What's coming in the future.
I know the purist out there are going to not like this, but be prepared for a possible onslaught of modified Hudson's coming to fruition. I will just bet the Cars movie will inspire a lot of rodders to look very seriously at the Hudson in a whole new light. I kind of go both ways on the subject. If done tastlefully and without destroying the original beauty of the car, it's yours, do what you want. I also think the the Lexus powered Conv. is awesome. I guess that some will have me wearing a crinsom A on my chest now. Lol.
Bob
Bob
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I don't wanna get into the Rod vs Original argument we've all been down that road before in this forum but I will say that they could possibly go the way of '49-'51 Mercs. So many of those have been chopped and rodded that it is rare to see an authentically original Merc. I even heard some company made or still makes aftermarket fiberglass bodies of '50 Mercs. I don't see any reason to chop a step-down on 3 grounds 1. They came from the factory with 11" window openings which you can narrow further with those window vents if you really don't care for visability. 2. It's a uni-body car 3. Most people chop Mercs to get the same look Hudsons already have stock! If and when they outlaw internal combustion engines or at least gasoline burning ones we all may wind up modifying our cars if we wish to keep driving them. Hope I don't live to see it though. I'm no purist in any way but if you want a new Lexus go get one. I hope the CARS movie will inspire more rodders to make period-correct Hudson race cars with exoticly machined and powerful Hornet 308's...maybe some blue eyeballs in the windshield LOL. Everyone and their grandma has a V8. It's no longer impressive as far as your skill as a "rodder". I know Americans really don't care that much about history but it deserves some respect.0
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If I had money I'd bet anyone that the Cars movie will have little to no effect on Hudson prices or availability.
Hudson notoriety will increase in that more people will know what a Hudson looks like and may comment on your ride - but that's a long ways from going to see a movie and deciding to plunk down 10,000-100,000 to build one or buy one.
If you all wanted to make some money on the Hudson name you shoulda bought stock in Pixar and Disney and cash in on the real dough - the merchandising for the movie!
I think Hudson's will putter along in relative obscurity just as they always have been.0 -
Rambo you're probably right...... here's a website of all the merchandising being done for CARS http://kokogiak.com/cars/index.html0
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Aaron D. IL wrote:Rambo you're probably right...... here's a website of all the merchandising being done for CARS http://kokogiak.com/cars/index.html
@! That's a ton of stuff...now if I'd only followed my own advice and bought stock...:rolleyes:0 -
LOL not all of us can manage to buy the next Microsoft stock at 10 cents. Buying stock in movie productions is a huge gamble anyhow.0
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rambos_ride wrote:If I had money I'd bet anyone that the Cars movie will have little to no effect on Hudson prices or availability.
Hudson notoriety will increase in that more people will know what a Hudson looks like and may comment on your ride - but that's a long ways from going to see a movie and deciding to plunk down 10,000-100,000 to build one or buy one.
If you all wanted to make some money on the Hudson name you shoulda bought stock in Pixar and Disney and cash in on the real dough - the merchandising for the movie!
I think Hudson's will putter along in relative obscurity just as they always have been.
Dan,
Did you see the movie? Hello, McFly?
I'm going to send you some Red Bull so you can wake up and smell the roses! I know you are single and don't have any kids. You have no understanding of their influence on parents. You haven't experienced driving your Hudson around yet. It is MUCH more reaction than "hey, thats a nice old car". The marque has ALREADY increased in value significantly this last year and I believe much of that was because of speculation and anticipation of "Cars." Also, one cannot possibly say that a Hudson Hornet with a legendary racing history in a MEGA major hit movie, with a major role, played by a legendary actor will not affect prices. It is statistically impossible for values to remain status quo. Look at what the movie Tucker did for the prices of Tuckers. That movie will not be seen by a quarter as many people who are going to see "Cars". And talk about the effect of merchandising!!! People buy classic cars everyday and what will be different is that these people buying cars will now know there is a special car out there and they will want one. Literally tens of millions will see this movie and how many 1951 Hudson Hornet Club Coupes are available forsale? You can count them on your hands and maybe your toes. Supply and demand. As for other Hudsons, it will all trickle down to the stepdowns and earlier cars. Hudsons, Obscure? Heretic! As for the Hashes and Pacers...... you can still buy em cheap!0 -
How can you put a non-Hudson engine in a Hudson and not destroy the original beauty? At least half the beauty is in the engine.0
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Il Have Done Hudsons For 35 Years Because I Love Them, The People And The Club. Will Always Have Some To Pass On (sell) And Some To Keep, At Least Till I Am Gone, Bill Albright0
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Now - that doesn't mean they won't keep going up in value just like any other classic car. Popularity has its virtues - but it's the lack of Hudsons comparitive to their counter parts that is helping drive the values....I think Hudson's will putter along in relative obscurity just as they always have been...
