How rare?: '33 HET 8, Vin # 72685

Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Seeking information about the '33 HET 8.

Thanks.

A.V.

Comments

  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    the most important aspect of their rarity has to do with body style; if it's a sedan, it's not all that rare.

    After a certain serial # (don't have it at hand), they were designated "Deluxe" and have dual taillights, dual cigarette trays in dash, and pr. of front mounted chrome horns.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Thanks for the reply.

    It is a sedan and there are no dual taillights, cigarette trays or pair

    of chrome horns on this one. Thanks again.

    A.V.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    1933 HET Is it an Essex Terraplane, or a Hudson? "Not so rare" is a relitive term umong Hudson people, if you are not a Hudson guy, it's likely rare to you. If you are used to working with Fords, or Chevys then this is indeed a rare car for you. "Not so rare" for 33 HET products may mean there are a lot of them, like as many as 50 or as few as 10 known to exist. Give us a little more information and we will assist in any way we can.

    Please don't rod it and if you do contact us with the tailings.

    Fair winds,

    Mike
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Hi Mike,



    It is an Essex Terraplane 8 - or so it says on the medallion on the

    front hood ornament. Another identifying item is a small metal plate

    fastened to the passenger side exterior panel, between the door

    and the hood. It has an "H" surrounded by a triangle and a hexagon

    and the words below: "Hudson Super Built".



    I.D. plate from the firewall says CAR NO. 72685



    Vehicle was purchased in 1978 from a gentleman in Lowell, MA.



    Thank you for the reply.



    A.V.
  • terraplane8
    terraplane8 Senior Contributor
    terraplaner, I'd say they are all quite rare. For example the Terraplane 8 coupes - only a handful known of now but of course there are more sedans. I looked for a good T8 sedan for a year before buying a real nice original twin sidemount one from Norway where it was exported to from new back in the day. Can you post some images for us to see?
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Terraplane8,



    I put a few current photos on a Myspace page:

    www.Myspace.com/Terraplaner33



    Thank you for the reply.



    A.V.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    T33, as implied above, rarity is in the mind of the observer. Certainly there are not many of these cars still around, especially compared to the '34 and later models. But aside from rarity, the '33 T8 was a very special model: (1) it was the only year the 8-cylinder engine was offered in the Terraplane, (2) it marked the introduction of the improved version of the 8-cylinder engine, with down-draft carburetor and other enhancements, which wasn't offered in the Hudsons 'til the following year, (3) the '33 T8s had the highest HP to weight ratio of any production automobile in the world that year, and (4) they set new speed records in the Pikes Peak hill climb and straightaway speed events elsewhere, including Daytona. It can reasonably be argued they were the first volume-produced "factory hot rod."
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Unfortunately it would appear the owner was not happy with it being an original car. from the photos you can see the rare engine option has been removed a modern power brake booster is bolted to the fire wall the steering column is also from a modern car, you can see rear radio speakers near the roof inside the back leading me to believe it may have at one time a newer V-8 with 12 volt system. The brake drums on the front are not original to the car. Everything that made it rare has been removed.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Park W,



    Thanks for the info. As you can see from the photos,

    it was a rod when I bought it in '78. I drove it for

    a couple of years and then put it in storage for 28

    years, along with a few other choice toys.



    Well, what goes around, comes around . . . and

    under pressure from my three children, I want to

    get it road worthy.



    The reason for my inquiry is that if it has more value,

    (not necessarily dollar value), but preservation value

    as a classic Terraplane, then the question is; classic

    restoration vs. rod.



    I have all the original frame, body and interior pieces

    and parts, many doubles, however I do not have the

    fundamental components typically removed in a rod.

    If the procurement of the needed parts is that monumental,

    then I might have no choice but to rod it. Thus, my inquiry

    to the knowledgeable people of this board.



    Also, I am not a auto mechanic. Whatever I do to it,

    it would have to be done by someone else.



    Thank you for the reply.



    A.V.
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    I'd suggest you contact Tom Brintnall in Mass. as he has at least one parts car + other spares.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Who cares if it is rare or not, big deal. Do your thing and enjoy it. There are LOTS of interchangable parts with other Hudson products that you could use and 99% of the experts would never know that they were not original and would be better than the original. I have always told people who would question my car. When was the last time you even saw a Terraplane 8 coupe? I have had my coupe since 1965 when I bought it from the original owner. (my uncle). Tom
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