'34 Hudson Experimental

StillOutThere

Because new people read this forum all the time, I'd like to re-ask an age old question: What if anything is known about the experimental car shown in Hudson's shops in 1934 in the attached photo? Are there any other photos? Is there a quality, unblurred print of this photo that I have not seen? Anything known about the drive train or wheelbase of this car?

Really the only comment I would have is that we know Hudson under Frank Spring was giving serious consideration (as was the whole industry) to applying aerodynamic principles to their cars. In fact I have some comments in an article from Spring about applying aero to the '34 models. Was this car an advanced study project?

One of these days someone will know. Perhaps one of these days that very construct will come out of an old garage built like a vault! Well, we can hope.

lostmind

My guess it's a Hupmobile or Grahm Design they were studing. But you asked if someone
"knows" . couldn't help myself.

bent metal

hmmm? ...Similar to the Arrowhead car, kinda sorta. Only different. But still Frank Spring. Interesting.

How do you know where this was taken? What year, etc.? Or even if it was Hudson. Or just someone's person car who just stopped by for a chat?

StillOutThere

To Bent Metal: Arrowhead car? What is that?

Questions Answered:
The photo was always part of the Hudson photo archives (later AMC's). As I recall it even appeared in John Conde's "The Cars That Hudson Built" book, later called "American Motors Family Album", which were sourced when John worked at AMC with his captions added. The "...Hudson Built" that I have was signed by Conde in 1981 and shows the pic. The caption in that book reads (1934 Hudson -- Stuart G. Baits took this rather indistinct photograph of the rear of a Frank Spring experimental model in 1934. No other pictures of this car are known to have survived" (as of 1981).
Always known as a "Hudson Experimental" and always dated 1934. The shapes of the cars to the rear are best identified as Hudsons as well.

MikeWA

Re Arrowhead- Googled Pierce Arrow, because I remember a streamlined car that was similar- I think its the Silver Arrow. Couldn't find anything under Arrowhead. But the back window is obviously different that the alleged Hudson experimental.

MikeWA

Car looks much more like a Cord or Hupmobile Skylark (both used the same molds).

[Deleted User]

Yes it does ,shape of trunk and rear window . No lights or bumper obvious though,
Roger

StillOutThere

Are any of you aware that Frank Spring was one of the designers deeply involved with '30s streamline aerodynamic developments for the automobile? Paul Jaray would be a contemporary and you'll find similarities here: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/the-origins-of-streamline-design-in-cars-2998.html

Baits took that picture of Spring's experimental in 1934. By 1944 Spring is credited with the attached unnamed car. I haven't found anything that directly ties his work on this car with Hudson Motors but since he was under contract to Hudson, it almost has to have been done at Conner and Jefferson. You may agree that it could be a progression from the earlier car above, particularly the "open" bumpers on the front of the '44 car and the rear of the '34 car. You can almost make out the origins of the stepdown design in the fuselage of this car.

Glowplug

While not a specific answer to your original or recent question about Frank Spring, the following oral history does make reference to some of the activitites of Frank as well as the influences that might have been insturmental in his overall approach to aerodynamic automobile design.
autolife.umd.umich.edu/Design/Andrews_interview.htm

bent metal

Arrowhead Spring Water streamliner/tear drop. Made by Advanced Auto, or something like that, in LA. Totalled in like '37, or so? Just read an artical on this. Horseless Carriage mag. Oct 2012, ...Maybe? But it ties some of these people and cars together, along with Murphy in Pasadena.


You need to find and read that article! I've got my facts all mixed up.

Recessed Woods lights, a fin down the middle. Just cool.