Hudson Price Values

Browniepetersen
Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
edited October 2010 in HUDSON
If you read Old Cars Price Guide like I do you will be happy to know that some of our cars are going up in price. Let me give you one or two examples. My 1939 Hudson Series 92 Country Club Converible Brougham has increased from January 2009 from $41,000 to $43,000. Not bad... A 1946 Commodore 8 Cyl Coupe from $18,300 to $18,300? (the 6 Cyl same car increased $1,000. Did not see much of a change in the stepdowns listed; however, it did price the 1952 Hornet Convertibles as under $50,000 (so much for proof-reading). Anyone know where I can get one of those "trailered not driven number one condition 52 convertibles for that price? One could say that it was better than the stock market if you had the right car.....

Comments

  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    Hey Russell, good choice in cars... I think you won the lottery!
  • 54SuperWasp
    54SuperWasp Expert Adviser
    HI Brownie, since I am still budgeting on the restoration of my 54 Super Wasp sedan ( 4 doors) Twin-H, automatic ( Borg-Warner), what would be the value? My goal is to restore it as close to original as possible. Exact same color, interior etc. I guess it will cost more than the real value... I have a spare 308 with an Hydrmatic just in case but I like that 262 with it's already settled Twin-H. Since it is a California car, no floor to repair. So, I should save on the body job. Will enter the body shop on Oct the 15th. Thanks.
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    $17,500 is what the folks at Old Cars Price Guide say. My experience would say that if you are doing a nice restoration and you use the Twin-H (old cars does not take that into factor)you should expect to look for offers somewhere around 24/25 thousand. This is only a WAG - but that is what I think.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Walt here. My 1953 Hudson Hornet Club Coupe is worth to me over $100,000. On one cross country trip, in Maryland, I was offered a blank check and a trip to the bank to cash it and plane fare home. Margaret told the fellow, I waited 5 years for this car and have no intension to wait another 5 years. In 12 years this car has been driven 133,000 miles and still going strong. I can't see trailer queens just to look at, drive your Hudsons and enjoy the talk.
  • harry54
    harry54 Senior Contributor
    Well said Walt.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Unfortunately, the prices put out, not only by Old Cars but also by other price guides, are generally driven by auction results. Reality, IMHO, is that actual values are at least 30%, or more, below auction prices.

    Offers, such as Walt rcvd, are rare - and most likely the result would have been the car on the auction circuit. If the check didn't bounce, that is.

    Again, IMHO, auctions have destroyed all to many average cars - Uncle Joe has a 1948 Hudson sedan out behind the barn and he's seen a '48 convertible come off the auction block for $125,000 - so he figures his has to be worth at least $75,000. Rusted out floors, perimeter frame, busted windows, bullet holes and all. Even if the car were solid and in reasonable, restorable condition we all know it isn't worth what Uncle Joe thinks he should get for it based on the auction. So the car sits behind the barn and quietly rots away as the seasons come and go.

    Ah, well - 'tis nice to dream.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    Alex, you are "spot on." Or as my loving wife would say: "It's not worth a damn thing until you sell it!!! I have built a number of cars over the years and when someone has said: "What will you sell that car for?" I give them a price and sometimes they buy it. I have never had a problem selling a car. However, with that said. I hope that I am out of the buy, build, sell process. It has taken a lifetime to get two dream cars (even though I did not know at the time that they were dream cars) and with any luck they will be something that those who live after me will have to worry about selling--whatever they are worth.... I like what Walt always says: "Drive the wheels off them.......
  • 54SuperWasp
    54SuperWasp Expert Adviser
    You're right on Walt, my first goal is to drive the car. Hudson are so rare here that I won't have the chance to get another. Will sadly have to sell my Willys to complete the restoration... That's why I am budgeting a little tight so I can keep that Willys. And I want that Hudson to be a driver, a good driver. I had the chance to meet guys from The Traveling Coasters. Every ten years or so, they travel across Canada for 2 months, coast to coast. ( You can Google the name and read their story). They are more than 100 cars from the late twenties to early sixties and most of all have a fifties trailer behind! I give myself two years to complete my car and take it to a National or just visit some of you guys. And maybe add a little trailer tent behind... This car would be something as a present to my late father who had that 51 convertible in 62 and made me wanting one since then. So, to resume, october the 15th, body and paint shop, next spring the car will come home to complete the mechanical and wiring. If money permit, chrome should be done by then and next winter the car would go for the interior. Unless that famous 2012 apocalypse arrive, I should go somewhere in the US to visit. Be sure I will post pictures.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    edited October 2010
    My wifes' uncle from Mass came for a visit last weekend and spent a few days enjoying our great fall weather. He has some pretty serious heath issues is in his mid 80's and is confined to a wheelchair. What a cool guy though, sharp as a tack and with great sense of humor.
    Anyway, back in the day, he owned a Hudson dealership in Cape Cod, Ma. I drug out my old Terraplane, spiffed it up a little and took it over to where he was staying. I figured he'd get a bit of a kick out of it, but I wasn't prepared for his reaction.
    He wheeled around that ole car for an hour and a half, talking Hudson's, Terraplanes, cork clutches, suspensions, and straight sixes. Man, did this thing get his blood pumpin'.
    I, of course loved every minute of it, probing and prodding for more stories, soaking up any tales (fiction or fact) that I could get. After a while, I asked him if he'd like to go for a ride in the coupe. Man, his eyes lit up like he had just won the lottery! I helped him in the car, cranked her up and we took an hour ride through the yellow aspens up into the mountains overlooking the city, with the ole T just purring through the trees. I don't know which of us us was having a better time! The three of us (he, myself and the T) bonded like I can never explain!

    I often underestimate the value of this car!...slim

    TriptoTravs-2008111.jpg
  • 53jetman
    53jetman Senior Contributor
    Hi Slim! Glad to see you are back on the forum. It's days like you just had with your wife's uncle that make our hobby outstanding, and especially with Hudson built products. I had a similar experience today. A friend of mine from church has been bugging me for a ride in the '54 Hornet Coupe and wondered if we could take along a friend of his who had worked for a Hudson Dealer in '45-'47. They of course were very impressed with the coupe, but the icing on the cake was when I pulled into my Son's place and they got to inspect his 1920 Essex Touring and get a ride in it. This was a great day!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    As far as current pricing goes on stepdowns, I can tell you from personal experience from just two months ago that a nice # 3 52 Hornet Sedan with Twin-H will fetch 14K all day long. Nice colors and stock condition make all the difference aswell. Also, if you do want to sell a Hornet, you should make sure it has the Twin-H on it as that is what everyone wants.

    The Hornets get more attention and money than the Commodores. Been awhile since I've seen a nice Hornet Coupe advertised but I think Glen's extremely nice 51 Hornet coupe sold for 22-24K ish on e-bay four or five months ago. The buyer stole that car in my opinion. I think Club Coupes will get more than a Hollywood.

    By the way, anyone know how much Ivan Z. sold his 51 race car for? Be very interesting to know.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

In this Discussion