And the reason I chose a word like "obscurity" is that the "masses" will love the looks of a Hudson and revel in the History but then they'll quickly find out that there's a HUGE problem in the lack of heavy reproduction parts (fenders, doors, quarters, etc...), and another pet peeve of mine - not having the myriads of different stainless trim available in reproduction parts.
I really think the lack of the reproduction parts I mentioned is responsible (at least in near recent history) for the lack of restorations and people choosing to go custom.
Of course - the obscurity factor is one reason why I bought my Hudson and the lack of reproduction parts didn't bother me - but it would most looking to fix or buy a car.0 -
I don't see the movie having that much of an effect on the prices of the Hornets, either. Some, maybe. Much, doubtful.
And I don't see Tucker and Cars having much similarity. There were what, 48 total Tuckers made? Hmmm. A 100,000 Hornets produced maybe... Seems to be a big difference in supply.
Saw a 10 year old girl playing with a McDonalds 'Doc' this week. I kept saying, "that's the Hudson Hornet". She kept looking at me like, "what the heck are you talking about?"0 -
I do agree there is a difference in the movie Tucker and Cars. Cars is a verified Mega hit. Tucker was not. There were very few Tuckers made and that certainly is one of the main factors in their value. There were more Hornets produced but that supply is certainly limited. Same for any stepdown. One can also look at the "dukes of Hazzard" or "Starsky and Hutch" and their effect on their star cars. Dan has a good point on restoration parts. You can still find Hudson "project cars" and it is difficult and expensive to restore them compared to a 57 Chevy. Marketing is everything. How many kids are playing with little toy Tucker cars? None. None can deny the effect marketing such a TV commercials has on our society. "Cars" and the merchandising is one big Hudson commercial. To say it will not positively influence values on the marque is (I say again) statistically impossible. I'm not saying all Hudsons will double in price but a few models will certainly benefit, especially a Hudson Hornet Club Coupe. These I can see a 50% increase by next Feb. They still have plenty of room for price increase when compared to Brand X coupes. Perhaps I am jaded, living in the land of "fruits and nuts" (So Cal) but it is the mecca of the car culture world. People out here adore cars and they buy them too. Time will surely tell either way. I can guarantee you prices won't go down! You non believers shall come back from the dark side!0
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nhp1127 wrote:I do agree there is a difference in the movie Tucker and Cars. Cars is a verified Mega hit. Tucker was not. There were very few Tuckers made and that certainly is one of the main factors in their value. There were more Hornets produced but that supply is certainly limited. Same for any stepdown. One can also look at the "dukes of Hazzard" or "Starsky and Hutch" and their effect on their star cars. Dan has a good point on restoration parts. You can still find Hudson "project cars" and it is difficult and expensive to restore them compared to a 57 Chevy. Marketing is everything. How many kids are playing with little toy Tucker cars? None. None can deny the effect marketing such a TV commercials has on our society. "Cars" and the merchandising is one big Hudson commercial. To say it will not positively influence values on the marque is (I say again) statistically impossible. I'm not saying all Hudsons will double in price but a few models will certainly benefit, especially a Hudson Hornet Club Coupe. These I can see a 50% increase by next Feb. They still have plenty of room for price increase when compared to Brand X coupes. Perhaps I am jaded, living in the land of "fruits and nuts" (So Cal) but it is the mecca of the car culture world. People out here adore cars and they buy them too. Time will surely tell either way. I can guarantee you prices won't go down! You non believers shall come back from the dark side!
OK Mr. Darkside (haha)..... As a Sociology major I'll give you the statistical argument on CARS affecting prices. Most people who go and see it will still be oblivious to Hudson's, most will not be car nuts per se however if millions of people go and see the movie, are aware of the Hudson marque, and want one, and maybe people who fall into that catagory are 1% of the millions of movie goers, that's still an increase in demand.
