How do the Hashes drive ?

harry54

I was wondering if anyone could share the experience of driving a Hash . If you could compare it to a stepdown and describe the differences of comfort and handling.... I love the stepdown ride , however there is something that starts to grow on you about the hash ... Also Which year of the Hash is the most desirable ... Thanks ...

PAULARGETYPE

Harry I Just Love Them I've Owned Over 20 And Have Loved Every One I Have A Black 57 Hollywood Thats Been Mine For 38 Years And I'll Take It Any Place It Rides Smooth It Has Lots Of Power

(327cid Amc V8= 355 Hp)it Has A Jetaway Hydromatic It's The Best Car I Have Ever Owned And Thats Saying Some Thing As My 50 Pacemaker Cv Is No Slouch But I Would Rather Drive The 57hollywood Thats My 2 Cents Oh By The Way It Gets 18 Mpg At 70mph All Day Long

harry54

Do all the Hashes have the same ride ? Were the Wheelbases the same for 55 56 57 ?

What were the engine and transmission choices ?

[Deleted User]

I had a '56 Super Wasp with a 202 with 3-speed and OD. It drive very smooth and handled well for its age. In comparisons to Stepdowns I've owned, the ride quality of the Hashes is better, but the Stepdowns handle better.

Hudson Grandpa

Bought a 1957 Hornet Hollywood Bronze color, in spring of 1957. Drove the snot out of it for 3 1/2 years. Automatic V-8. White leather interior.

Traded it in on a 1953 Hornet Convertible. Had the Hollywood up to 112mph on one Sunday afternooon. Never again. To me the 57"s were the best looking.

[Deleted User]

I have a 55 Hornet Sedan with the twin H 308 and hydramatic. It is very comfortable to drive but I'm not crazy about the shifting of the hydramatic, especially in the lower ranges. The car itself though is very smooth and lots of power. I've never driven a stepdown though so I can't compare the two. I like the less angular lines of the 55 over the 56 and 57 but it's probably just a familiarity thing.



Harry

harry54

So let me see if I understand . The Hashes have a softer more plush ride ? They also have a very potent v8 355 hp ?

[Deleted User]

Harry (I feel like I'm talking to myself), the ride isn't at all harsh if that's what you mean. It also isn't a boat in that it doesn't plow around corners. I drive a very windy road down the canyon at a good clip and stay in my lane without any understeer or oversteer and the car is smooth on the freeway.



Harry

super-six

harry54 wrote:

So let me see if I understand . The Hashes have a softer more plush ride ? They also have a very potent v8 355 hp ?

I don't believe any models of the three years had over 255 horsepower.

464Saloon

I have never seen a rating on them for more than 255. 355 would be over 1hp per cubic inch and that would take a lot of modifications. Wouldn't be the most streetable either.

Nevada Hudson

The 1957 327 had 255 horsepower. That was probally a typo. The '55-56' 6 's handle pretty good. The Packard v8 weighs a lot, and are really nose heavy, and don't handle as well. The AMC v8 was a lot lighter, and '56 with the 250, and the '57 with the 327 handle the best. 1955 6's, and '56 Wasp's had solid lifters, and it is a real chore to adjust them. Gas shocks on all models would really help. You could hop up the AMC 327, and get it up to 300 hp.

[Deleted User]

We owned a '55 Hornet 4 door with the Packard V8. I never liked the car's handling or its drive train. We had traded in a '51 Hornet that handled much better. Our '55 felt and drove like it came from a totally different company, not Hudson. It did have the best body style of the 55-57's, though.
Bill

[Deleted User]

I have a 55 308 manual transmission with overdrive. Have done 7000 miles in it in last two years. I agree with what 66patrick66 says and would add a Hash is much easier to see out of than a stepdown and Tom McCahill got the steering advice right in his drive test report of the time. I would also add it is stable in bad winds, and you can drive it 493 miles in one day and get out of it fresh and without a sore backside. I have also driven it in 105 degree temperatures in city traffic without it overheating; more good luck than good management? I prefer the 55s to the 56-57s as they have a few more "Hudson" things, the grille is nicer and I don't like fins. The only "steering issue" I have is every time you approach a petrol station it suddenly veers of the road, pulls up at the bowser, and 5 minutes later there is a hundred bucks missing from your pocket!

[Deleted User]

I do like driving the Hash, I just don't like the hydramatic transmission. I was surprised how stable the car handles curves but I will feel better when I get the radials on it. I guess I'm just not used to the howl of the bias ply tires on hard curves. Lots of room in the car and very comfortable. I've been thinking there were a lot less Hashes made than stepdowns so they are going to get a lot more collectable.



Harry

essexcoupe3131

Andrew B55 wrote:

I have a 55 308 manual transmission with overdrive. Have done 7000 miles in it in last two years. I agree with what 66patrick66 says and would add a Hash is much easier to see out of than a stepdown and Tom McCahill got the steering advice right in his drive test report of the time. I would also add it is stable in bad winds, and you can drive it 493 miles in one day and get out of it fresh and without a sore backside. I have also driven it in 105 degree temperatures in city traffic without it overheating; more good luck than good management? I prefer the 55s to the 56-57s as they have a few more "Hudson" things, the grille is nicer and I don't like fins. The only "steering issue" I have is every time you approach a petrol station it suddenly veers of the road, pulls up at the bowser, and 5 minutes later there is a hundred bucks missing from your pocket!

Oh the pain LOL

Aaron D. IL

Harry Hill wrote:

I do like driving the Hash, I just don't like the hydramatic transmission. I was surprised how stable the car handles curves but I will feel better when I get the radials on it. I guess I'm just not used to the howl of the bias ply tires on hard curves. Lots of room in the car and very comfortable. I've been thinking there were a lot less Hashes made than stepdowns so they are going to get a lot more collectable.



Harry

Harry, historically that has not been the case. Everyone who wanted a Hash has had one. Few have ever regarded them as collectible. But having said that it does seem to be they do have a cult following. Some HET'ers I've talked to who have "discovered" them say they really do like driving them even though they didn't used to think much of them. I've heard Lots of bad comments about the Packard engined ones.

Seems also that all owners also choose to belong to the HET club rather than the American Motors club (despite them being some of AMC's first cars). There was a time I'm told where some HET members did not regard '55-'57's as "real" Hudson's and some went so far as to blame those cars for the demise of their beloved marque. But that's all softened over the years. "Hash" is now a more affectionate term than a derogatory one, used as a blanket description of '55-'57 Kenosha Hudson's. More members regard them as "real" Hudson's now.

I haven't owned one myself but I could easily see myself driving a Hollywood model with a Continental kit and one of those nifty fold-down beds....a big smile both on the face of the driver and the car! hahaha

[Deleted User]

Aaron, a year ago when I joined this forum there was a lot of "oh, you're only driving a Hash " attitude. Kind of hurt my feelings but I understand the owners of pre AMC Hudsons feeling that way. Now though I'm seeing guys like Ed Mueller of Muellers Muscle Cars building a 55 Hornet sedan as his personal driver and I realize I'm in early on something that is just starting to go. There weren't as many Hashes made and it sounds like 57's went unsold and were left new sitting in lots.My 55 is straight, rust free and runs good and gets attention where ever I drive it.When I drive it to work people will stop and come it to talk about the Hudson. I don't think AMC killed Hudson, it's more like they extended the life by three years of a company that was already dieing



Harry

464Saloon

Harry,sent you a PM