1946 Hudson Pickup Terraplane Serial Number #1

What does the serial tag on the door post show?

Hudson serial numbers in 1946 and Terraplane serial numbers ran as follows:
1932 Essex-Terraplane - 350,000
1933 Essex-Terraplane (K Standard Six) - 364,125
1933 Essex-Terraplane (KU Special Six) - 5,000
1933 Essex-Terraplane (KU Deluxe Six) - 11,865
1934 Terraplane (K Special & Commercial - 373,000
1934 Terraplane (KU Major) - 21,500
1934 Terraplane (KS Challenger) - 296,727
1935 thru early-1938 began at 101, depending on what source you're looking at. There are other starting numbers but most sources say 101 so that's what I've gone with.

None began with just the number "1".

Motor numbers didn't either:
Starting Motor Numbers:
1932 Essex-Terraplane - 5000
1933 Essex-Terraplane - 20,501 (Model K Standard Six)
1933 Essex-Terraplane - 26,727 (Model KU Special Six)
1934 Terraplane - 48,000
1935 Terraplane - 103,000
1936 Terraplane - 157,000
1937 Terraplane - 250,000
1938 Terraplane - 360,000 to serial number 560540
From 560540 up engine number same as serial number.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

Just a little serial number info. 1946 was an odd year for serial/model numbers. Serial numbers began with a "3" - 31-101 for the Super Six, 32-101 for the Commodore Six, 33-101 for the Super 8, 34-101 for the Commodore 8 and 38-101 for the pickup trucks.

However, the model numbers began with a {"5) as in 51, 52, 53, 54 and 58. My take is that the "5" indicated 1945 year as this was when they started producing cars (Hudson was the first auto manufacturer to get back into production - they tore out the war production lines almost before peace broke out). The "3" would have been what was assigned to 43 models as 1941 models began with a "1" and 1942 models began with a "2". Of course the company tossed it all in the nearest dumpster when they began 1947 with "17" - well, the "7" makes sense, but the "1" doesn't. They got it ironed out with the 1948 models which all began with ''48".

Hudson serial number research does get interesting at times. Just about any serious research into Hudson can get confusing very quickly.

Now, all that said, a thought crossed my mind. At some time it may be that the state this vehicle was registered in required a 16 alpha, numeric (possible) or alpha/numeric serial (VIN) number. To get around this serial number (for example) 12345 became 00000000012345, 0000000003812345 or some other varient. Could have happened that way. I know that a friend of mine registered a Hudson in Massachusetts that way - but, then, MA is weird to start with.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

Kdancy, does appear to be the case - have you checked the engine number??? I think the serial number was also stamped on the frame somewhere, but I can't remember where.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

Serial number on the door post is a 1946 Model 58 Pickup. Now that you're scratching your head saying Model WHAT??? in 1946 Hudson used "5" to designate the year (1945) and 1 thru 8 (1 Super 6, 2 Commodre 6, 3 Super 8, 4 Commodore 8 and 8 Commercial 6) to designate the model.
Hudson being Hudson for some long forgotten reason used "3" in the serial numbers - 31, 32, 33, 34 and 38. Only thing I can figure out is they reached back to 1943 for the "3" numbers.
And if all that wasn't confusing enough in 1947 they started everything with "17" (171, 172, 173, 174 and 178). Again, why - why not just start with a 7?????? Again who knows.
Hudson was "different" a lot of years before Dodge started touting their cars as "different".
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

Serial numbers were sequential, meaning your truck was most likely the 3,900th unit built of the 1946 product run. This because Hudson always started each model year with the model number #_ _ 101 up.