I think there are other factors right now effecting the value as much as the movie. Limited supply: Hudson made a lot of step-downs and '51-'52 were pretty good production years for the company...not as good as 1950 though. (don't we wish they made more coupes than sedans?)
The stock market isn't doing much for the average investor right now and people are looking for certain other "investments" to hedge inflation.
Everyone in the car hobby has been there and done that with Big 3 makes of cars and outside of the bulk of the hooby which is still muscle cars you could reasonably expect to drive a step-down and get roadworthy performance when stacked up against other cars of that era. Does that make more gearheads interested necesarily?
However the older generation of Hudnuts is, well getting older. Many of them I talked to aren't interested in crawling around under restoration projects anymore and they're looking for already restored cars they can just drive without a lot of work. Restored Hudson Hornets are probably in short supply. Also in the next few decades people who bought or drove the cars new or slightly used will be selling their cars and most HET members will be their younger family memebers, people who bought them in the '60's- early '80s (when no one really wanted Hudsons and you couldn't give em away), and finally people who are just pure enthusiasts and have no other personal/historical connection to the cars. Many cars will be coming up for sale. Will that balance things out on price or value for people who truly want them?
Even if certain parts are very hard to find or not reproduced I think there will always be a few of us crazy enough to want to restore a Hudson. It is not a beginners car to restore really. A '57 Chevy you can get every part right down to the knobs on the dash. What the HET club needs on that front is to grow membership enough to maintain a high enough demand for parts to make reproduction economical.
1950's cars are still not going to be in demand as much as muscle cars I think but will increase in demand relative to the rest of the whole market for antique cars. Hudsons have not traditionally kept up in value of Big 3 makes. If they do increase in value it may be a correction for all the years when every other gear head had Hudson pegged as a looser orphan make of car.0 -
It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out. I personally think the "Doc" fad will pass, with the next blockbuster movie and its action figures. The masses are incredibly fickle, and quickly move on the the "next big thing." I did appreciate the good boost for Hudson by the accurate portrayal of history in the movie, and it may turn some people on to the hobby. For me, it was seeing an incredibly low, shiny black Hudson street rod coming slowly across the big gravel parking area next to a hamburger stand in North Bend, Washington sometime in the late '50's. . . I've never forgotten that image, and have been fascinated with stepdowns ever since.0
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i think alot of the wanting is of things as they were with 6 cly flat head and twin carbs and twin pipes coming out the rear i go to alot of shows and yes there is a following for street rod cars there always will be but to think that every one is going to want that is like having you head in the sand! I know first had when I open my hood it's gets looked at alot by all ages and iI get alot of questions about the set up under the hood i don't think that happens when you see a 350 or a chevy big block it's whats odd that is whats hot wand what we have is hot !!!
how many time I have seen big $ street rods sell for pennys on the $ because it's not what the buyer wants0 -
Mike (WA) wrote:It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out. I personally think the "Doc" fad will pass, with the next blockbuster movie and its action figures. The masses are incredibly fickle, and quickly move on the the "next big thing."
I agree, look at the action figures from "XMen", "Mr. Incredible", "Toy Story", etc. They are collected by the hardcore collectors but you can see them at the thrift store all day long for 10 cents or so. Cars are just a bigger collectible, all of the cars in the movie will see a slight increase in interest but as the realization of care, maintenance and general cost of a collectible vehicle is there, the masses will move on to the next "big thing".0 -
I don't know what most people think but I don't usually base my buying habits on a cartoon, even though it is voiced buy an actor like Paul Newman. If ebay is any show of what is big its Sarge I saw him selling for $38 plus shipping I bought him for $2.88, the $35 I made off of him bought me new rear shocks with money left over. Ever since 1977 and Star Wars came out merchandising has been the biggest thing for a movie George Lucas kept all merchandising rights for Star Wars and the studios laughed at him and look at how much money came from that. I am young but I sure am not going to be influenced by a movie into buying a car or maybe I am. I am looking for a stock 1951 Hornet with googly eyes and a great smile.0
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I don't see it having much of an effect on the values. Look at the Tucker - only 47 built and the existing cars are all accounted for. When one comes up for sale, it's usually known only among the Tucker community. Those were aorth what they're worth before the movie. the movie just made them known and cemented their value. The movie series "Phantasm" didn't affect '71 'Cudas, nor did "Vanishing Point" affect Challengers all that much, unless you happened to find a white '70 big block, then maybe.
