Question re Hornet Special - Keys and bumpers

[Deleted User]

When I bought the 54 Special I am restoring, the seller gave me one key and that fits the ignition only. In 1954 was there a separate key for the door locks or are the locks bad?



On the same car, on the front bumper, there were only two bumper guards and no yolk over the front license plate. I recently saw a picture of a supposedly "original" 54 Special, and it had 4 front bumper guards and no yolk over the license plate. Simply put, what is supposed to be on the front bumper.



The rear bumper had two bumper guards and a yolk over the license plate. Is this correct?



Thanks, as always, for any help you can provide.



Doug

harry54

one key for the ignition and doors.... and one for the glove box....

here is a nice original special...



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1954-Hudson-Hornet-Special-LOW-MILEAGE-DAILY-DRIVER-/290460946702?cmd=ViewItem

[Deleted User]

That is the "original" Special I was referring to. It was on Craigslist in the San Francisco area some time ago. I am skeptical that 4 bumper guards on the front was stock but it could be. Would like to see some other opinions on this.



Also, what about the key for the trunk?



Thanks,

Doug

hudsontech

I'm sitting here looking at the 1948-1954 Master Parts Catalogue that I will have on line in the near future. Picture at the beginning of the Body Section shows 2 vertical bumper guards and the parts list says:



230246 (RH)/230247 (LH) - 4C,5C,4D,5D,6D



However, for the front, while it shows the 2 vertical bumper guards near the center line it does not give part numbers for 1954 - only earlier models.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

[Deleted User]

The reason the bumper guard part numbers are for earlier models, is they are the same for the Pacemakers. The Hornet Special used many of the parts that were from the Super Wasp, Wasp and before that the Pacemaker. The rear bumper for the car should be as shown in the posted eBay auction link pictures.

[Deleted User]

Ken, thanks for the reply. But what about the front bumper, 2 bumper guards or 4? Yolk or no yolk.



Thanks,

Doug

[Deleted User]

54 would have two bumper guards on front and no yolk. Both my 54's are this way.



Keys. Trunk and glove box are one key. Ignition and door are other key.

[Deleted User]

51HornetA, thanks for the feedback. The door locks must be rusted up or something as the ignition key won't budge them.



Doug

[Deleted User]

Could be someone replaced the ignition so the door and ignition are different. Easy to take one of the door locks out and then take the ignition and have a lock smith adjust them so the same key works for both.

[Deleted User]

My 54 Hornet Special sedan has a key for the ignition and doors and another for the trunk. It has 2 bumperettes and no ring on the front, 2 bumperettes with what I call a horse collar on the back. This car has 32K original miles and I am the 4th owner. I think Hudson owners in 54 could pretty much order any option they wanted for the Special. The 54's were pretty much a mish mash of parts from all models in the Hudson line. Highly possible that a car could have been ordered with 4 bumperettes front and back. Specials typically had no arm rest in the rear seat but I have seen them with the armrest. Some used the steel (chrome plated) grill while others used stainless and some even had one side steel and the other side stainless. So pretty much whatever you want is OK.
Bob