Hudson Trivia: How many 1948 Hudson dealer promo models were made?

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Anyone care to guess as to how many of these models were made? I just got an old Mechanix Illustrated article that specifically states the production number aswell as how they were put together.



Reply with your guesses here and I'll post the answer tomorrow. Niels

Comments

  • hdsn49
    hdsn49 Senior Contributor
    These models were used by Hudson dealers to show off the new step down design and

    other features of the new Hudson. I would think that they made enough for their dealers and maybe a few extras for the factory. How many dealers were there back in 1948?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    hdsn49 wrote:
    These models were used by Hudson dealers to show off the new step down design and

    other features of the new Hudson. I would think that they made enough for their dealers and maybe a few extras for the factory. How many dealers were there back in 1948?



    sorry... you can't answer the question with a question!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    WOULD GUESS ABOUT THREE THOUSAND nEILSI HAVE OWNED OVER A DOZEN OF THESE OVER THE YEARS
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Here is the text book answer, per the article, it states that "Hudson's making 20,000 for dealer displays".



    Considering this article was published while these models were being produced, it would be fair to speculate that Hudson was "padding" the actual number planned for production. Would a marketing department ever stretch the truth to the media?! Who knows what the actual number was but interesting none the less. The last one of these to sell on e-bay was two days ago for $1,366 or so dollars. The one before that went for over $1,800. Brings up a good question, was there ever another promo model car actually built in the real car factory? Niels
  • EssexAdv
    EssexAdv Expert Adviser, Member
    One thing to think about though... If the the models your article mentions are the solid color ones they were made as a publicity stunt to help advertise the Hudson Step-down design. There are considerably less of the half clear/half color cars. These were the true Dealer Promo.... or so I have been told
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Very interesting. The article specifically mentions the half clear models. Niels
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    The factory that assembles Audi A4's in China makes a highly detailed 1/18 scale Audi A4 model.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    EssexAdv wrote:
    One thing to think about though... If the the models your article mentions are the solid color ones they were made as a publicity stunt to help advertise the Hudson Step-down design. There are considerably less of the half clear/half color cars. These were the true Dealer Promo.... or so I have been told



    I'm going to scan the article and post it for everyone to see. One of the assemblyline pictures shows all solid color models being made so I don't know if the publicity solid color specific models holds water.... seems to me they probably just made both types. Everything else is just hearsay until documented otherwise. Niels
  • EssexAdv
    EssexAdv Expert Adviser, Member
    Neils, just look around at the number of solid color ones have been for sale. Then look at the few you see which are half clear. Somtihing must be up!
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    What about the solid cast ones done by MasterCaster? I have one of those, and I'm pretty sure I got it from the dealer, back in '48 or '49 (Yes, I'm really that old! LOL).
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    EssexAdv wrote:
    Neils, just look around at the number of solid color ones have been for sale. Then look at the few you see which are half clear. Somtihing must be up!



    Hi Lewis,



    The last two months I have seen two half-clear, one solid and two mastercaster on E-bay, but you could be right. You've been into Hudson's alot longer than I. I'm on a quest to find out what I can. I have another article coming which may shed some more light. I've scanned the first article but have not been successful in posting it on my Claasic Car page. I'll e-mail the scanned article to someone for them to post somewhere if they give me their e-mail. Mine is hetnptelcel@aol.com (remove the het). The first article includes photo's of both and implies that both styles were made on the same assemblyline. Just speculation, but one could also make an assumption that the solid color cars would be more apt to be kept as a toy for play. I could see the half-clear model having been more easily tossed away after the new model change. Niels
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    A second article states "that when Hudson decided to make scale cars as a promotional stunt" they hired plastic experts, etc, etc. It mentions the half clear models included with this. Seems both solid and half clear were considered a promotional stunt. However, no direct mention in either article mentions the solid color cars but it does show a picture of them. Niels
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