One series/movie that did have an effect on the value is the "Dukes of Hazzard", across the spectrum of '68-'70 Chargers. If you have a documented TV or movie car with the known provenance, there you go!
Since the "Cars" vehicles are obviously cartoons, who is to say with certainty if the movie will affect Hudson coupes, '57 Chevy LCF trucks, '04 Porsches, or '70 Plymouth Superbirds? Time will tell.0 -
I don't think "Cars" will have any long term effect on Hudsons. Many of the people (not all though, and not the Hudfans) are younger people with children who cannot afford to be restoring cars with young children. They will think the movie is great, but they won't be running in droves out to buy Hornets, or any Hudson for that matter. A few maybe, but a relative few I believe. I agree with the statements regarding aftermarket products. Hudson will never be a major hot item in the auto world due to the fact there are relatively few parts to restore them with. And I read everyday on this forum how guys are having trouble finding parts, or this breaks, and that wears out....
The reason people love the 49-51 Merc is that they look so cool "rodded." The market for stock '50's cars is a small one. They all look relatively the same, maybe some uglier than others, but he fact remains, the majority of the auto nuts out there prefer rodded cars to stock. If this wasn't true, you would see nothing but stock Mercs around, but, you don't. Only the purists and some from another generation follow the stock genre. Like it or not, hot rod shows will always bring out more people then original car shows. Many younger folks I talk with who would like a vintage car, don't want one with a flathead 6! They don't want a car that is hard to get parts for, probably won't stand up to daily driving, etc. They like the hotrod looks with the modern power. You may say some people come by and look at your flathead, but its just a curiousity, most would never build one. Other than the window height, Hudsons in the '50's don't look much different than any other car someone's grandfather or great-grandfather drove (no age offense meant folks). The majority of car enthusiast do not want to drive one of these stock. Of course within our club, you would find this not to be true, the clear majority would prefer a stock Hudson to a rodded one. But that is a relatively small percentage of the car consumer market.
I believe these statements are true, (1) a small number of owners will want to build/buy an original car, and (2) the majority will hot rod them, and (3) if neither (1) or (2)...the car will die in obscurity. And I don't believe this movie will change any of that.
Jay :-)0 -
"If ebay is any show of what is big its Sarge I saw him selling for $38 plus shipping I bought him for $2.88"
Great! I hadn't noticed that. Sarge is the one my son is missing from the set...0 -
jsrail wrote:I don't think "Cars" will have any long term effect on Hudsons. Many of the people (not all though, and not the Hudfans) are younger people with children who cannot afford to be restoring cars with young children. They will think the movie is great, but they won't be running in droves out to buy Hornets, or any Hudson for that matter. A few maybe, but a relative few I believe. I agree with the statements regarding aftermarket products. Hudson will never be a major hot item in the auto world due to the fact there are relatively few parts to restore them with. And I read everyday on this forum how guys are having trouble finding parts, or this breaks, and that wears out....
The reason people love the 49-51 Merc is that they look so cool "rodded." The market for stock '50's cars is a small one. They all look relatively the same, maybe some uglier than others, but he fact remains, the majority of the auto nuts out there prefer rodded cars to stock. If this wasn't true, you would see nothing but stock Mercs around, but, you don't. Only the purists and some from another generation follow the stock genre. Like it or not, hot rod shows will always bring out more people then original car shows. Many younger folks I talk with who would like a vintage car, don't want one with a flathead 6! They don't want a car that is hard to get parts for, probably won't stand up to daily driving, etc. They like the hotrod looks with the modern power. You may say some people come by and look at your flathead, but its just a curiousity, most would never build one. Other than the window height, Hudsons in the '50's don't look much different than any other car someone's grandfather or great-grandfather drove (no age offense meant folks). The majority of car enthusiast do not want to drive one of these stock. Of course within our club, you would find this not to be true, the clear majority would prefer a stock Hudson to a rodded one. But that is a relatively small percentage of the car consumer market.
I believe these statements are true, (1) a small number of owners will want to build/buy an original car, and (2) the majority will hot rod them, and (3) if neither (1) or (2)...the car will die in obscurity. And I don't believe this movie will change any of that.
