Lost keys for '52 Hudson

Unknown · August 2009

Hi All,

First post, just sent in my HET Club application this morning. I am very much appreciating the conversation in this forum - what a great group!

I am considering a '52 for restoration (first Hudson), and the owner says there are no keys. A generous club member in the Detroit area is going to check out the car for me, but I thought I would at least ask about the best approach to dealing with lost keys. Are there folks around who can recreate a set based on serial number? Or, am I going to be taking the ignition switch to a locksmith, and also maybe having said locksmith pick the trunk lock? Or...

Thanks,

46Chris

PS: Special thanks to Charlotte Sargent, who graciously lined up the club member in Detroit for me before I had even had a chance to submit my membership application!

Jon B · August 2009

I doubt there would be any way to re-create a key based upon a serial number, since there are no more factory records. You might call a couple of locksmiths in the area and ask what they could do if you removed the locks from the car and took them in. Maybe a Forum participant who lives in your area, can recommend a "old-car friendly" locksmith. He would have to have the right kind of key blank, but these are still available in various places.

Welcome to the Forum and to the Club!

Unknown · August 2009

Good advice, thank you Jon!

And thanks for making me feel welcome.

Lee ODell · August 2009

Welcome to the HET CLUB.

The key blank is pretty common and any key shop should have them. It will be less costly removeing the lock and take it to the lock smith. It cost me $60a few years ago when he came to the car and made the key.

Enjoy your new car. Hope you can make it to the HET National meet next year to show us your new car.

Have a good day. Lee

Clutchguy · August 2009

If you can find an old B&S book/dealer ,you can take the glove box lock out, look at the numbers on it and have a key made from this code, provided both the glove box lock and ignition are from the factory. I did this on my '51 Hornet cpe. a few years ago and it worked perfect. I wish that I had all of his key blanks and books!!!!!!!!!-:cool:

I also want to welcome you Chris. Did I miss where your from?.

53jetman · August 2009

Every Hudson from at least 1940 thru 1954 the ignition key (round headed) also locked or unlocked the front doors. The Hex headed key was for the trunk and the glove box

Jerry

53jetman

[Deleted User] · August 2009

I removed a door lock and the glove box lock, took them to a locksmith and had keys made. About $5 per key 10 years ago. Good luck and send pics. Bob

Browniepetersen · August 2009

Welcome to the club and to the Forum. I recently sold my 52 to work on other projects. It is always hard to let a favorite car go, but then again I guess that is progress. I did the door lock thing and it worked fine. I think any of the older lock stores will be your best bet. I just had a key made for my 39 Roadster lock and it also was a B&S key. I would hope that we would soon see photo's of your project. Most of us are "Junk-Yard-Dogs" and enjoy the process as much as any part of the hobby. Welcome again, and hope to see you soon at a regional or national meet.:):cool:

Unknown · August 2009

Thanks to each of you for the great advice and personal recollections. I have wanted a 48-53 Hudson since I was out of high school, back in the early '70's. You may laugh, but my first and most indelible recollection of Hudsons was from the R. Crumb comic series, Mr. Natural. Crumb's favorite car to draw was always a Hudson, and I never forgot it. Don't know why I never took the plunge - I've had plenty of older rides through the years. Haven't completely taken this plunge yet, since I'm still waiting to hear the report on the '52 outside of Detroit. Long way from Madison, WI, so it sure is a relief to know that someone is willing to help out. Now I'm really hooked - Last week when I started reading back through the posts in the Hudson forum, I just wanted to keep reading. Tribal knowledge is invaluable and a great comfort to the uninitiated, and this is a powerful tribe. I am sure I will need a visit from the tribal medicine men - what am I doing considering a car that hasn't run in years, has no keys, is over 400 miles away and sat near a garage fire for hours like a roasting hot dog? My wife has an expression whenever I get like this - she calls it "magic beans", because I'm trading the cow for a promise to grow a beanstalk up to the land of the giant, and big adventure.

