1951 Hudson Hornet /Twin H Engine - $20000 (Tacoma, WA)

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
This car has caught my eye and I am interested in the expert opinions of you all. Please read the description, take a look at the pictures, and let me know what you think.



Pictures: http://www.shawtruckworks.com/Hudson.html



CraigsList: http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1378490213.html



This is a 1951 Hudson Hornet with the famous Twin H engine. We have been working on the restoration of this car for the past 2 years. Ilness is forcing me to sell my baby. When I bought this car it was in pretty good shape but did need a bit of work all the work was done professionally by Shaw truck works out of Milton-Freewater Or. We have had the body completely straightened out all little dents removed and had it painted and clear coated. The car had no rust to speak of and is all original. I have had all new glass made and installed it was tinted a very light green so that it would match the burgundy and gold color combination I had the car painted. The car has new brakes, tires, shocks, tie rod ends, carpet, glass, and the dash was completely refinished in a Burl wood look and as stated has been painted. The wheel wells, trunk and engine compartment have been either painted or undercoated. The car is insured though State Farm and if you know them they can be really tight when it comes to classics but there underwriters looked at the car along with several others and appraised it for $30,000.00 so that is what I have it insured for. I'm asking $20,000.00. This car needs very little to be finished I would say that it is 97% complete and nothing is missing. I'm sorry a couple of the pictures are small you can go to www.shawtruckworks.com to see some of the work that was done and to see better pictures.



SERIOUS INQUIRES ONLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





* Location: Tacoma, WA

Comments

  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Get someone to lay their eyes on it, but I'd say go for it. It will only go up in value. Cash in hand works wonders. If you are seriously interested in it, make an offer, in person maybe 10% less and see what happens. Need to get more particulars on what has been done mechanically. Aesthetics look good. Is it currently running and driving?



    Looks like a good one.
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    Phew - I'd stay far away from this one unless they'd take under 6k for it.

    Pretty much a cosmetic "restoration" at best, they didn't even pull the rear window out before painting. Try and replace that rear window seal now and watch the paint flake away.

    The original paint wasn't stripped and then a lot of material (hi-build primer, then paint and clearcoat) was applied - it's not going to last long - doesn't matter what you put on top, a paint job is only as good as what's underneath.

    Of course I haven't seen the car in person but I can tell a lot about the pictures and how the work was done.

    I know I'm being very critical here, but 20k is ridiculous for a car that was painted in the middle of a truck shop.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Well, this is the first time I've disagreed with Rambo's Ride, but it appears that the bodywork and new high-build primer was put on top of original paint. If original paint was solid for the last 50+ years, I seriously doubt there would be any peeling or flaking issues, but hey, what do I know? I personally would not have done it this way, as I prefer to get back to the original metal, but I'm overly anal and picky. But, this is often the "re-paint" method most shops employ these days.



    Still to be determined is condition of the interior, and mechanicals. Has all the chrome been re-plated and the stainless straightened and polished? If so, that's 15K worth of work right there that a new owner does not have to endure. the interior is decent and mechanicals are sound, aesthetics still look good, which, in my opinion, while 20K is not a "steal", it probably represents current "value", whatever that is.



    Additionally, what about rust issues on the frame? From the description, it seemed this issue was taken care of?



    Lots of questions still to be answered. 6K? Perhaps, if it still has rust issues, interior is shot and mechanicals are untouched. Maybe even less. One thing to keep in mind, is that "project" cars usually command the bottom end of the scale price-wise. Taking on someone else's problem is not normally that appealing to most folks.
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    Yeah - I know I'm being uber critical. I commend the owner on providing the before pics - they show a lot and someone could go into this with their eyes open.

    But I calls 'em as I see them!

    All the work was done in the middle of a truck repair shop - including the paint. Lot's of grease, diesel etc. flying around in there...

    Cars also been painted at least 1x, so is not the original facotry paint - you can clearly see in the photos it was the dark green originally.

