Hudson Italia Sells, Goodbye old Friend

frank spring
frank spring Expert Adviser
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Our Italia (number 22) sold this weekend at The Worldwide Auction in Auburn. A bittersweet event for sure. I saw my fist Italia at age 12, and finally purchased this one many years later in 1996. We have hundreds of stories, and memories about the car as we took it to HET meets and dozens of other shows around the country. In the early years, the car was quite ratty. Most of your comments were gracious, others of you finally caused us to get into gear and get it done.

Last summer we purchased Italia (number 20) another car that needs done. We also have the Hornet Italia, which needs work as well. So with all this work ahead of us, we decided you let someone else enjoy 22 so we could move forward. And after all, who needs three of them?

You are going to read that the buyer paid $352,000 for the car. Many of you will think that is quite remarkable. Others will say not bad for a Jet!

I will leave you with this...what if Hudson had never built the Jet....

Goodbye old friend...

Comments

  • Congrats. Atleast you can move oneto your otherHudsons and bperhaps bring them back to their prior splender.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Some people are going to say $325,000 is way to much - but IMHO I really don't think so. Actually, perhaps a bit low.

    Look at it from this prospective - there were only 26 built (or 25, depending on who you talk to). All are accounted for except, as I recall, 6. So there's 20 running around out there - if that doesn't constitute a "rare" car I sure don't know what does. And how often does one of these show up on the market - I can probably count on 3 or 4 fingers the number over the years.

    I just hope the buyer purchased this car with the idea of enjoying it for a few years - not just flog it back on the auction block in a month or so hoping to make his money + back.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    Ed, I'm glad to hear that you will be restoring other Hudsons. Each one that you have done is a masterpiece. I have enjoyed viewing your restorations at various HET meets and the quality always leaves me in awe. I also enjoyed seeing #22 both before and after restoration. I am sure that it was hard to let it go but you certainly have moved the Hudson name up in the auction standings - and after all, it is a Jet!!
  • I am very pleased the car sold for a good price. The debate on if it is too much or not is mute. Someone had bid it up to a price they felt reasonable and they get to go home with it.

    Mr. Burr is right there were only 26 made and these funds go to making more projects possible. I am so very excited to see the next projects take flight. Live long drive a Jet.

    Todd
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    well, guess I "blew it"! Turned down purchasing an excellent original, exc. it had a '55 Chevy 265 V8 in it, at $4000, and that's what they were asking on a used car lot! Saw others over the years in L.A. I probably could have got for less that $4000, LOL!
    Humph, & the stock market is going down today, again - YEP, my motto should have been "Keep Hudsons, Dump Stocks".
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    and went with old HET buddy Elliot when he traded the owner of the X-161 a couple of hundred $ & a running Hornet coupe for it. Imagine what that will be worth properly restored as it's the only one ever built!
    Ah yes, the follies of one's youth, LOL.
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    Ed: Thanks for posting the result and cutting out the rumors and BS...;)
  • dave s
    dave s Senior Contributor, Moderator
    Good for you, Edward. I always enjoy everyone's comments about what something sold for with no idea what was invested.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    oldhudsons wrote:
    well, guess I "blew it"! Turned down purchasing an excellent original, exc. it had a '55 Chevy 265 V8 in it, at $4000, and that's what they were asking on a used car lot! Saw others over the years in L.A. I probably could have got for less that $4000, LOL!
    Humph, & the stock market is going down today, again - YEP, my motto should have been "Keep Hudsons, Dump Stocks".


    Old buddy, with age comes wisdom so they say!!!! However, after you hit 70 or so nothing seems to matter worth a damn any more.

    From your friend of many years,

    Aunt Hester
    (Nephew Alex doesn't know I "borrowed" his computer when he was getting din din.

    AH
  • 37 CTS
    37 CTS Senior Contributor
    Congrats on the sale of the Italia. It is hard to say "so long" to a car you put your heart into. The end result of having both the new Italia and the X-161, out for the public and HET members to see is of great benefit to all, and will bring you much satisfaction. I am sure all on the forum look foward to seeing the cars when they are restored.
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    hey Ed, do you have a copy of the Sept. '61 Car Life? There is a feature article on the X-161 written by Trevor Constable, with nice photo of Frank Spring, some history, and I think Trevor owned the Italia you just sold!
    Bill A. bought the Italia Trevor owned & promptly resold it, I'm sure for a good profit, to you?
    Interesting as I looked to see who the Editor & Publisher of Car Life was then & it was John Bond of Road & Track fame. After he sold out his business interests he retired to Escondido, Ca., where I retired too but a few years after John died (I met him at least once at a car show(s)). Before he died he sold off his collection, inc. 2 Bugattis & a Duesenberg, and his last car, his '34 Railton "sports tourer", he sold to Buzz Stahl who had helped him work on & restore his cars. Buzz & I became best of friends after I retired to Escondido & met him - Buzz still has the '34 Railton.
    Let me know if you don't have a copy of that Car Life as it has some good shots of the X-161 as it was after Frank & Clara drove it to L.A. - I have an extra I'd send you.

  • One found on the INTERNET
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    I posted this photo a couple of years ago. It was taken in Sweden and is of a "known" Italia...:)
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    can't recognize driver, I'm sure it's not Frank Spring as looks too young for him + looks like guy wearing a T shirt which Frank wouldn't have worn.
    Was trying to read lic. plate to see what state but can't make it out which could help with possible identification.
  • FYI:

    On the Speed Channel, the next program of Classic Cars, (whenever that will be),
    a cream colored Hudson Italia will be featured, along with another wild looking car.
  • dave s
    dave s Senior Contributor, Moderator
    Here are showtimes on Speed Channel
    09/19
    4:00am ET
    Timbs Special and Hudson Italia

    09/20
    3:00pm ET
    Timbs Special and Hudson Italia


    FYI:

    On the Speed Channel, the next program of Classic Cars, (whenever that will be),
    a cream colored Hudson Italia will be featured, along with another wild looking car.
  • frank spring
    frank spring Expert Adviser
    edited September 2011
    A couple more pictures of the Sweden Italia. This car was the show car for the Paris Auto Show in 1954. I made a mold of the bumper from Italia 22, he is in the process of making a front bumper. These kinds of photos are always fun to look at.
This discussion has been closed.