1937 Hudson 8 Coupe

Trevor J
Trevor J Expert Adviser
edited February 2013 in HUDSON
I see there is a very tidy Hudson 8 coupe for sale on Ebay. $59,000 seems a lot of money. The owner makes claims to the effect that there are only a few known to be left. Are there so few or is the seller talking it up.

Comments

  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    Probably, I have a 40 eight coupe and there are only half a dozen or so of those left.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    I've been in HET for near 45 years and I don't recall ever seeing a 1937 Hudson 8 coupe .

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    edited February 2013
    Trevor-

    I'd say yes and no to your question. With a few exceptions, there aren't more than a half-a-dozen or so of most models. Some less, some more, of course. (Probably less on the 37H8Cpe).

    Consider this: There are approximately 10000 or so Hudsons left. Out of those, about 60% are Step-Downs ('48-54). That leaves 4000 cars over a 41 year span. Of those years, 1909-1947, the newest of those cars are going to be the most plentiful and typically, will get rarer as the year in question becomes earlier (with a few exceptions like 1933).

    Another example: In 1938, there were 56 models available and 16 different commercial models. How many of those models do you think even still exist, or better yet, how many no longer exist?

    So, back to your original question, yes, it's pretty rare! But they all are.

    Also, an opinion: 59K is a little high in today's market for a coupe. Will the car eventually, if not now, be worth that much? Of course it will. And it is a very nice, clean car, and one anyone would be proud to own.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Maybe he's calling the changeout of rear end gearing an overdrive! I surely don't see one, but there are no good shots of that area.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Rick-

    I believe 1940 was the first year for an OD option. Doesn't appear to have an OD on this car. Perhaps park is right and they swapped out the rear end for a higher set of gears and are considering this "Overdrive".
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    I agree with CL, think his "Howy Gears" translates to "highway gears" such as let's say a 3.41 rear end ratio.
    Yes, '40 1st year Hudson offered O.D.
  • Ol racer
    Ol racer Senior Contributor
    edited February 2013
    FYI
    I hope it does sell for near what their asking since I have an identical Yr & Model that im finishing with a Hornet Mtr.....
  • Huddy42
    Huddy42 Senior Contributor
    Looks like a beautiful cosmetic restoration, undercarriage leaves a lot to be desired unless it is a very old restoration looking at the amount of grease etc, that definately is a normal transmission.(no overdrive), and why use a hot dog muffler. Do the horn wires usually go through the grill as these do.??

    All in all, would not knock it back if parked in my garage.
  • ESSX28-1
    ESSX28-1 Senior Contributor
    Original rear end claimed
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    It has a hypoid diffy, so it is most likely from a '48-'52 era car, as it also has the welded cover. Not what I would call and "overdrive", but most likely a higher ratio than original
  • parkerm
    parkerm Expert Adviser
    Guys,

    Regarding the numbers of Hudson cars that are around RL said: Consider this: There are approximately 10,000 or so Hudsons left. Out of those, about 60% are Step-Downs ('48-54). That leaves 4000 cars over a 41 year span.

    I assume that means my 1940 Super Six 2 door sedan is also kinda rare. Does the HET club have a listing of how many of each model are registered in the club or is the gathering of that information part of the initiative to register our cars with the club?

    I enjoy these conversations.
    Thanks
    Marvin
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Was the cut-out on the bottom plate of the x-frame a result of the differential change?


    Kevin C.
  • commodorecollector
    commodorecollector Senior Contributor
    edited February 2013
    Russel,
    I am wondering the same thing (about approx. 10k Hudson's left).
    thanks,
    Christopher.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    There's a thin line between "rare" and "scarce" For example what would one classify a Hudson Italia as - rare or scarce?? It's interesting that a little more than 3/4' s of the 26 known to have been built still survive. And then there's the Hudson Jet Convertible - 100% of those survive since only one was built and that was restored. Same applies to the 1910 Model 20. Again rare because very few of the 4000 built survive - but maybe scarce. I think you can use the two terms interchageably.

    IMHO I don't think Russells figures are to far off.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    edited February 2013
    We've been through these #'s before, but I wouldn't know where to go to find the old posts.

    Marvin-
    Yes, your car is rare. But let me re-iterate: They're ALL rare. There's probably not more than 1/2-dozen 1940 2 dr. sedans left, possibly less. 2DR Sedans were a rare body style to begin with, in most any year.

    Personally, I keep track of as many Hudson Convertibles that I can, at least back to the beginning of the Terraplanes, through the end of line.

    Christopher-
    Sent you a PM.

    Kevin C.-
    That was my thought, as well.

