7 X Engine Adding Value To A Hornet Club Coupe

[Deleted User]

Here is a great topic.... If you buy this "Real" 7 X engine for $9,000 and install it in your Hornet Club Coupe, will you get your money returned in resale value?



This engine seems to have good provenance. I bet an engine like (if as described condition) was installed in a 51 to 54 Hornet Club coupe, the car would resale for much more that the engine purchase price.



Imagine a Hornet coupe at Barrett Jackson being promoted as being a factory / dealer equipped 7 X engine car. Big bucks....



FYI- I happened to watch Barrett Jackson last night and saw that 54 Hudson Hornet Sedan sell on it. Went for $42,000 plus commish I think. The announcers talked about the Nascar and International racing history (2 door version), twin-h, etc. Pretty cool.

rambos_ride

If there is also documentation to go along with the statement that it was a factory motor in 53 - that's what I'd put it in...a 53 club coupe = true bang for buck in keeping the year of motor and a car in this case?

Unknown

Of course it would add value. But is that what this is all about? Not to me.

Unknown

It depends on who you talk to. Some would pay the premium while others wouldn't touch the car. It's rumored that the 7-X was a rough running torque monster that ate up drivelines. So, just dropping one into a car with a stock driveline might net some unpleasant results.

[Deleted User]

Hudson Corporate pushed skeleton and complete long and short blocks at dealerships that could install same. Hudson service notes, Hudson Merchandisers and sales letters to dealers constantly encouraged the Hudson dealer to sell new engines to thier customers who would not purchase a new car. When the racing craze began, the press ads in news papers and magazines touted the added preformance Hudson owners could obtain by replaceing thier engines with RACE PROVEN Hornet engines. The stand in the following picture is a dealer stand used to show skeleton engines on the auto display floor.







Before and after a Hudson Stepdown left the dealership it was not uncommon to have the engine changed. I have seen Hornets whose original engine was replaced with a 262 dealer installed replacement. The reason, smoother running engine.



Cheers

Unknown

That is interesting inputs - I was lamenting the fact that I have a 8, and was lusting after a 308 6 or ultimately a 7X. I just flushed the radiator and took the old girl out for a couple of runs today - whoa, that straight eight sure runs smooth. Maybe I got what I need for a nice driver instead of what I lusted after - guess I should enjoy it for what it is



BST RGDS

GARY ( happychris )

[Deleted User]

This 7X 308 would be a fantastic engine for a 32 Ford Highboy street rod!

Show those Flathead V8 Ford guys what a real flathead engine is all about.

PaceRacer50

[Deleted User]

Gary, The Hudson straight 8 is a very smooth running engine, and has more than enough power. The 308 ci 6 is more powerful but does run a little rougher.
As for the 7X adding $9K to the resale price, I doubt it. It would certainly increase the value of any car it was in, but $9K is (IMO) an unrealistic gain to expect.
Bob

[Deleted User]

PaceRacer50 wrote:

This 7X 308 would be a fantastic engine for a 32 Ford Highboy street rod!

Show those Flathead V8 Ford guys what a real flathead engine is all about.

PaceRacer50

I remember the first time I drove a stepdown 8.... pure fun. Smoooooooth and straight away power. I agree with BJ other than a very well tuned 262 a Hudson stepdown 8 is very smooth.



Keep the 8! You will be happy.

Pun intended

7XPacemaker

Didn't the dealers do a gimmick back in the day putting a nickel on the head of a 308 sideways while it was running? I wouldn't try that on my 7X........

Unknown

I may pay a few thousand extra for a stepdown with a 7X, if there was proper documentation, but can't imagine anyone giving close to a $9K premium. My approach to cars and collectibles is to buy what you like, make it to suit yourself and never ask the question "will I get my $$ back on this investment" That way there is no unreasonable expectation of return, and you can enjoy it as long as you have it. If you buy something for the sole purpose to make $$$, then the approach and decisions are different. I have lots of cars and can't remember buying a single one with the thought in mind of selling it in the future for more than I paid for it. If it increases in value, well, thats a bonus.

