54 Hornet 4 dr. sedan ?

Unknown

There is a 54 Hornet 4 dr. sedan for sale locally close to me. I'm trying to figure out what it's really worth. I'm going to go look at it tomorrow but the pics look great. Factory PS, factory air, supposedly 8500 original miles with engine overhauled at 7500. rebuilt tranny also. I'm just trying to get a ballpark figure of it's worth.

50C8DAN

Did Hudson have factory air in '54?

Nevada Hudson

Pick up an "Old Cars price Guide".

[Deleted User]

Hudson did not have factory air in 54.

super-six

Rebuilt tranny and 8500 original miles with engine overhauled at 7500? Maybe 85,000.

harry54

sounds fishy....

[Deleted User]

It does sound alot fishy, go look at it and let your own common sense take control.

[Deleted User]

Unknown to most, Hudson did indeed have a factory air kit for those who wanted airconditioning. I have seen three cars with this kit installed. The last was a 54 Hollywood. The airconditioning was a combination of under hood compressor and plumbing coupled with the a unit installed in the trunk behind the rear seat. Conditioned air was delivered to the passenger compartment via plexaglass tubes that came up through the package tray and continued to a point near the headliner. Outside air was drawn into the system via a set of ducts mounted on the top of the rear fenders. The system was very much the same as that used on high end GM cars. I have no idea the cost and have never seen the kit out of a car.

Unknown

I thought A/C was a dealer installed option in 1954.

[Deleted User]

Only literature I have is from the dealer. Did not know that Hudson installed this at the factory like to see some pics and literature on that.



I have two factory docs one from late 53 that lists the options for the 54's and one from June of 54 that updates the list do not find any listing for AC so I would love to see the docs on this. Hudson was hard to track in 54 all over the map for what you could get.

Unknown

I'll post some pics, I'm just trying to get a ballpark figure so I know where to start. Anyone?

super-six

Heart_Of_Texas wrote:

Unknown to most, Hudson did indeed have a factory air kit for those who wanted airconditioning. I have seen three cars with this kit installed. The last was a 54 Hollywood. The airconditioning was a combination of under hood compressor and plumbing coupled with the a unit installed in the trunk behind the rear seat. Conditioned air was delivered to the passenger compartment via plexaglass tubes that came up through the package tray and continued to a point near the headliner. Outside air was drawn into the system via a set of ducts mounted on the top of the rear fenders. The system was very much the same as that used on high end GM cars. I have no idea the cost and have never seen the kit out of a car.

Maybe I'm not understanding this correctly, but my interpretation is that it was a factory authorized kit that would be dealer installed.

harry54

I think that a dealer installed system would detract for the value with some people ... and add with others... These cars were known not to have a/c so as a perspective buyer that shouldn't add to your deciesion. The most important things are body , perimeter frame, drivetrain and originality..... The more original the better.... as far as value.... I know that a 26,000 original 54 hornet sedan in primo shape went for 36,000 dollars.... and it was worth it.... They can also go for below 10,000 for a driver ....... that needs paint , chrome and interior. In my opinion , it's all about originality...... good luck

Clutchguy

howardhughes wrote:

There is a 54 Hornet 4 dr. sedan for sale locally close to me. I'm trying to figure out what it's really worth. I'm going to go look at it tomorrow but the pics look great. Factory PS, factory air, supposedly 8500 original miles with engine overhauled at 7500. rebuilt tranny also. I'm just trying to get a ballpark figure of it's worth.

You must ask yourself what was wrong with the engine and transmission to have them rebuilt at 8500 and7500 miles.Even if it is 75,000 miles,what kind of trans is it?.How worn is the interior,brake pedal pad,how is all the weatherstrip in the doors,and around the body.What condition is the glass in??.If it is 8500 miles,most everything should still be as new condition.With 85,000 miles,you need have the car completely inspected if you cannot do it yourself.:cool:

[Deleted User]

Heart_Of_Texas wrote:

Unknown to most, Hudson did indeed have a factory air kit for those who wanted airconditioning. I have seen three cars with this kit installed. The last was a 54 Hollywood. The airconditioning was a combination of under hood compressor and plumbing coupled with the a unit installed in the trunk behind the rear seat. Conditioned air was delivered to the passenger compartment via plexaglass tubes that came up through the package tray and continued to a point near the headliner. Outside air was drawn into the system via a set of ducts mounted on the top of the rear fenders. The system was very much the same as that used on high end GM cars. I have no idea the cost and have never seen the kit out of a car.

I can concur with Ken on this. In 1997 I tried to buy a '54 Hornet SPECIAL with factory provided but dealer installed AC. It was a GM system, used a huge Frigidaire brand compressor, copper pipes, and both underdash and trunk mounted evaporator units with the plexiglass pipes running up the rear windows and along the cabin side of the headliner to the side discharge vents. It was a very nice installation, complete with what looked like a bigger radiator behind a HUGE condenser and a 4 piece fan shroud... the ONLY fan shroud I've ever seen on a 308 fan. This was NOT one of those cheesy add on units you've seen in non-factory AC cars. This was done right and was obviously a very high dollar system for the day.



The unusual feature that really caught my eye: it was a 3spdOD transmission car and the compressor appeared to have the transmission overdrive governor wired into the electrical circuit. The only thing I could figure out was that they did it to cut off the compressor at low road speed (hence, low engine speed and power) below which the overdrive was inactivated. So when overdrive was off, so was the compressor(?). Makes sense when you think about the minimal power availability at low 308 engine speed to run such a HUGE power-robbing compressor!



I really wanted to buy that car, but the widow wouldn't sell it and then it vanished after she went into a nursing home. The only major YUCK I had with the car was that it was that seafoam green color that was so beloved in the early '50's, with a "complementing/contrasting" hideous two-tone green interior.