    The flaking I was speaking of would be trying to remove and re-install a rear window seal after the fact. It simply can't be done without some paint damage, too much mil thickness build-up with the new primers/paint/cc.

    Take a good look around the sheet metal edges, frame pockets etc. there is rust on this car. Look at the rust below the gas door - it's there and the "repair" spots are showing in a lot of prominant rust areas on a stepdown.

    Take another look at the 49 Bill A just did, for 5k more you'd save yourself a lot of headache and have a complete car, not a project.

    (Maybe I'm just in a foul mood? :rolleyes:)
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Take another look at the 49 Bill A just did, for 5k more you'd save yourself a lot of headache and have a complete car, not a project.



    (Maybe I'm just in a foul mood? :rolleyes:)[/QUOTE]



    If it couldnt be bought for " much " less than 20K , Bills 49 for 25K looks like a bargan, if a buyer has 25K to spend - Id sure like to buy Bills 49 - thats as good as it gets in my humble opinion !! There is a 52 Hornet 4 dr .Twin H in Nebraska advertised in the WTN for 17 K , if its as good as it appears to be , it would be worth a close look , alot closer to MN. too
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Which WTN issue are you talking about? I recently became a national and local (MN) member and have received one issue of WTN. The first things I did was look at the classifieds in the back.



    I would LOVE a Bill A. car, but two things hold me back. I really want a 4-door Hornet, and 25K plus is out of my current price range, 15-20K would be really pushing it even with creative financing but the right car would be worth it. Sadly it looks like I have come to the scene to late to fill my dream of flying out to CA with my wife, buying a Bill A. car and driving it across the country home to MN.



    THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND INPUT, THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE THE IDEA OF OWNING A HUDSON, GREAT COMMUNITY!



    stateline wrote:
    Take another look at the 49 Bill A just did, for 5k more you'd save yourself a lot of headache and have a complete car, not a project.



    (Maybe I'm just in a foul mood? :rolleyes:)



    If it couldnt be bought for " much " less than 20K , Bills 49 for 25K looks like a bargan, if a buyer has 25K to spend - Id sure like to buy Bills 49 - thats as good as it gets in my humble opinion !! There is a 52 Hornet 4 dr .Twin H in Nebraska advertised in the WTN for 17 K , if its as good as it appears to be , it would be worth a close look , alot closer to MN. too[/QUOTE]
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    O.k., Dan, I give. I think you're more right than I am. Besides, I've been looking around at some other cars for sale, and there's several better buys than this one right now.



    I didn't look close enough at the pics, my fault. I for sure didn't pay attention to the truck shop in the background. Even outside might have been better than in there.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    the North Platte, Neb. Hornet is in the Sept-Oct WTN and has been advertised off and on in earlier issues. , I have never seen the car or know the owner. from his add it looks like a great car !
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    I think Dan brings up some very good points. I love his passion and it caused me to take another look. I recently sold a 52 4-door and it was pretty much a "total" restoration. All new twin-H engine, new transmission all new mechanicals. New interior, new paint, new chrome. I would have given it a nine out of a ten. But then I built it. It did not go for the price we are talking about here and honestly, I do not think it went underpriced. bottom line is that $20K for a four door is high end. There are a lot of nice 4-doors out there in your price range. Try not to be in a hurry to pick one up and as you can see from our passion we are always willing to give each car a reality check.
  • Hal
    Hal Senior Contributor
    It looks to me like that car and its paint job (I'm not sure I'd call it a "restoration") leave much to be desired at that price point. I'm very entertained by his attempted use of State Farm Insurance to establish the value, as well. I've insured three old cars with State Farm...to my knowledge they only have stated value antique car insurance. I tell them what I want to insure the car for...they say "OK" and my agent takes two pictures for a file and begins collecting premiums accordingly. There's no stickler appraiser. And, yes, I am completely aware of the pitfalls of stated value coverage in the event of a loss.



    Hal
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

In this Discussion