Picture of a Hudson 8 Legend

ivanz62

This photo was taken in the late Pat Meehan's yard in Southern California when his widow was selling some of the treasures he left behind. Bought by 33kc1989 on this forum from near St. Louis. I bet there are some stories from members about Meehan in this one to share.
Ivan

hudsontech

Interesting. I don't recall seeing the "8" script on the grille on these cars before. But, then, there are so few of them around who knows.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

RL Chilton

Great looking car. Has it been restored?

oldhudsons

when he died he had 2 '33 T8s, a coach & a sedan, neither of which was stock - Pat was a professional mechanic for the state of Calif., never restored a car but most of his were usually driveable - had a '54 H cp. with an early Hemi at one time - very smart, interesting, witty guy; met him shortly after he hit L.A., always loved his company

StillOutThere

Pat could sit anywhere that served coffee and order the first coupe and never leave until he had drunk the place dry. I never knew any man that could consume SO MUCH COFFEE. He was born and probably raised in Chicago and the old town vibe never left his character.

oldhudsons

and unfortunately, with the coffee, endless cigarettes

Nevada Hudson

Right, Pete! All day and all night!

oldhudsons

Nevada & I believe cigs did in both Pat & his dad

oldhudsons

I've got to relate a little story about Pat so that those many of you who never met him can kinda get a "flavor" or his personality. First I have to tell you what he looked like & how he spoke: he was of short to medium height, powerfully built (had been an amateur boxer), and always wore a snap-brimmed cap. He almost always spoke in short sentences, literally spitting out pithy comments (caustic) or witticisms (yes, he was quite smart & hated to confess he'd gone to college for a few years, had served in the Korean War too).
Anyway some of us "locals" attended a swap meet in Canoga Park (west San Fernando Valley area of L.A.), there was a row of the usual stuff (Frauds & Chevys) parked with their hoods up. Pat drove the '54 Hornet cp. I mentioned above, backed in & put the hood up displaying the big fat Chrysler Hemi (he never did much to the exterior, don't recall him ever repainting a Hudson, his cars were "drivers"). He was standing by the front fender, several of us chit-chatting, when a guy walked up & said "I didn't know Hudsons came with a Hemi V8" (or words to that effect) to which Pat promptly responded (straight faced): "yah, it was an option in '54", then closed the hood & walked away - we had a helluva time keeping a straight face while he didn't even crack a grin.
He was really a neat guy to know - when Pat would start to speak, everyone else would shut up as he never wasted words (like yours truly), was very knowledgeable & LOVED T8s (had had a T8 conv. he'd put a Hornet engine into, said he never lost a drag race in so. Chicago but left it with a "buddy" when he went to Korea but when he got back "buddy" had sold it!).
Enough already for a Mon. morning, LOL ~

33kc1989

Here are a few pics from pats place. I have more from when it arrived in St. Louis but either lost on phone or computer. Also I haven't done much to it other than clean up and store in garage. I'm currently working on another that will have a new 33 ford chassis, front axle, etc with a 392 hemi with 518 overdrive. This car war too far gone to even thinking of bringing back original. I will post pics when I can.

oldhudsons

of the various T8 body styles avail. I'd say the coach one of the rarest. This one that Pat had has a very nice straight body as I recall. He also had a cp. out of San Jose that had been part of the Mendoza "hoard" but unless he had it stashed in one of the other places he kept & stored cars when he died, he must have sold it, which was not like him.
Wonder what happened to the '54 H cp. with Hemi engine, if he still had it when he died?

ivanz62

I understand the coupe was sold to a young someone Wilma Meehan knew locally. I'm told it was quite complete and a great restoration candidate.

oldhudsons

I understood that a young man who lived either next door or near by got one of this '33 T8s, perhaps it was he who got the cp.
Ivan - yes, as I recall it was. It was pulled out of a barn on a farm outside San Jose that Carl M. had rented. Several years after he'd died, and the rent hadn't been paid, farm owner approached Charlie & told him of the cars & parts & said if he didn't get his rent $$$ he was going to junk them! Charlie called Pat as he knew how Pat loved the '33 T8 in re the cp. & me as a nice '29 H cp. there too + truck loads of parts - I saw the T8 when I went to get the '29 & it looked very nice! Charlie was a good friend of Carl's & was at San Mateo.
Ken - yes, "taciturn" would describe him to those he didn't know well.