Mystery Hudson construction

hudsontech
hudsontech Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Fred Nunnamaker, of The Old Car Project, sent me some interesing photo's via email today - it's a 1929 Hudson, Model L, 2-door Cabriolet. Tho hard to see in the photo of the right side, the door appears to have two handles, one forward and one on the back edge and it is quite obvious that there are hinges at each end. I doubt very much that it was a regular feature offered by Hudson - more likely either from Biddle & Smart or an outside contractor.



I sent a copy of the photo (I'm another blivet that doesn't know how to post photos on here) to Geoff Clark and he's never seen anything like it. The body is, Geoff says, Biddle and Smart. I suppose it wouldn't be to difficult to attach a hinge lifting device to the handle so you retracted the hinges so you could open the door for front seat passengers or rear seat passengers.



Fred's email below:



Hi Alex



A friend sent me these pictures of a 1929 Hudson from a car meet in Arizona. I was very intrigued by the dual opening door, but I cannot find anything more about it. I checked your website, but again no luck. Do you have any other information? Is it a one of a kind from a special builder or a regular offering by Hudson?



Thanks



Fred Nunnamaker

The Old Car Manual Project



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

Comments

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Alex, have you sent a copy to Jack Miller? He might have seen a factory copy of it at some point, and might be able to shed light on it.



    As to how to post photos, you could do that either here, or go to our traditional Hudson Photo Album, post there, then merely post the web address of that photo (once it appears on the 'net) here, along with your message. You are always scanning things, thus you've done the "hard" work! Should be a piece of cake to post 'em after creating the jpegs!
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Jon B wrote:
    Alex, have you sent a copy to Jack Miller? He might have seen a factory copy of it at some point, and might be able to shed light on it.



    As to how to post photos, you could do that either here, or go to our traditional Hudson Photo Album, post there, then merely post the web address of that photo (once it appears on the 'net) here, along with your message. You are always scanning things, thus you've done the "hard" work! Should be a piece of cake to post 'em after creating the jpegs!



    Right!!!



    Alex b
  • dover1
    dover1 Member
    Hudson member Ken Kenewell in Az. has a 29 Hudson with a coachbuilt german body. The doors have hinges and handles at both ends and will open either direction depending on which handle you use.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Y'all are whetting my appetite now, I'd like to see that.
  • akcoop
    akcoop Administrator
    Ken has that two door car with the hinges that open both ways. I visited him on a business trip to AZ. He has had that car for 30 years and slowly restored it. I believe he bought it out of Venezuala where it served as a taxi. It is quite facinating.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Man, am I ever glad to hear from somebody that has actually seen it. Was beginning to wonder about my sanity (which is probably questionable anyway).



    There was a fellow in New England who, at one time, owned a step down with the front fenders hinged at the back, so you could swing them out of the way to work on the engine. As I recall people refered to it as that "swing fendered Hudson."



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    hudsontech wrote:
    Man, am I ever glad to hear from somebody that has actually seen it. Was beginning to wonder about my sanity (which is probably questionable anyway).

    There was a fellow in New England who, at one time, owned a step down with the front fenders hinged at the back, so you could swing them out of the way to work on the engine. As I recall people refered to it as that "swing fendered Hudson."

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN


    Well, that's an interesting concept . . . coulda used that feature this last weekend.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Up-date. Got another email from Fred Nunamaker about this Hudson - as follows:

    Fred,

    On Saturday evening, around 7 PM, Ken Kenewell called me from his cell phone. He is a very interesting man, and like many of us that love cars, his dad worked at one time for Chrysler, and later a family member worked for GM in what was at one time the Willow Run factory that Kaiser had, and then GM and later Ford. Not sure that's the correct order, we talked for such a long time and on many auto related subjects.

    He has all of the available records on the 29 Hudson and it was built in Switzerland for a wealthy small wine maker in France that later in the 30's went broke. The car was purchased by a rich man in Argentina that kept it for several years because of the poor condition the Frenchman had let it get into. The new owner finally sent it back for a full restoration. There was so much to this story I can't remember all. In any case we are going to meet sometime in January or February and take detail photos and a sound recording of his stories. I asked about the door hinges. He explained that each hinge has a pin that is released mechanically when
    you pull down on the door handle. So you would have to have long arms or 2 people to both pull at the same time on the same side to release the door, possible but improbable.

    I can hardly wait to have this meeting with Ken both for him and his cars and stories. He was in California bringing back his Model A which had been overseas with him, when he called me.

    Charlie.

    Charlie is a friend of Freds and was the one who took some pictures of the car that Fred sent me originally.

    And in case anybody's wondering - I'm on Russells computer. Visiting them over the Thanksgiving holiday. Will be headed back to Memphis tomorrow.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    hudsontech wrote:
    Fred Nunnamaker, of The Old Car Project, sent me some interesing photo's via email today - it's a 1929 Hudson, Model L, 2-door Cabriolet. Tho hard to see in the photo of the right side, the door appears to have two handles, one forward and one on the back edge and it is quite obvious that there are hinges at each end. I doubt very much that it was a regular feature offered by Hudson - more likely either from Biddle & Smart or an outside contractor.



    I sent a copy of the photo (I'm another blivet that doesn't know how to post photos on here) to Geoff Clark and he's never seen anything like it. The body is, Geoff says, Biddle and Smart. I suppose it wouldn't be to difficult to attach a hinge lifting device to the handle so you retracted the hinges so you could open the door for front seat passengers or rear seat passengers.



    Fred's email below:



    Hi Alex



    A friend sent me these pictures of a 1929 Hudson from a car meet in Arizona. I was very intrigued by the dual opening door, but I cannot find anything more about it. I checked your website, but again no luck. Do you have any other information? Is it a one of a kind from a special builder or a regular offering by Hudson?



    Thanks



    Fred Nunnamaker

    The Old Car Manual Project



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphis, TN
    Alex, if you want to see how the doors work, find a 1972 AMC ambassador station wagon, 7 passenger, and the tail gate opens like a door or drops down. I fixed many of these. The people in the third seat face the rear. Walt.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    walt's garage-53 wrote:
    Alex, if you want to see how the doors work, find a 1972 AMC ambassador station wagon, 7 passenger, and the tail gate opens like a door or drops down. I fixed many of these. The people in the third seat face the rear. Walt.





    Ford also had that two-way tail gate - Chevy might have, but I can't remember.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    Memphie, TN
  • essexcoupe3131
    essexcoupe3131 Senior Contributor
    Love to see some pics of this especially close up

    Mike
  • akcoop
    akcoop Administrator
    Looks like Ken is selling his two door handle 1929 Hudson. Beauty of a car. Would make a nice addition to someone's collection.

    http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/hudson/unspecified/1156577.html?refer=rss
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