1954 Super Jet 2 door project car

dbarrett

After a few years of looking finally found a 2 door Jet project car. It's a 1954 Super Jet, needs a LOT of work (gave $550) but the floorboards/rocker areas are pretty much rust free. Body is pretty good, passenger side door/front fender needs some work. It has the continental spare option, looks like most of the pieces for it are in the back seat. All the glass is good except for the passenger door glass. I found a rusty '54 4 door parts car that has a great grill and other parts. I'm hoping to get it home next weekend and get started. Maybe light blue-white top and add fender skirts?    David

LHudson

Looks like you have a pretty good start. I started working on mine last year. Mine was a true barn find. Had it running in a month or so after I got it home. I am enjoying working on it. Have fun.

dbarrett

It's definitely a project but I can do most of the work. My friend has a paint booth at his home shop so he will be doing the body work/paint. He's been an aircraft painter for over 20 years and does great work. He joked and said he paints Jets all the time!  I'm swapping "hard labor" on his home improvement project for the paint job, just have to buy paint and some supplies. I'm lucky that all my kids like older cars and will help out with the project. We are hoping to have it done in time for the 2018 Nationals in Wisconsin.   David

hudshornet

I thought that one wouldn't last long, I just found it today and was excited that a Hudson had finally appeared in my price range, I guess I know why he didn't call me back good luck with the restoration!

Geoff

Great stuff, and good luck.  Here's my Jet I bought for $50 back in '71.

Geoff 

Jon B

(Bet it didn't look like THAT when you bought it, Geoff!)

Lee ODell

Geoff

Your car is beautiful.  I like the color combination.

Lee O'Dell

hudshornet

Geoff, That is a beautiful car, thanks for sharing the picture.

Geoff

Hey, Jon, you know me, a few weeks work with an adjustable wrench and a paint brush!   Seriously though, it wasn't too bad when I bought it - a bit of rust in the floor pans and the rear fenders, but the major issue was a cracked cylinder block, and being 45 years ago, it wasn't worth much at the auction where I got it. Will cover the history in a future W.T.N. article.

Geoff 

LHudson

Hey  Geoff. It is a nice looking Jet. I am sure it took a lot of work to get it looking that good. Maybe mine will look half as good as yours someday.   LHud

dbarrett

Geoff, that is a very nice car. I'm leaning towards that color combination for mine. Finally got it home, took some pictures underneath before unloading it. Pretty much rust free except for the spare tire well and one small hole in the passenger side front floorboard. It has 1964 Oklahoma plates and has 43,722 on the odometer. The engine is stuck, going to start working on that this week   David

Geoff

Colours I used were Moonstone white and Aquatone -  Dulon,   (Acrylic lacquer).  originally painted in Duco, which had to be completely removed otherwise it will re-act and crack, craze. crinkle, and generally look awful.  Not as shiny as modern two-pot paint, but looks really original.   Did this in 1986. I [painted my Essex in duco (nitro-cellulose) back in '74, and it still looks good too.

Geoff  

Sarah Young

Geoff,
Your tow hitch looks to be a metal plate that's been welded in place?  Or is it removable?

Geoff

It's actually a complicated piece of engineering, because of the continental spare. I had to fabricate a curved fixture that fits inside the  bumper, and  a brace across the rear frame, and from that to the tow hitch itself, also utilising the overrider bolts.   Much more complicated than with the standard bumper.  Incidentally, for the sharp-eyed, the Continental spare and rear bumper are not the  correct Jet ones, but I reckon they look better.   Came off a Nash!

Geoff 

LHudson

My Jet has has a homemade hitch on it. It is like Geoff's. It has a brace welded between the frame. It then comes through the bumper and bolted.  L Hud