1916 Hudson touring registration

[Deleted User]

Among my memorabilia I have a 1916 Michigan Certificate of Registration for a Hudson touring. The card is dated May 6, 1916. The card's serial number is 65873. Does anyone have a record of the serial numbers that could indicate which model of car this was? Thanks. DK

hudsontech

From 1910 up until 1923, with a relapse in 1925, Hudson issued serial numbers by body styles.



If the car is a 1916 model then the certificate you have indicates a Model H (Super-Six) Roadster - starting serial number H-6000.



The Model H Touring, in 1916, started at H-9000. So it appears to be an earlier model that was registered in 1916.



The closest Touring, from that era, that comes to 65873 would be the 1914 Hudson Six-40 5-Pass. Touring, start serial number 63001.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

HudsonTech

Memphis, TN

[Deleted User]

Thanks, Alex. The year of the car is not stated, just the year of its registration. I was leaning toward its being a 6-40, since May 6, 1916, would be early for a Super Six, isn't that correct? I am trying to remember when the Super Six was first shipped, and somehow I feel it was July, but I am not sure.

hudsontech

The 1916 Super-Six is a mystery. They actually were introduced in January 1916 - some were on the racing cirquit as early as November 1915. I have read somewhere in my research that they were actually sold as 1917 models thru 1916. The 1917 Model J was introduced on Dec 1, 1916 and the 4J Sep 26, 1917.



This dating of the Model H as sold by the company as a 1917 model, tho sold in 1916, explains why a couple of serial number sources pushes each model ahead a year, ie, 1918 J, and 1919 O. I have a Delco Parts Catalog that shows the Model J as a 1918 model and the 1918 Model with no Model designation. It's just shown as a Super-Six. Hudson is a strange company to research. One finds all sorts of odd things.



In line with the above that the Model H was sold off as a 1917 model there is a Hand Book Insert #117 that apparently was issued as a continuation of a Hand Book Insert #109 that listed "serial numbers of our cars from car number 1 to the present day" (1915). #109 lists 1910 thru 1915; #117 lists 1916 serial numbers for Model G (6-40) only. So here we are 90 years later, and who knows what Hudson did back then.



Y'all have a good one.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

HudsonTech

Memphis, TN