Stepdown Roadster?

Unknown · December 2005

We were at our favorite eating establishment tonight, one of those places with great food, strong spirits, and good atmosphere. Part of the atmosphere is from all the old pictures on the walls, I knew the original owner and all the pictures came from his grandparents attic.

I probably have walked by this particular picture over a hundred times since it is on the way to the men's room. Tonight I stopped an took a close look. It was a 48 or 49 Hudson convertable. It was located in some type of large office or warehouse with a crowd of people around it, the photograph was taken from behind and above. the photographer had to be 15 to 20 feet above the car. The strange part was that the area behind the front seats to the deck was covered with a piece of metal creating a Roadster.

Was this a factory option? A one off factory display? It may have been a private customized one off, but the scene in the picture indicated a factory setting.

I did not have time tonight, but I am going to go back in the next couple of days to try and buy the picture. If I can buy it I will scan and post it.

Uncle Josh · December 2005

At least, take your digital camera and get a shot of it. Sounds interesting.

Jon B · December 2005

Maybe this beanery has a scanner in the back office, in which case you can convert the photo directly into something you can post to Classiccar.

Unknown · February 2006

Here is a copy of the picture I found in a local restaurant of what I believe is a Hudson. The dash and steering wheel look like they belong to a Hudson but the trunk lid and tail lights do not look quite right. And the windshield looks to be one piece. The link below takes you to a larger picture with a little more detail. Hopefully some one can verify whether this is a Hudson or not.

The sign on the right, on the fireplace reads Deluxe Coupe $753.00. Maybe this location is a dealership? There were no notes or writing on the back of the photo.

http://www.classiccar.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1920&size=big&password=&sort=1&cat=500

Unknown · February 2006

I donâ€™t think itâ€™s a Hudsonâ€¦no â€œheaderâ€ above the windshield like the Hudson converts. Also the tail lights donâ€™t look the same, and the cover over the back seat looks to be a vinyl tonneau. The rear looks a bit like a Cunningham or Allard from the early 50â€™s, but thatâ€™s just a guess.

[Deleted User] · February 2006

From the picture distance, the dash, steering wheel and tailights look like it could be from a 48- 49 Commodore. The rear bumper area certainly is not a 48- 49 stepdown as Hudson rear bumpers are flush and molded into the rear (my favorite part of the Hudson). Also, the outline of the top of the trunk on the car in the picture has rounded top corners, Hudson's have square top corners. Great picture!

Unknown · February 2006

Looks like it might be a Kurtis or Muntz???

Jon B · February 2006

Why not post that photo over at the AACA 'what is it?" forum? Then you'll have the benefit of a much greater number of viewers (whose knowledge covers all makes and years), to I.D. it. http://forums.aaca.org/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=whatisit

harry54 · February 2006

Looks like a 48 ,49, Dash for sure. When you blow it up. Gauges are all in the right places and the wheel and overall layout is hudson with some mod's . I believe it is a Hudson roadster.

Unknown · February 2006

the guys at my hot rod message board say it's a Thunderbolt.

Unknown · February 2006

yorgatron wrote:

the guys at my hot rod message board say it's a Thunderbolt.

I think your guys nailed it:

http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/1941/thunderbolt/

bobbydamit · February 2006

Auto manufacturers all, at some time, put concept or future cars on the floor. I believe this is just that. A Hudson, maybe 48-49, convert customized to be a concept or future model if there is any interest. Judging from the crowd, it is probably not a dealership, but a car show in some state, maybe even Detroit. I did some Media Cybernetics Image enhancing on the Photo, and some of those are standard Hudson parts all right, but not all. I will try to publish the enhanced pics if I figure out how later. I It is probably the MoparThunderbolt now that I see the original pics of it. Nice job guys.

http://www.plan59.com/photos/photos036.htm

Aaron D. IL · February 2006

Could it be that Mopar swiped a Hudson for their concept car ? LOL I'e heard accounts of Chryseler watching spying on the cars that were on the roof of the Hudson building. Of course it could be someone's private custom....just speculating.

Unknown · February 2006

Definitely a Thunderbolt. Google "Chrysler Thunderbolt" and an image comes up that's almost identical to this car. About a quarter way down the page and shows a black one from the rear.

Unknown · February 2006

It is a Chysler Thunderbolt,I drove one when I worked at the blackhawk auto museum,cool,the door handle (so to speak) is just a small round button you push in.the engine was nothing fancy as I recall,just flathead 6

bobbydamit · February 2006

AHHH! The famous Spitfire 6 flathead. What a slug it was, for hauling around that heavy 300 J in the early 50's, with the "Prestomatic, Instamatic, Gyromatic, Automatic Fluid Drive", compaired to the Hudson 308 with Twiners. Of course so was the Hudson 8 if I remember right. Mopar guys would take those 50-52 Chryslers and yank that flat head and drop in a "Hemispherical Combustion V8" [ as they were called in those days] out of a 54, bore it out to about .80 over and hit the drag strip. That was about the only thing that could beat me in the good old days.

[Deleted User] · February 2006

Considering the T-bolt was built in 1941, Hudson probably swiped the idea from Chrysler, IMO.

That is DEFINITELY the Thunderbolt.

Unknown · February 2006

bobbydamit wrote:

AHHH! The famous Spitfire 6 flathead. What a slug it was, for hauling around that heavy 300 J in the early 50's, with the "Prestomatic, Instamatic, Gyromatic, Automatic Fluid Drive", compaired to the Hudson 308 with Twiners. Of course so was the Hudson 8 if I remember right. Mopar guys would take those 50-52 Chryslers and yank that flat head and drop in a "Hemispherical Combustion V8" [ as they were called in those days] out of a 54, bore it out to about .80 over and hit the drag strip. That was about the only thing that could beat me in the good old days.

Whats a 300 J?

[Deleted User] · February 2006

The Chrysler 300 series started in 1955 with the HEMI C300. (354, the 392 came later). Stating the next year, it then became a 300B, then in '57 it was a 300C, and so forth. The lletter "I" was not used. A 300J would be a 1963. The last 300 letter car was the 300L in 1965, then revived in 1998 with the 300M.

The Spitfire "6" was never in a letter car.

Unknown · February 2006

According to the Chrysler website:

"Tremulis' new concept car was also marked by a discrete silvery bolt of lightning on each smooth door. The electrically-controlled top could be concealed beneath the rear deck of the two-seater by pressing a button. Concealed headlights, anodized aluminum trim at the base of the car's body and leather interior trim marked this sleek full-fender look. It was powered by a 143-HP straight eight engine."

Don't know what the weight was, but 143 HP would have provided above average performance for 1941.

boothguy · February 2006

66patrick66 wrote:

The Chrysler 300 series started in 1955 with the HEMI C300. (354, the 392 came later). Stating the next year, it then became a 300B, then in '57 it was a 300C, and so forth. The lletter "I" was not used. A 300J would be a 1963. The last 300 letter car was the 300L in 1965, then revived in 1998 with the 300M.

The Spitfire "6" was never in a letter car.

'55 300 actually had a 331, 56 had a 354 and 57-8 had 392s

[Deleted User] · February 2006

I knew that! LOL!

The wedge engines were introduced the following year when the 392 was discontinued. I'd love to have a '62 300. They didn't have the fins of the '61s; otherwise. they're nearly the same car. Looks much better w/o the fins!

boothguy · February 2006

62 was also the beginning of the non-letter 300's which became the middle of the line series and much easier to find now and a lot more affordable. IMHO these cars had the coolest dash ever to come out of Detroit.

Stepdown Roadster?

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