1952 Hudson Commodore 8 Clone ... Where is it?

Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
My son, Matt, had correspondence recently with Lew Mendenhall, who owns a '52 Commodore 8 convertible. This raised the question of what became of my father's, Richard Royer, '52 Commodore 8 convertible clone?
It started out as the Hornet pictured in 1953. (first photo)


He traded on the next of many cars, but always had a soft spot for it. He purchased it again in the spring of '62, pictured here. (second photo)

It was to be my car, as I had just gotten my driver's license. It blew up as I was driving it home on the Pa. Turnpike.
I ended up getting a '53 Hornet Sedan that looked like new. And, the convertible sat.
Until in 1982, It looked like this. (third photo)


It went to Paul Clugsten' to be restored in the spring of '83 as a Commodore 8.
In 1987 it looked like this. (see video)[video size=100 width=425 height=344 type=youtube]SScBoNWe7qg[/video]
Mr. Clugsten passed away without it being finished, as did my father in 1992. The car remained in this condition until Jack Miller bought it in 1996 or '97.
Does anyone on the forum know what became of this car?

Lee

Comments

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    This is an obvious question but....what does Jack say?
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    edited July 2011
    Jack will certainly know the answer.

    I have your Dad's rebuilt 8 motor, which was probably a spare. It had an aluminum head on it, which I sold to Kurt Bordwell, now in NC, and replaced with an iron head, which I like the looks of better. I had the motor in my 'Hornadore' for a couple of years while I rebuilt the 308. It's now slated for my 49 If I can't fix the sickness of #5 in the 262 easily.

    It also came with a 254 bare block, a complete 212 and a 29 Essex block, which I'll give to anyone who wants it, and a nice wooden cradle on which sits a 39 254 I'm rebuilding for my 47 Pickup.

    My memory is a little fuzzy about who I met when I picked it up..you or your brother.
  • EssexAdv
    EssexAdv Expert Adviser, Member
    Lee, the last time I spoke to Jack Miller he was able to recall who he sold the car to. He even remembered that it had a Hornet serial number.
    Also, when researching my car, there were many inquiries if my car was Dick's. I know I ran into someone in the last 3 years who claimed he knew where your car was located.

    Good luck on your search. Please keep me posted.


    Lew Mendenhall
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I spoke to Jack this morning and from that learned the car was finished about eight years ago as a Hornet. It was finished in Toro Red with red leather as it was originally. He said the car went to Ohio when sold.
    With some luck and help, I still hope to track it down.

    Uncle Josh, you met my brother Bill who remembers you picking up the engines.

    Lee
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Lee, I was at a meet two or more years ago and was talking to someone who said that the car was sold to a person in Kentucky and it was put back to a Hornet. So, the mystery deepens. Yes, Uncle Josh I was the brother that was there when you picked up the 8 cyl. Uncle Josh you may remember me also from stopping in at your home while on a motorcycle tour. You gave me directions for a scenic ride around a lake and told me to stop for ice cream at a shop in a small town. Outside the ice cream shop was a step down Hudson with a carhop tray on the driver's window.
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    Ah yes, I remember now. I gave you a tour of the Hudsons here. I'm down to 10 now. 4 on the road, 2 in progress, 2 to sell and 2 to scrap. You took the North shore of the Great Sacandaga Lake. The ice cream shop was 'Papa's' owned by Fred Gardner, with the HUDSON river running behind it. Nice Guy. He had pics in the store of his father working at the Hudson dealership there in Lake Luzerne. He has since sold the store and retired, and last I talked with him was thinking of selling the Hudson also. I'll have to give him a call.
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