    Lastly, several years ago, someone (might have been Matt Faust?) went to the trouble of making a spread sheet with all the cars in the Roster listed. If you wanted to go and see how many 1940 2DR Sedans were listed, you could find out by perusing the chart. Then you had to figure in approximately how many were still existing, but not listed in the Roster. For example, in the last Roster there were 13 1952HHCv's listed. I have since located 22, possibly 23 (meaning 9 or 10 more). That's not a great example, as there are quite a few more out there not listed in the Roster than is typical.

    I am waiting until the new Roster comes out, and I was going to attempt to create a new list.

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Russell, Matt's spreadsheet wouldn't happen to have had the file name "Year" would it? Maybe 10-15 years ago I was e-mailed an Excel (or other) spreadsheet file with about 5,000 Hudsons listed by serial number and year. I've always wondered who put that together!
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Jon-

    I believe it was called "Hudson Stats". I found mine earlier.
  • faustmb
    faustmb Senior Contributor
    I didn't put that spreadsheet together, but I remember seeing it.

    Marvin - yes, an initiative of the HET club is to get a better understanding of the models still in existence. The new website features a searchable database so you can search by model, vin, etc. I thought it was very cool that in reading old WTNs, it was pretty big news every time a new roster was built for a particular year/model. I would guess in most cases, 40- 50% of the cars that exist are not in the club? You can also resister you car without being in the club, to help make those statistics more accurate.

    I remember when the 33 Terraplane roster was still pretty young (early 80s)? There were only a handful of T8 Deluxe KT sedans, now that number has doubled or tripled I think...
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    edited February 2013
    The Club has a large number of people who maintain registries of various years, models and body styles.

    I once had a friendly debate with an H-E-T official who felt this was unneccessary; he said that the Club roster automatically lists all the Hudsons owned by its members, so why bother to enlist the help of a squadron of registrars. My point was that, because these registrars makes it a personal point of pride in keeping their lists up to date, they will put extra effort into searching out cars for that list. They won't simply rely on data from H-E-T members, they'll collect it from non-members as well. Often, those registry keepers will enlist the help of fellow Hudson owners to ferret out Hudsons at local meets, cars in barns, private collections, "the back 40". Even cars that no longer exist (which is helpful if someone wants to know the fate of his old Hudson, even if it was junked).

    The data that's collected by individual roster keepers can then be added to the Club's overall lists of Hudsons. The point is, our goal is to find out how many of what type of Hudsons are still "out there", not just which are in the Club. So, I think that -- even though it's invaluable to have master rosters electronically compiled from membership lists -- we still need individuals to supplement the master roster by maintaining and building their own lists.

    I should mention that Robbie Williams' "1937" registry has at least 500 cars on it (I think!) and Charlie Woodruff's "1951" registry has (again, I believe) maybe 700 or more cars listed! These registry keepers are really motivated to build these lists and keep them up to date. Anyone who hasn't yet contacted the registry keeper for his / her particular Hudson, ought to do so and help increase our knowledge of "what's left out there".
  • barrysweet52
    barrysweet52 Expert Adviser
    I found the 10,000 statistic interesting. I had a quick look through old lists of Hudson/Essex cars in South Australia/Victoria/New South Wales and there were approx 400 Hudson/Essex cars, not including the many in Queensland and the other states of Australia. Also not including Ramber, Railton and Nash cars. I remember an amazing turnout for the centenary rally in New Zealand. As mentioned not all HET car owners are members of HET clubs. Barry
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    As the truck registrar, I provide a service that the membership chair just doesn't have time for. I got my initial list and get updated from the membership list every few months.

    I get requests about whether trucks are in the registry, how many of which type are listed, and provide lists of other truck owners in their area that they can call for help.

    If people are looking for a truck, which truck owners have dropped out of the club and may have a truck for sale. By sorting the data base (Excell) in different ways, I can spot errors in model and/or serial numbers. I can also track previous owners by serial number.

    Because I rebuilt my engine and re-assembled my truck from a proverbial bushel basket, and drive it regularly and am working on another, I can provide specific answers, ie what will you have to do to clearances, drive shafts, motor mounts, radiators etc to make an overdrive or replacement Hudson motor fit.
  • parkerm
    parkerm Expert Adviser
    I sent Sam Jackson all the information I had on my car. Sam is in charge of all 1940 models going into the registry. Sam has told me that mine will be listed there. I don't know how long it will take for Sam to add the information but I look forward to being able to find my car in the listing. Though I only own one Hudson I am always on the look out for Hudson's listed for sale or when I see one being driven. It doesn't take more than one Hudson to make me a Hud-nut.

    Marvin
  • Nevada Hudson
    Nevada Hudson Senior Contributor
    edited February 2013
    Pete, Danny Zimmerman had a '37 8 coupe . Sold it about 7 years ago.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I have a 37 8 Coupe also in CA.

    Ron
  • 53jetman
    53jetman Senior Contributor
    There is a '37 eight coupe in NE Ohio, owned by Joe Gleydura
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