[Deleted User] · August 2009

WOW, and I thought I had it bad. Good luck, I'm up to 3 Hudsons now. Bob

RL Chilton · August 2009

46ChrisWis wrote:

Thanks to each of you for the great advice and personal recollections. I have wanted a 48-53 Hudson since I was out of high school, back in the early '70's. You may laugh, but my first and most indelible recollection of Hudsons was from the R. Crumb comic series, Mr. Natural. Crumb's favorite car to draw was always a Hudson, and I never forgot it. Don't know why I never took the plunge - I've had plenty of older rides through the years. Haven't completely taken this plunge yet, since I'm still waiting to hear the report on the '52 outside of Detroit. Long way from Madison, WI, so it sure is a relief to know that someone is willing to help out. Now I'm really hooked - Last week when I started reading back through the posts in the Hudson forum, I just wanted to keep reading. Tribal knowledge is invaluable and a great comfort to the uninitiated, and this is a powerful tribe. I am sure I will need a visit from the tribal medicine men - what am I doing considering a car that hasn't run in years, has no keys, is over 400 miles away and sat near a garage fire for hours like a roasting hot dog? My wife has an expression whenever I get like this - she calls it "magic beans", because I'm trading the cow for a promise to grow a beanstalk up to the land of the giant, and big adventure.

46ChrisWis-

Welcome to the forum! You've come to the right place, if you have Hudson fever. Also, glad to see you are joining the HET. If you have been a lurker here for a while, then I surely don't have to fill you in on how passionate Hudson folks are about Hudsons.

I don't think I caught what body style or model you are considering? Regardless, keep in mind that if these "magic beans" don't grow just right and pan out, then there's another Hudson down the road with your name on it, if that is what you want. Afterall, hudnuts are always in pursuit of the "next" Hudson.

It sounds as though you and I are about the same age. I'll never forget the chance I had to buy a '53 Hornet Sedan back in '84, but was talked out of it by non-Hudson people (mostly family). It took me until '04 to finally get my act together (and do what I had wanted for so long). Being a car guy from the get-go, one would imagine that being involved in a marque that has been out-of-manufacture for so long would be incredibly difficult obtaining parts, information, and encouragement. Fortunately, this just isn't the case. Along with the HET club, the bi-monthly magazine (WTN), this forum and the SUPER quality people you meet that are involved with Hudsons, the journey is really sheer pleasure. Now, there will always be Hudsons in my garage as long as I have breath in my lungs. I'm currently onto my 2nd Hudson, my dreamcar, a '52 Hornet Convertible. A little luck (and a lot more work), I might be able to have it ready for next year's National meet . . . we'll see.

Good luck and glad to have you aboard!!

Unknown · August 2009

Have a couple hundred keys in my collection. Send me your ign and i will find you one , some times takes 70 tries. Or the door locck out and to a local locksmith who has the briggs and stratton key blanks. Bill albright

Unknown · August 2009

Well, the '52 got away. Too many locals waving some cash at the seller, I suppose. He was asking $2,500 or best. The HET member who could take a look at it for me wasn't able to get over there until the end of the week. I mentioned to my wife that because I was wrapped up in the 'thrill of the chase' I was ignoring the fact that I didn't have that good feeling you get when you are talking to a seller. Was he answering your questions, or kind of avoiding them? Was he selling kind of hard? The answer was yes, in both cases with this '52. At least I have my '46 Roadmaster to tide me over until the right Hudson shows up. I do a nationwide Craigslist search every day, and of course Ebay. Swell to meet you all, and please feel free to point me at any candidates in the 48-53 years!

Thanks, 46Chris

RL Chilton · August 2009

46Chris-

That's o.k.! Maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Now that you've joined the HET, make sure to check the classifieds in the back of the magazine. Most club members list there first (before going to E-Bay or Hemmings, etc.), in the hope that the car will go to a club member. There's always good deals to be found there.

Good Luck with your search and keep us posted.:D

Browniepetersen · August 2009

I cannot help but think that you are in the "Catbird seat" with one car in the shop and on the hunt for another project. I found mysel in that quagmire about ten years ago. I had been a died in the wool other make guy and had made a promise to a local neighbor that my next project would be a Hudson. I started to spend time with my neighbor and started looking at cars to determine if there was one particular model or year that stuck out as "My dream car." I looked at a lot of cars and did a lot of decision charts before I selected my 1952 Hudson. I got all of the warnings and advice on what to stay away from and what was good or bad. I have to say that it was valuable and I have never looked back since. The other make guy that once lived in my house is pretty much a Hudson nut now. The 52 now belongs to a fellow HET member and my new projects are a 36 and a 39. I have been the summer without a Hudson to drive and I have to tell you it is tough. Good luck with your search and remember to post quesitons and ask for photos so we can enjoy with you the hunt.....

Lost keys for '52 Hudson

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