Aaron D. IL

Amen, buy something because you really like it and wouldn't mind being stuck with it.... cause there's always a chance you might be. Very few cars are actually investments anyway when you add up what you put into them to keep them in nice condition, insurance, stickers, maintainance, ect. Maybe Dusenberg owners feel differently about it. If you wanna talk about adding value to a car I'd venture to guess a nice paintjob, interior and chrome adds more value to a car than the engine. Unless as hudsondad said you could really document the historical and engineering value of it and then fiind buyers who are fascinated by such engineering more than the astetics of the car.

bull_islander

Someone recently bought a 54 Super Wasp Hollywood with a 7X engine for $7500 (was listed on the msn site). I never heard any follow up on that car after the purchase, but it sounded like a solid car in need of some cosmetic tlc.

I'd have rather had that engine complete with a car than just the engine...

[Deleted User]

I have always bought my collector cars with two things in mind, do I like it? and can I can get out of it if I need too without losing money. buy the car at the right price is the obvious key. I would pay good money for a well documented 7 X engine. A 7X spec engine is more expensive to build than a stock 308 aswell. The true BIG value in many cars is provenance. Problem (or lack of problem) with Hudsons is the freelance way they did things. This makes somethings difficult to confirm.

Regardless of all of this, a Hudson Hornet coupe with a 7X engine (documented or 7X spec built) is a piece of racing history.

SamJ

nhp1127 wrote:

I have always bought my collector cars with two things in mind, do I like it? and can I can get out of it if I need too without losing money. buy the car at the right price is the obvious key. I would pay good money for a well documented 7 X engine. A 7X spec engine is more expensive to build than a stock 308 aswell. The true BIG value in many cars is provenance. Problem (or lack of problem) with Hudsons is the freelance way they did things. This makes somethings difficult to confirm.

Regardless of all of this, a Hudson Hornet coupe with a 7X engine (documented or 7X spec built) is a piece of racing history.

Agreed. True factory 7X 308's with reinforced blocks are as rare as hen's teeth. Building a 7X spec engine would be interesting, but if its power you're after you can go waaayyy beyond 7X, which after all was an enhanced stock engine for true stock car racing. A 308 bored, stroked, ported, relieved, with larger valves, hot cam, high compression head, 4bbl carb, headers, etc. (all not period-NASCAR legal) might dyno above 350 hp. :eek:

[Deleted User]

Is the engine forsale here a reinforced block? Can one tell by looking at it?

464Saloon

PaceRacer50 wrote:

This 7X 308 would be a fantastic engine for a 32 Ford Highboy street rod!
Show those Flathead V8 Ford guys what a real flathead engine is all about.
PaceRacer50

Hey the flathead guys all got to stick together. There are a lot more flathead Fords that have been yanked for a small block Chevy than Hudson has. I have a Flathead in my 51 Ford, and it kills me everytime I see a Chevy where a flathead Ford used to live.

Unknown

Has anyone acually put a 7X on a dyno?

[Deleted User]

bull islander wrote:

Someone recently bought a 54 Super Wasp Hollywood with a 7X engine for $7500 (was listed on the msn site). I never heard any follow up on that car after the purchase, but it sounded like a solid car in need of some cosmetic tlc.



I'd have rather had that engine complete with a car than just the engine...

THe car was purchased by the person who posted the pictures. The engine was as advertised and the price was unbelievably low. I had the privilidge of talking the owner through a vehicle inspection via cell phone. The car was straight and a super buy. Another one of those opportunities for a Hudson person that panned out.

[Deleted User]

Soooo.. is the consensus that the engine listed here by Mr. Soneff is the real deal? Niels

464Saloon

SamJ wrote:

Agreed. True factory 7X 308's with reinforced blocks are as rare as hen's teeth. Building a 7X spec engine would be interesting, but if its power you're after you can go waaayyy beyond 7X, which after all was an enhanced stock engine for true stock car racing. A 308 bored, stroked, ported, relieved, with larger valves, hot cam, high compression head, 4bbl carb, headers, etc. (all not period-NASCAR legal) might dyno above 350 hp. :eek:

350HP for a flathead I think is pretty optimistic. Possibly with a blower you could get close, but the breathing limitations of a flathead normally aspirated, will limit the RPM needed to make big horsepower.

bob ward

SamJ wrote:

True factory 7X 308's with reinforced blocks are as rare as hen's teeth.

So a factory 7X was more than just a reworked standard 308 block? Special 7X blocks were cast?