Jay :-)
The reason 49 to 51 Merc's are so valuable is because of what the James Dean movie 'Rebel without a cause" did for that car- marketing. It will only take two or three pristine Club Coupes going across Barrett Jackson for stupid money and it will set the precident. Again, statistically, it only needs to be a very small percentage of buyers to drive up prices with a limited available car. Jay, I also disagree with your premise that most people will want to modify a stock car. I don't find this to be true in my car experience. Certain models do lend themselves to modifying but not the majority. Also, for some reason, hot rodders don't seem to think a flat six is reliable? these old cars were driven reliably for thousands and thousands of miles. The overhead cam V-8 was a milestone in automotive history but it certainly is not a moon walk in reliability over a rebuilt 308.
Time will tell in values. I've made money on my Hudsons AND I love them.
P.S.- On a different subject, the club IS getting older. The goodie bag for the Western Regional meet included two packets of Metamucil in it. What's up with that?.... please guys lets start recruiting some younger members!0 -
This is pretty easy, really. Upticks from movies aside, the prices will continue to increase slowly for Hudsons in general. They will never be as popular with the general public as the tri-5 chevys, the 60's muscle cars, or the Ford/Mercury V8's. They weren't in their day and they won't ever be, most likely.
The exceptions to this rule will be the full-size '48-'54 coupes and convertibles, and to a slightly lesser extent, the 2dr sedans and hardtops. The convertibles will continue to be a well-heeled enthusiasts car, usually trailered to shows and rarely seen on the public road, for understandable reasons. The coupes, especially done up in vintage stock car livery, will trail convertibles in desireability, but become quite pricey compared to the rest of the general Hudson line. Further, they will be slightly more valuable with the dressed 308 than with a BrandX motor, but we're going to see a LOT more BrandX motors even in otherwise restored cars.
Why BrandX motors? Parts availability, much lower expense, "plug and play" ease of installation, reliability and driveability, and just getting the cars set up for modern driving conditions. Don't get upset with me... I'm a 308 lover! Just recognize that most of the general public couldn't care less about the 308. And sad to say, the straight 8 and 262/232 will almost always get pulled and set aside in favor of another powerplant/tranny combo.
If we're serious about building interest in Hudsons among the general public, we're going to have to start making the Hudson visible and exciting to the public, not just to each other:
1) Less trailering our pristine cars to concours shows for other Hudson afficiandos and more going to local and regional cruise nights (yes, take the cars off the trailers, out of the garages and get them on the street where they belong).
2) Stop driving the Hudsons like they're about to break! A Hornet should be driven at LEAST 5 mph faster than the average car speed on any given road. Throw it into that curve, cut that corner close, stay off the brake and jam throttle past the apex! Why? BECAUSE NOBODY, BUT NOBODY!!! GETS EXCITED ABOUT A POKEY OLD LADIES CAR BLOCKING TRAFFIC!
I love Hudsons and Terraplanes and Essex's. I want them to quicken the pulse of the public. I want them to appreciate in value and esteem. We've got our work cut out for us with the younger generation!0 -
ClayS wrote:This is pretty easy, really. Upticks from movies aside, the prices will continue to increase slowly for Hudsons in general. They will never be as popular with the general public as the tri-5 chevys, the 60's muscle cars, or the Ford/Mercury V8's. They weren't in their day and they won't ever be, most likely.
The exceptions to this rule will be the full-size '48-'54 coupes and convertibles, and to a slightly lesser extent, the 2dr sedans and hardtops. The convertibles will continue to be a well-heeled enthusiasts car, usually trailered to shows and rarely seen on the public road, for understandable reasons. The coupes, especially done up in vintage stock car livery, will trail convertibles in desireability, but become quite pricey compared to the rest of the general Hudson line. Further, they will be slightly more valuable with the dressed 308 than with a BrandX motor, but we're going to see a LOT more BrandX motors even in otherwise restored cars.
Why BrandX motors? Parts availability, much lower expense, "plug and play" ease of installation, reliability and driveability, and just getting the cars set up for modern driving conditions. Don't get upset with me... I'm a 308 lover! Just recognize that most of the general public couldn't care less about the 308. And sad to say, the straight 8 and 262/232 will almost always get pulled and set aside in favor of another powerplant/tranny combo.
If we're serious about building interest in Hudsons among the general public, we're going to have to start making the Hudson visible and exciting to the public, not just to each other:
1) Less trailering our pristine cars to concours shows for other Hudson afficiandos and more going to local and regional cruise nights (yes, take the cars off the trailers, out of the garages and get them on the street where they belong).
