1954 Hornet 2dr hardtop brougham?

MarioG

Did Hudson build a 2 door hardtop brougham in 1954? I know that before the merger they were trying to clear the parts shelves, (or at least I have heard that more than once) but was there a brougham hardtop? Does anyone know where I can find the model production numbers for 1954? 

Thanks Mario

Lee ODell

Yes they did. My son Rick has a 54 2dr Hornet Brougham Special.
The Vin number is on the right front door pillar near the upper door hinge.

Lee O'Dell

MarioG

Awesome, I'm actually looking buying one as my first Hudson. I figured since I can't find them anywhere on the net they must be a more rare version of the Hornets.  Thanks for the info.

Mario

Lee ODell

The term brougham had been dropped in earlier years to 2dr sedan and in 54 it was changed again to
Hudson Super Wasp Club Sedan (shorter than the Hornet)
Hudson Hornet Special Club Sedan

These are the only brougham style models made in 1954 listed in "The History of Hudson by Don Butler"
I have not seen any data by models to know how many were made.
The number still around is probably low.

If you are a member of the Hudson Club you can search through your Club Roster to see who may have one listed by their name. Or put a want ad in the WTN club magazine.

Lee O'Dell

Jon B

Of course, when we say "hardtop" we mean "rigid top", not "pillarless" as the term has come to mean.

Uncle Josh

For my money, and I had and have driven both, the full size Hornet is a better car.  The Wasps (and Pacemakers) are 5 inches shorter, all ahead of the windshield.  Better for racing but don't ride as well.  Make sure you get Twin H (the dual carb setup)

The one on the left is a 54 Super Wasp coupe I scrapped. Who wanted coupe doors? The one in the middle is a 51 Hornet Hardtop and the one on the right is the Twin H Hornet sedan I sold last fall, along with the hardtop after owning it for 11 years.

I still have a 49 Commadore sedan, 47 Pickup, 40 Coupe and 46 Coupe (for sale) and a 36 Terraplane

Lee ODell

I should not ask but I will anyway, pictures and price on 47 PU?
Lee O'Dell

Lee ODell

Jon
Thanks for showing the picture. That color combination looks real good. I like the dark green streaking through the belt line.
Lee O'Dell

Glowplug

My 54 Wasp 2dr sedan. Traded for it in 1976 daily driver till 1981. Sold bought back 2010.

RL Chilton

Actually, Mario, your initial post has conflicting words in it.  

A "hardtop" by the rest of the industry described a pillarless coupe, or a 2DR without a post in it between the front and rear side windows.  Hudson had to have their own name for them and called them Hollywoods.

A brougham (earlier stepdowns), or a 2DR Sedan (later Step-downs)refers to a 2DR (obviously), with the longer roof line, as on the sedan (same roof on a Hudson).  This type of car is pictured in a green model above in an earlier post by Jon B.  

Traditionally, a coupe was a 2DR that had a smaller rear seat area.  A sedan (without nomenclature) referred to a 4Dr that had a full-sized rear seat area.  Therefore, a 2DR Sedan was a 2Dr with a full-sized rear seat area (which required the longer roof line).   

Hardtop is one thing, a Brougham or 2DR Sedan is something else.  To make it more confusing, originally Hudson used Brougham to refer to the 2 DR sedans early on and then dropped it for a year or two and then later on used the same term, Brougham to describe a convertible.  That's Hudson idiosyncrasy for you.  

All of those terms were carry-overs from the horse-and-buggy days.  Trouble was, through the years the auto manufacturers (and more specifically, their marketing departments) used what names as they thought would sell better.  Today it's a Brougham, tomorrow, it's a 2DR Sedan, because Brougham is old-fashioned, or whatever.  

ArkieJazz

Not sure where this thread got off track. Seems that some of you think the Hornet Specials were not full size. They were in fact exactly the same wheel base as the 7D Hornets.  The differences were in the trim and interior levels. To me, the '54 Hornet Special Club Sedan is a very nice body style. That's mine in my little whirly gig photo on here.  It's my daily driver. Drives identically to my 7D Hornet.... same 308 engine and same overdrive trans and rear gears.

Uncle Josh

Sorry Lee, haven't looked here for a while.47 Pickup (with a 39 eight) isn't for sale until I get my 46 together, which will be after the 40 Victoria 44 Coupe.

Nevada Hudson

The '55-'57 Hollywoods had the same rear seat legroom as the 4 door sedans, but of coarse they used the different Nash body.

Lee ODell

Uncle Josh
Thank you for replying. Love the photo. Extreme method taken to protect paint from oxidation. lol,
When I was in High School dad had two PU's, his 46 had an eight. Smooth running and powerful. 47 had original 6 cly engine.
Lee O'Dell