Super 8 and Great 8.

However, that said, in my General Information Handbook I have a Standard Equipment List and a Body & Chassis Details list - both say 1930 Hudson Super Eight.

In addition I also have in my files Reference Sheet #35 (January 1930), Mechanical Specifications for Hudson Super Eight, 1930 Models. 1931 Hudson Mechanical Spec Sheets say 1931 Hudson Great Eight.



http://www.hudsonterraplane.com/tech/tech_index.htm



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

HudsonTech

Memphis, TN

OK, how about model numbers? The mystery deepens.

hudsontech

Dave53-7C wrote:

OK, how about model numbers? The mystery deepens.

Same thing applies - there were only two models, T & U, offered in 1930. Neither 1930 or 1931 assigned names to the models. However, in 1932 Models offered were T-Standard, U-Sterling and L-Major. The Standard (T) and Major (L) were carried over to 1933 and a Super-Six (E) model was added.



So in 1930 Super Eight applied to both T & U.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

HudsonTech

Memphis, TN

Unknown

hudsontech wrote:

Same thing applies - there were only two models, T & U, offered in 1930. Neither 1930 or 1931 assigned names to the models. However, in 1932 Models offered were T-Standard, U-Sterling and L-Major. The Standard (T) and Major (L) were carried over to 1933 and a Super-Six (E) model was added.



So in 1930 Super Eight applied to both T & U.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

HudsonTech

Memphis, TN

Alex,



As usual, you are the bottomless pit of Hudson history.

hudsontech

Dave53-7C wrote:

Alex,



As usual, you are the bottomless pit of Hudson history.

Dave, I really don't have to remember anything, either. Most of it is in my General Information Handbook - which I am still selling for $15 for a CD and $25 fin a loose leaf notebook!! (Shameless advertising here.)



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

(NEC)hudsontech@hetclub.org (drop the (NEC)

Browniepetersen

Aaron D. IL wrote:

Well the used the Super 8 model designation in the post war period until 1949 (which incidentally had a very small production The figure 1,074 cars comes to mind in 3 body styles) So if there was indeed a legal battle some compromise must've been reached.

My 36 simply reads HUDSON 8 with USA under the 8.

hudsontech

There is one thing that hasn't been mentioned here - Hudson used the word "Super" for their models way, way back with the 1916 and up Super Six. In fact Hudson used the word "Super", with a gap between 1933 and 1938, all the way up to 1956.

Long before Packard thought of it.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

Unknown

Thanks all for your comments. I found a guy selling what he called a "Super 8" which he claimed was one of 12 in the world; interestingly he sent along the serial number of the car, which happens to be 7 numbers after my car was manufactured. My original guess was that this guy was blowing smoke, because I can't find any info on there only being so many cars designated as "Super 8". I've also talked with a local Hudsonite who seems to think that the "Super" might have been a trim upgrade package from the regular Great Eight.



The mystery still lives on. My reason for thinking mine was a Super is that it says "Super 8" on the headlight rims, and a bill of sale from 1965 I have from when my great uncle (maternal grandfathers side) bought the car from the other side of my family (maternal grandmothers side), says "Model: Super 8T". I am merely curious as to the Super 8 designation; the guy who told me there were only 12 in the world was likely looking to profit on someone else's ignorance.

hudsontech

Ok, with the bill of sale saying Super 8T, I'd say you have the Model T - serial numbers for those ran from 893402 thru 314292. Broken down into series - 1st Series intro'd Jan 1930 893402 to 909347; 2nd series intro'd in July 1930 909348 to 914292.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

Spencer Yarrow

Dave53-7C wrote:

Besides ornamentation like radiator and headlight badges, wouldn't the serial number indicate if the car was born as a Super 8? By the way, nice car you have there.

The Super 8 pics are my car & the others are the same as the other 3.

I have a number of newspaper & mag adverts. from back then & no reference to Super 8 only Great 8. The serial number of my car 47600 which puts it around the middle of the 126" wheelbase numbers.If only 12 Super 8's were built how were they selected ? ramdomly or a certain number for each body style. There was a Roadster here on the forum a while back with a Super 8 badge on the radiator. Sure would be nice to find out so if we all keep digging an answer to the mystery may be found.

hudsontech

Spencer Yarrow wrote:

The serial number of my car 47600 which puts it around the middle of the 126" wheelbase numbers.

Spencer, Serial number 47600 would be a 1st series Model U - 1st series numbers ran 46599 to 54408, 2nd series numbers 54469 to 57114.



A WAG would put production of your car probably somewhere in late January or early February 1930. Intro date was January 1, 1930.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

Spencer Yarrow

hudsontech wrote:

Spencer, Serial number 47600 would be a 1st series Model U - 1st series numbers ran 46599 to 54408, 2nd series numbers 54469 to 57114.



A WAG would put production of your car probably somewhere in late January or early February 1930. Intro date was January 1, 1930.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

Thanks Alex,

I only have total numbers not a breakdown of series 1 & 2 so a bit more info on my car that is appreciated.

Spencer