Step Down Pickup Info??????????

Unknown

Looked at a 49 Stepdown in Michigan today. He says he bought it from Ken or his brother. Claims there was one factory one and three or four dealer built trucks when new. Says this truck came from California dealer. I remember this truck for sale before he had it and it was fairly rough. Does any one have any facts, value, or history of these trucks?

Thanks,

Glen

[Deleted User]

Every one you are likely to come across (except ONE '48!!!) are owner-built. There has been a yellow Stepdown "pickup" for sale for nearly two years in several venues for over $20K that the owner insists is a factory job, but it has been through at least two posters here that have owned it and KNOW it's not factory and have told that owner so.

Hudsy Wudsy

There was a body shop here in Minneapolis that made several of them in the fifties. It wasn't a case of an effort at a steady production, but, simply enough people liked the first one that was built for a customer and so a few others placed orders as well.

Unknown

66patrick66 wrote:

Every one you are likely to come across (except ONE '48!!!) are owner-built. There has been a yellow Stepdown "pickup" for sale for nearly two years in several venues for over $20K that the owner insists is a factory job, but it has been through at least two posters here that have owned it and KNOW it's not factory and have told that owner so.

I thought the one factory stepdown truck was a 49? wasn't the serial like 491XXXXX or something like that?

mars55

Here is a good thread on Stepdown pickups.



http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3171&highlight=stepdown+pickup

hudsontech

hudsonkid wrote:

I thought the one factory stepdown truck was a 49? wasn't the serial like 491XXXXX or something like that?

As I recall there was one 1949 prototype step-down pickup truck made at the factory = seems to me the serial number started with COMxxxx - but then I could be wrong



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

HudsonTech

Memphis, TN

[Deleted User]

I was thinking it was '48, but on that post, someone posted the serial number as a '49. Still, just the one.

Unknown

it would make more sense to have it as a 48 though...

[Deleted User]

If It Is The Sameone I Heard About 2 Years Ago, It Was Joe Amman. It Was Not Factory Built. The Guy Who Bougth It From His Widow, Said He Did Some Work To It And Was Trying To Sell It $15,000.

Unknown

What would be so wrong with these pickups, if made by a dealer or body company. If my memory is right, know one can come up with a number of pickups, panal trucks, and our early convertibles built in the 20s and 30s. My understanding is they all left the factory as coupes and 4 doors.

[Deleted User]

Glen wrote:

What would be so wrong with these pickups, if made by a dealer or body company. If my memory is right, know one can come up with a number of pickups, panal trucks, and our early convertibles built in the 20s and 30s. My understanding is they all left the factory as coupes and 4 doors.

Glen, There's nothing wrong with wanting one of these pickups as long as you know you have a non factory modified version of a stepdown. There are LOTS of non factory Hudsons around with Camaro or Mustang front clips or Cadillac engines in them. The problem comes when someone intentionally misrepresents the vehicle as factory and tries to sell it as such. That's fraud pure and simple. It's as bad as trying to sell a car as rust free when the owner knows it's full of holes. However its your money and you can spend it anyway you want to. Hudson folks as a rule get VERY touchy about what someone represents as factory and we know better. When someone says 'it's been modified" thats OK just don't try to pawn stuff off as something it isn't and ask a lot of money for it. Good luck in any event.

Jon B

Glen wrote:

What would be so wrong with these pickups, if made by a dealer or body company. If my memory is right, know one can come up with a number of pickups, panal trucks, and our early convertibles built in the 20s and 30s. My understanding is they all left the factory as coupes and 4 doors.

While it's true that Hudson did modify their sedan and coupe bodies to make convertibles and trucks, the finished convertibles and trucks emerged -- finished -- from the Jefferson Ave. plant, I'm sure.



I don't think you were implying that Hudson pickups, panel trucks and convertibles of the 20's and 30's were sold new ("left the factory") as coupes and sedans and only later were modified by "others" into convertibles and trucks. But someone who wasn't reading carefully, might infer that from what you said!

[Deleted User]

So here is a good question. What would the going rate be for a a dealer built/ body shop "step down" pick-up. For example I am familiar with a dealer built step down pick-up located in New England. Overall the vehicle is in very good condition. The engine runs strong the paint is good, interior is ok. I would classify it as an older professional restoration. The only issue is the rubber needs replacement on all the window and the B-posts will need to be "releaded." Ball park what would a vehicle like this go for ? The current owner wants $22,000. (He is also under the impression it is a factory built vehicle.) I plan on making an offer in the not so distant future. (It wont be $22K)

[Deleted User]

On something like that, it's "what it's worth to you", plain and simple. There are not enough conversions sold on the market to gauge a price. That's a judgement call you have to make for yourself. What is having a Stepdown pickup worth to you? As such, there is NO "going rate" for Stepdown pickups.

SamJ

1960 street scene.:cool:

SamJ

At a 1970's Hudson Club Meet. :cool:

Unknown

SamJ wrote:

At a 1970's Hudson Club Meet. :cool:

This pickup was at Auburn a few years ago. I believe a regional meet. It had the odd serial # and note the extra gas door just behind the drivers door. It is supposed to be the one and only factory built pickup. The story was that a couple of big shots drove the truck on a trip up in Wisconsin and ran out of gas. When they returned to the factory a tank was added behind the seat.

Unknown

We saw the factory version at York in 1988. It is far above any of the other (conversions) I've ever seen. I would think a lot would depend on how well it is done and most of the converted 4 door sedans I would think may be worth less than a sedan of equal condition. Now, something done at a professional level of workmanship and looks like an original (doesn't still have the rear doors on it, etc) may command a premium.

SamJ

How about this Woodie Wagon (48 Commodore 8) that Bill Eggert debuted at the National?? (Dave Sollon photo). :cool:

Unknown

SamJ wrote:

How about this Woodie Wagon (48 Commodore 8) that Bill Eggert debuted at the National?? (Dave Sollon photo). :cool:

Mr. Eggert is to be applauded for the work and craftsmanship that went into the creation of this automobile. I'd love to see the inside of the car, and wonder just how he fabricated the roof to make it look like a factory job.

Bill

SamJ

Bill Cox - TN wrote:

Mr. Eggert is to be applauded for the work and craftsmanship that went into the creation of this automobile. I'd love to see the inside of the car, and wonder just how he fabricated the roof to make it look like a factory job.



Bill

Builder Dick Bell used the front portion of the roof from a scrap '54 sedan, facing backwards, to form the rear 40% of the roof. In my humble opinion, this car is stunning. Exept for the obvious, it is all Hudson ('48 Commodore 8) and Bell got the lines just right...it looks like it could be factory built. (He used the factory prototype drawings in the Butler book as a guide.) One craftsman created the wood out of white ash by trial and error. Best of all, again in my opinion, is the fact that they kept it simple...no excess chrome, do-dads, etc. I love this car!

[Deleted User]

Sam, I asked Dick why he didn't just use a roof off an old ambulance or hearse instead of going to the trouble of mating two 54 roofs together. He said that no existing roof he could find had the same contours or correct width so he was more or less forced into using what he knew would work even though it required more work. Turned out beautifully.

Unknown

just re enter for gentelman who bought truck

faustmb

hudsondad wrote:

We saw the factory version at York in 1988. It is far above any of the other (conversions) I've ever seen. I would think a lot would depend on how well it is done and most of the converted 4 door sedans I would think may be worth less than a sedan of equal condition. Now, something done at a professional level of workmanship and looks like an original (doesn't still have the rear doors on it, etc) may command a premium.

I last saw this truck at the same meet. Somebody must have a few pictures to post?