1958, the very last Hudsons

bob ward
bob ward Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
This 1958 Hudson was at the recent David Hack Day at Toowoomba, SE Queensland. While the Hudson nameplate disappeared in the US in '57, it continued down here for another year. Copies of the car dealer's adverts for these cars were published in WTN some time ago, probably 10 years or so now.



This car I believe was originally owned by Les Pendlebury's (huddy42) family in Sydney.



This Hudson is in very good condition and has recently had a change of owner.



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Comments

  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    Wow! that's pretty cool. I love the roof badge.
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    Gee, now there is a Hudson that I really like. I have never thought of importing a car before but I have just changed my mind. The ramblers came in "Pink"--were any of the Hudson's offered in that color? This model of rambler has always been on my "Bucket List." I guess that is now replaced with a Hudson. Did not know that there was a 58 Hudson...
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    I was told several years ago by Mr. Barit's grandson, that his grandfather owned a prototype 1958 Hudson until late in his life (he died in the 1970's as I recall). The elder Barit sold the car before he died. From what I understand of the prototype design, it probably looked very similar to the Australian one shown here, though it might have had a longer wheelbase, and a different grille and trim.
  • 53jetman
    53jetman Senior Contributor
    Brownie - If you look closely at the grill picture, it definately states "Rambler" - so I would guess the Ramblers were marketed in Austrailia as "Hudson Ramblers" The '58 Hudson" as it was designed, was almost an exact copy of what finally became the 1958 "Ambassador" here in the states.
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    Not a bad looking old car at all. Would've been interesting to see what cars would've come out if Hudson made it into the Big-fin era.
  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    Does it have a V8 or a Hornet engine in it??
  • bob ward
    bob ward Senior Contributor
    Richard E. wrote:
    Does it have a V8 or a Hornet engine in it??



    The 58's all came with a V8.



    Interestingly, the 57 Hornets down here, which in the US were V8 only, were available here with either the 308 6 cylinder or the V8.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    In Kiwiland we got a shipment of '58 Rambler wagons which were sold as Hudsons, with the Rambler 232 motor. The only distinguishing mark was a Hudson trunk emblem and sloping "H" on the hub caps.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Geoff C., N.Z. wrote:
    In Kiwiland we got a shipment of '58 Rambler wagons which were sold as Hudsons, with the Rambler 232 motor. The only distinguishing mark was a Hudson trunk emblem and sloping "H" on the hub caps.



    Geoff, how did they offer the 1958 Hudsons with a 232 motor. That was first produced in 1964 and introduced as an option in the Classic and Ambassador in the middle of the 1964 model year.



    Incidentally, that 232 was a very good six cylinder engine - I owned several 1966-1969 Rambler wagons back a while ago. I bought them for $65-$80, with 80,000 to 100,000 miles on the clock. 4, 5 years later I junked them and bought another. Junked not because of the drive train - that, IMHO, was damn near bullet proof - bodies went. That New England winter salt tore 'em up.



    Just to start a controversy I'd list the 3 top 6 cylinder engines as the old original Chevy stove-bolt 6's, the AMC 232 (best of the lot) and the Chrysler 225 slant 6. (Think 225 is right.)



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
  • Huddy42
    Huddy42 Senior Contributor
    Good to see my old car back on the road. It was some car , always attracted plenty of attention where ever it went in those days, and still should today.



    My father purchased the car in 1958 for 2 thousand 500 pound, a lot of money in those days, at the time he purchased it there was a 1957 Hudson Hornet on the floor as well, I sure was glad he chose the Rambler. I purchased it from him in 1967 when he bought a new 1967 Rambler American paid him $900.oo for it, drove the car for 10 years and sold it for $900.00, the car was 6 cylinder with puh button automatic it was very underpowered in my opinion, it now has a V8 which would suit it better, and now has a spare wheel mounted on the rear.

    After I sold the '58 I bought a 1965 Rambler Classic wagon also a 6 cylinder

    (again underpowered), this one was imported to Australia by the American Consulate. The '58 holds many memories for myself and the family.



    By the way, the car when purchased had Rambler hub caps on it and not Hudson.



    The Ambassadore had a longer wheel base than the Super Six.
  • PAULARGETYPE
    PAULARGETYPE Senior Contributor
    The true 57 down under were all v8's they were low roof design cars the 6's were all high roof cars they were 56's that were rechromed to look like 57's
  • bob ward
    bob ward Senior Contributor
    PAULARGETYPE wrote:
    The true 57 down under were all v8's they were low roof design cars the 6's were all high roof cars they were 56's that were rechromed to look like 57's



    As Paul says there were 2 varieties of 57 Hudson sold here. The genuine low roof 57 V8's were imported fully assembled.



    The high roof 6 cylinder cars with 57 trim came in as kits and were assembled here, same as the 55, 56 and most stepdowns.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Did they take the time to switch the "relfector panels" from the back to the front? Because that's always the first thing I notice in their difference "aesthetically"
  • 53jetman
    53jetman Senior Contributor
    Ken U-Tx wrote:
    http://www.atawalk.net/Hudsons.html



    kEN - Just curious about the background of Sylvain C Raymond, the artist behind these drawings of the 1955 thru 1958 Hudson models.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    It has been some time since i've been on this forum but i thought i should have my say on 1957 hudsons in Australia. I own a 57 hornet "6" custom sedan under resto which my grandfather had owned years ago, & 2 parts cars, and just sold one to my cousin in Canberra a rust free one. Also i have 1 v8 parts car and my late step dads restored V8 sedan. I truly believe all 57s were assembled here as all our cars had

    1. local trim which were all vinal and the v8 door trims differ from usa door trims.

    2. we did not receive full wheel covers we made our own out off soft brass, copy of the SUPER MODEL HUB CAPS which were stainless in usa.

    3. local paint & tyres the rest of the car was imported parts.



    6cyl cars had XKD- SERIEL PLATE & THE V8s HAD YKD- PLATE ON THE INNER GUARD.

    Hudsons were assembled by IRA BERK Co in Kingsgrove outer Sydney area.



    The hudsons were so dear out here to buy, i have a 1959 newspaper ad they were still selling new 1957 hornet 6s & v8s aswell the new 1959 HUDSON RAMBLER custom sedan & wagon.



    SO DID HUDSON LIVE TILL 50!!!!



    JEFF FRIPP, SYDNEY.
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