2) Stop driving the Hudsons like they're about to break! A Hornet should be driven at LEAST 5 mph faster than the average car speed on any given road. Throw it into that curve, cut that corner close, stay off the brake and jam throttle past the apex! Why? BECAUSE NOBODY, BUT NOBODY!!! GETS EXCITED ABOUT A POKEY OLD LADIES CAR BLOCKING TRAFFIC!
I love Hudsons and Terraplanes and Essex's. I want them to quicken the pulse of the public. I want them to appreciate in value and esteem. We've got our work cut out for us with the younger generation!
Amen. Couldn't agree with you more.0 -
I still say you will never recruit much of the younger crowd if you insist on original cars and flatheads. I know modifieds are accepted into the club, but in reality you don't here or see much about these guys, in fact they are rediculed more than anything else. But hey, I'm not crying, doesn't bother me. So, if you try to bring young people in to build grandfather's car, it isn't going to happen, you will only be able to bring in a small number of young folks who probably already have some connection to Hudsons anyway.
Neils, I respect your love of Hudsons, but I still have to say stock cars have a limited following. There are certain exceptions, but not many. Inside the HET you will find overwelming support of stock cars, but in the general public, I don't see it. Same with other brands. Stock Hemi's and Cuda's bring outrageous prices at BJ, but they look cool, we drove them in high school, the girls loved them, and they are pretty darn fast (not as fast as some of todays sport cars though). People in their 40's and younger didn't drive Hudsons for the most part, and didn't see many around anyway. How many young car nuts does anyone see driving around stock cars? Hardly any. They are lowered, or raked, or street racered, whatever, but they're not stock. All you can offer a young builder is a 308, and brother, thats not going to cut it with the younger crowd.
I think the situation the HET club finds itself in is this. I always hear they want to attract a younger crowd, the problem is you want them to think like you do. If you insist on promoting mostly the stock car restorations, you will end up with a shrinking pool of members who will grow older and fewer of their kin will pickup their habit, and fewer from the outside will. If you still promoted your stock cars, but maybe gave the modified group a little more respect and public eye (like articles in the WTN), you just may be able to attract some of those younger folks you'll need as members in the future. I am not trying to be harsh to anyone or group of folks, but thats how I see it, if you really want to expand the club. If you want to keep the club small and in line with the majority of members here now, you are doing fine.
We Americans have extremely short attention spans for fads, and the Cars movie, though a fantastic movie I hear (haven't had the chance to see it yet), will not change the Hudson brand in any substantial way (there will be a new fad by Xmas), only the Hudson owners of today can do that. So how prepared are we really to do that?
Jay
"I love my Hudson, just not stock"0 -
About the only group thing our chapter does is funerals. Sad to say.0
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Hudson owners have always been qa different breed....that's true when the Hudsons were new and that's true now. Most would-be younger members are probably kin of existing HET members followed by those who are enthusiasts and just think they're neat. I am a "younger" member and I prefer to see the cars stock. Yes more younger car guys prefer speed, preformance, and mods, so that makes me an oddball. BUT if there were an educational effort by the HET club in highschool shop classes or some similar such forum you could possibly educate younger folks about Hudson engineering enough to generate some enthusiam for rebuilding 308's etc. There has to be an approach that would bring younger people into the fold. I htink its possible. The EAA has programs to get younger folks interested in aircraft and flying. HET has the potential to either steer change or get dragged along by it kicking and screaming.0
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I'm with you, Aaron. I'm in my forties, and prefer the stock over modified. Look at my '37 Terraplane and you'll see! The only real reason I have a '37 is that my grandfather had one right after WWII, and I like the styling. He moved his entire family (seven kids!) and pulled a U-Haul trailer from Chicago to Long Beach, CA, travelling Route 66 the entire way. So there is a bit of nostalgia in that particular car.
