Another one of those "I wished I had kept it"

50C8DAN
50C8DAN Senior Contributor
edited October 2010 in HUDSON
I took the '50 to a small local car show yesterday where of course it was the only Hudson. I guy in his mid to late 50s came up to me and looked over the car. He said he was glad to see one again. He said in the late '60s his grandfather passed away in Cleveland, OH. His Dad flew out to the funeral and drove his grandfather's '50 Hudson 8 coupe (not sure if it was a Commodore or Super, but probably a Super from his description, but it could have been a broham). Anyway his grandfather did not put many miles on it due to bad legs so it sat for many years in the garage. His Dad used the car as a truck for a couple of years in his music repair business. The guy inherited the Hudson on reaching 16. This was the early 70s. He said he hated the car, it was not snazzy or fast and could not pick up girls with it. It had a rusty roof he was supposed to sand and paint, It did not go well so his Dad told him to sell it. He did for $1 with 9,000 miles on it! What I wouldn't have given for a Hudson in the early 70s as my HS car!!!!!!

Comments

  • Lee ODell
    Lee ODell Senior Contributor
    Thanks for sharing the interesting story. I like reading other's experiences.

    A dollar! What was he thinking?

    Lee O'Dell
  • 54SuperWasp
    54SuperWasp Expert Adviser
    Well Lee, if you like interesting stories, here's one for you. In 1976, one of my friend's dream car was a 1934 Dodge convertible. At that time, I don't recall there was any in the club, maybe one, not shure. I was working for a delivery company when I spotted a black 1963 Riviera Buick ( first year of production)that looked brand new. Talked to the owner and asked if it was for sale. The car had only 27000 miles ont it. And it was not for sale. I told the man I loved old cars and that I had a 1942 Oldsmobile in my garage. He replied he had an older car in his. A 1934 Dodge convertible. I asked him if he was a member of a club and he said no. I asked him how come he had that car? He said he bought it new! In 1952 he bought a Buick and stored the Dodge in his double car garage. In 63 he bought the Riviera and traded in the 52. I was getting quite nervous at that time. Asked him if he would sell, and he said yes!:) From what he said, he lived about 1 mile from my home. I gave him my phone number and asked him to call me. The weeks and months passed...I went in his area but could not find the place. A few months after, I met a cousin who had a country place and was a well known car collector. He told me he had seen a beautiful car,a 1934 Dodge convertible and this car was stored near the place I lived...:( The fact is, the owner of the Dodge had a country place too and one day had trouble with his TV. The TV guy came to repair and spotted the Riviera. When asking about the Riviera, the old man offered him the 34 Dodge right away. So the repairman got himself a 46000 miles ( number 2 condition)1934 Dodge convertible
    with rumble seat that he exchanged for a.... color TV!!!:evil: I saw the car later and cried like a baby cause it did not need any restoration. The guy had change the king-pins, rechromed the door handles and reupholstered the rumble seat. That's it! Never had another occasion like this! And for those who don't know what it looks like, there is one in this month's Hemming's Classic car. ( The second one from our club in Quebec). Michel. I think the one I just told you about is in the USA now...
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Here's not a "Wish I'd have kept it" but a "Wish I could have bought it." At age fifteen and carrying an afternoon newspaper route for income, I noted one of my customers had a For Sale sign on what had been his daily driver: a '36 Lincoln Model K V-12 convertible coupe, with rumbleseat and twin side mounts. He was asking $150 for it. He saw me looking at it and came out to chat. When he raised the right side hood there was a bit of a surprise ... "the world's first slant six." These cars have a three-piece block, with the two cylinder banks bolted to the crankcase casting. He had removed the entire right cylinder bank and covered the resulting opening in the crankcase with a piece of 1/2" plywood. He asked if I'd like to drive it, so we went for a little spin around the block. It was a bid pokey but ran smoothly, a bit of a surprise as I expected removal of the right bank rods and pistons would put it considerably out of balance. Apparently not.

    That evening I hit up Dad to let me buy the car, but not a chance ... he said even though I'd be getting my driver's license in a few months, the Lincoln would be too expensive to drive and maintain. So, no deal. Decades later I decided to look up that model in the Standard Catalog of American Cars. Turns out it was a LeBaron bodied model, and there were just fifteen of them made. Aaaaarrrgh!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

In this Discussion