Hudson vin decoding

Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I have a 49 ? hudson vin#118552 on plate on passenger side door frame. The carb is one that is listed for a 1950 so I am wondering about the year. Thanks, Wayne

Comments

  • VIN no should have 2 or 3 more digits. No was on triangular shaped taag which said Hudson Motor Car Co. A 49 will start 491, 492, 493, or 494. 50 will be 500, 501, 502, 503, or 504. Depending on the model. 1 is Super six, 2is Commodore six, 3 is Super Eight, and 4 is Commodore Eight[third digit]. 50 is same codes except for the Pacemaker series which was added for the 50 model year. It will start with 500 or 500A.
  • Also original engine no will match serial no. On 6 cyl engines it is stamped vertically on right side of block in front of the front exhaust port. On the eights it is stamped on top of the block, right side between the first and second exhaust ports. you can see these numbers without removing anything except for maybe some rust and dirt.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    If you take the whole number, 118552 as the serial, or VIN, then that wouldn't be correct for a 1949 car - the numbers only went to 259201.



    If the 1st number, "1", taken as the model (491) then it's a Super Six built in November 1948 (2177 thru 20603). Tho usually the model number was stamped above the serial number on the ID tag on the right front door frame, I think.





    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
  • I will try to send a picture of the vin tag. It shows model 4A and under that serial number 118552
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Ok. 4A is a 1951 Pacemaker, produced sometime in July 1951. There were 1308 Hudsons produced in July.



    Of the total number of Hudson's built in 1951 (131,915 units) 34,455 were Pacemakers.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
  • Alex, my '38 serial number is: 8956021 Anything you can tell me about when it was built? Thanks in advance.
  • 54SuperWasp
    54SuperWasp Expert Adviser
    Talking about VIN, if I remember well, on my 54, the VIN number is there ( on the passenger door plate) but, under the paint code, there is nothing written. Could it be it is because of, instead of stamping the number, they printed it and it faded away? Anyway, it is a unicolor, and my guess would be Silver Blue from what I see. It still wears it's original color. If you have an answer for that,Alex, I would appreciate. Thanks.
  • Alex, Thank you very much. Wayne
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    54SuperWasp wrote:
    Talking about VIN, if I remember well, on my 54, the VIN number is there ( on the passenger door plate) but, under the paint code, there is nothing written. Could it be it is because of, instead of stamping the number, they printed it and it faded away? Anyway, it is a unicolor, and my guess would be Silver Blue from what I see. It still wears it's original color. If you have an answer for that,Alex, I would appreciate. Thanks.



    Have no idea - I don't know if the numbers were stamped or painted in '54. We'll have to wait for a '54 owner to tell us.



    As for colors the 1941-1954 Ditzler car color list gives three "blues" in 1954 - B-158 Beret Blue Poly (Ditzler Number 11070), G48 Algerian Blue Poly (Ditzler Number 11068) and J-159 Silver Blue (Ditzler Number 11069).



    In additon a Car Distribution Department Bulletin, Number DL 54-17 issued April 5, 1954 says: 1. Effective with production on approximately April 15, 1954 the following changes will be made on two-tone color combinations. Option RA is one change - Beret Blue - lower, Coronation Cream - upper.

    (Just tossed that in for your info.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    dave kastelic wrote:
    Alex, my '38 serial number is: 8956021 Anything you can tell me about when it was built? Thanks in advance.



    Sorry Dave, we are still digging for production figures for pre-1946. It took us nearly 30 years to find the 1946-1954 figures.



    So everybody keep looking!!!!!!! :D



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Alex is great!! Wealth of information. Aunt Hester taught him well.;)
  • 54SuperWasp
    54SuperWasp Expert Adviser
    Thanks again Alex, will check info with a 54 owner. Won't have it here in Quebec since I am the only one having a 54...
  • Did they change the location of the paint codes in 54? 53 and earlier were stamped in the right hand top front door hinge. Ones I've seen were one letter usually under the small sheet metal strap that is attached to the door post and covers the hinge, I think that part is there to let the door seal contact a smooth surface.
  • 54SuperWasp
    54SuperWasp Expert Adviser
    Yes Steve, the plate is on the passenger side where it is supposed to be but where there should appear a number or code of any sort, there is nothing. The vin is stamped, but nothing appears for the trim or paint code. That's why I thought it might have been printed and faded away instead of being stamped. Mystery!
  • My 54 cpe sez, 7318345 on passenger side.



    No paint code stamped on the plate, but took off two colors from the body, faded red and faded cream.



    I don't think the engine matches the Serial. Fixin to get overhauled anyway.
  • Steve E wrote:
    Also original engine no will match serial no. On 6 cyl engines it is stamped vertically on right side of block in front of the front exhaust port. On the eights it is stamped on top of the block, right side between the first and second exhaust ports. you can see these numbers without removing anything except for maybe some rust and dirt.



    I see in this thread and other threads in the past that the VIN number is stamped on the right side of engine. I have two 308 engines that I can not find the number. Am I missing something or did these engines not get stamped?
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    402Bowtie wrote:
    I see in this thread and other threads in the past that the VIN number is stamped on the right side of engine. I have two 308 engines that I can not find the number. Am I missing something or did these engines not get stamped?



    That is a possibility - J. C. Whitney had a boat load of 308's they were flogging off the back of the truck back in the mid- to late-50's. It is my understanding, and I could be wrong, but a lot of those had either no serial numbers or an odd-ball number of some sort.





    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    Steve E wrote:
    Did they change the location of the paint codes in 54? 53 and earlier were stamped in the right hand top front door hinge. Ones I've seen were one letter usually under the small sheet metal strap that is attached to the door post and covers the hinge, I think that part is there to let the door seal contact a smooth surface.



    The few 54's I have worked on had the paint code on the tag, but in ink or paint, not embossed. It could be easily worn off over the years.

    Anyone interested in the production figures for 54 stepdowns can find a chart on the Smoky Mt Chapter site http://www.smokymtnhetclub.org/fiftyfour.html
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    SuperDave wrote:
    The few 54's I have worked on had the paint code on the tag, but in ink or paint, not embossed. It could be easily worn off over the years.

    Anyone interested in the production figures for 54 stepdowns can find a chart on the Smoky Mt Chapter site http://www.smokymtnhetclub.org/fiftyfour.html



    For the 1946 thru 1954 period, I have those production figures in my files. I also have a chart that covers 1946-1954 giving a breakdown by model. For example in 1950 there were 39,455 Pacemakers and 22,297 Pacemaker Deluxes produced. This chart shows total production and total shipments, which can be confusing. For example in 1948 total production is shown as 117,200, but total shipments are shown a 142,454. The difference is probably due to the method used to determine the numbers; ie, production figures are from start (usually around August) to end (usually the following August), while shipments were based on annual (January to December.)



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
  • Hey 402 bowtie, you may have replacement blocks with no stamped #, you may also have 1956 engines , they had a machined boss on yhe left side of the block at the top kinda between cyls #1 and #2 it's about 3/8" X 2" long.
  • 53jetman
    53jetman Senior Contributor
    SuperDave wrote:
    The few 54's I have worked on had the paint code on the tag, but in ink or paint, not embossed. It could be easily worn off over the years.



    My '54 coupe now has just 18,355 miles on it, and it too does not have a paint code on the ident plate. Apparently, by this time in the production (July '54), someone made the decision that the paint code was not a necessity.
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