I have a long-time friend who is the auto shop teacher at the local vo-tech. I took my old '59 Metropolitan there and let the kids overhaul the brakes, the parking brake, change the motor mounts, shocks, and do the alignment. Normally, not many older cars are serviced at the vo-tech, so he and his students had a great time on the old Met. Even took my old '56 Wasp down there for brakes, too. It's a great educational opportunity right there to expose kids that are usually into ricers to the older cars, regardless of make.0 -
66Pat, that was a really great thing to do for the kids. They'll talk about that for the rest of their lives. No kidding. My dad took a shop class in HS back in the early '40's into which a man brought in a Willys-Knight with the sleeve-valve engine for the class to take apart and reassemble. My dad STILL talks about that engine as a unique marvel of engineering!0
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jsrail wrote:I still say you will never recruit much of the younger crowd if you insist on original cars and flatheads. I know modifieds are accepted into the club, but in reality you don't here or see much about these guys, in fact they are rediculed more than anything else. But hey, I'm not crying, doesn't bother me. So, if you try to bring young people in to build grandfather's car, it isn't going to happen, you will only be able to bring in a small number of young folks who probably already have some connection to Hudsons anyway.
I think the situation the HET club finds itself in is this. I always hear they want to attract a younger crowd, the problem is you want them to think like you do. If you insist on promoting mostly the stock car restorations, you will end up with a shrinking pool of members who will grow older and fewer of their kin will pickup their habit, and fewer from the outside will. If you still promoted your stock cars, but maybe gave the modified group a little more respect and public eye (like articles in the WTN), you just may be able to attract some of those younger folks you'll need as members in the future. I am not trying to be harsh to anyone or group of folks, but thats how I see it, if you really want to expand the club. If you want to keep the club small and in line with the majority of members here now, you are doing fine.
Jay
"I love my Hudson, just not stock"
Jay, I couldn't agree with you more. I have owned and will continue to own stock Hudsons as well as modified ones. When I first joined the club in 1972, it was the same as it is now. A bunch of older guys really enjoying their cars but very few younger people such as I. I really felt out of place for a long time and eventually dropped out by 1984. I have really gotten back into the marque after a long stint of Ford performance cars.
I was always interested in modifying the Hudsons, mostly with Hudson engines at the time...putting 232 cranks in 308s and such to see what the different driving characteristics were. I even chopped a 1948 sedan in 1978!! That really was an experience.
Currently I have a 1954 Hornet Special sedan with a fully rebuilt 308, Hydro. I really like driving the car and it will probably stay stock. However, my newest project is a 1951 Hornet Convert that has a 1955 324 cu in Olds/Hydro that was installed sometime in the 60's. I will probably keep it that way for some time despite those that really only enjoy the stock cars. Eventually the car will get restored back to original just because of the rarity. I'll move on to something else Hudson-wise to hot rod.
Back to the original premise...Hudson will enjoy a modicum of popularity due to the movie, mainly the coupes and convertibles as Clay said. If the club is to grow and not fade away into obscurity, we need to bring young people in. (I'm still only 51 and am among the youngest.) We need to take advantage of the movie when possible. My 6 year old stood up in the movie and said "Dad, you've got two Hudson Hornets!!" rather loudly of course, and most of the folks in the theater laughed. We have a window of opportunity to speak to the public and get those carnuts interested, modified or not.0 -
I know in the past the club would do events with other orphan clubs like Kaiser-Frasier with little of no following. Sorry but that's like asking your sister to the Prom. The club should be more active in sponsoring members attending BIG main stream events and multi-make meets with club coordinated groups of Hudson owners. Perhaps tie in with the Chrysler- Daimler boys. I have nothing against modifieds, I just don't like to see nice original cars molested. I had a 66 Sunbeam Tiger in High School with a full race built 302 Ford V-8 in it (it came with a 260 from the factory). At that age, I would have modified anything. Jay, see the movie. Whether people agree with it increasing value or not, you will be amazed at the notoriety the Hudson Hornet gets. Priceless.0
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Since I'm a member of our local HET chapter plus a Mopar club, I've tried to do just that - get some of the Hudson guys to come to the Mopar meet and show. We have an AMC class that includes Nash and Hudson. Plus there is a non-judged class that's only ten bucks for entry. They gripe about nothing to do, then they don't want to do anything when the opportunities present themselves. Our HET chapter participates in one parade and a few go to the Regional or National meet. Apart from our six or so meetings a year, that's it. They don't really get their cars out in the public eye in any case, and we've got some really nice Hudsons in our Chapter. Even to our Chapter meetings, there might be only two or three Hudsons, while everything else is new cars present. One thing, though, was that there were two Hudsons present at the "Cars" premier last week, which is something.
It's pretty hard to get the younger people enthused about a car that no one sees. If you got 'em, drive 'em!!! Modified or stock, who cares!0
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