Last Hudson Hornet was built on this date in 1954

I think by November the Detroit factory was pretty much closed, workers gone and whomever was left was busy pitching stuff (so I've heard), like engine blocks, etc, out the windows.

Hudsonly
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

Well Paul, we all know that those who aren't fortunate to be a member of the Hudson family really aren't up to snuff on things Hudson. I notice that one cannot email Mr. Hyde (at least I can't) even tho he has an email link on his page. Man must be hiding!!! Or maybe his alter ego, Dr. Jeckle has the email. Whatever.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

While the Hudson brand was dropped in the US in 57, AMC was still making Hudsons in the US and sending them overseas. I'm sure that if they had been sold in the US they would be embraced by the Hash enthusiasts and the last Hudsons would be accepted as being 58 or 59, but because they were export only it sort of didn't happen.

There was a WTN article maybe 15 years ago on the later Hudsons, including IIRC repros of adverts for them at the time. If it was in WTN they must be true.

Here's a photo of a 58 Hudson in Australia.

Does having a "HUDSON" name plate, Hudson steering wheel, radio, & maybe a Hudson built engine make it a Hudson? Was it built by Hudson employees, in the Hudson factory, was it designed by Hudson engineers, or was it a Nash with a few left over Hudson baubles tacked on & maybe stuck in? Does it look like, perform, & handle like a Hudson?
Guess it gets down to one's definition of said vehicle being a Hudson.

My dad bought his 51 and 56 Hornet at a Hudson dealer. The bill of sale said Hudson. The car title said Hudson. The Department of motor vehicle in Calif. registered it as a Hudson. As a youngster I got car sick in both Hudsons. It must be a Hudson. On the plus side the 56 front seat folded down so my brother, I and my partents had sleeping quarters on vacation. I was to young back then to evaluate the differences other than appearances. I didn't like the looks of the 54 Hudsons suttle changes when they came out but I like them now. I still like the looks of the 55s. I'm still warming to the major changes in 56-57,58s. The more I see a restored one I get excited and I begin to appreciate them more. Some of the other car makers radical designs and poor handling between 58 -62 were pretty hard to stomach.

I guess if one likes the 55-57,58 Hudson it is a Hudson. If one does not care much for them, they are still Hudsons weather we like it or not. If it had not been for AMC the Hudson name would not have been seen past 1954. Years later AMC joined hundreds and hundreds of previous car manufacturers that experienced the save financial downfall that brought down Hudson in 1954. AMC gave Hudson a few more years of life. Wish it could have been longer.

What if there had been a 57 Hudson Rebel with the AMC 327 engine it would have had the performance image it ones enjoyed. The 57 AMC Rebel with 327 was the second fastest production car in 1957. The 1957 Corvete was #1 in 1957. For even more performace excitement, what if Hudson came out with a 327 powered 57 Hudson Metro, it would have cleaned house in the Super Stock class.

What if. What ifs are wonderful dreams but not reality. The 55-58 Hudsons attempt to servive ended by Hudson buyers deserting to other brands as well as the Big 3 price wars.

In the History of Hudson by Don Butler on page 322 states in paragraph 3, "In combining Hudson and Nash design and tooling, the 1955 models of both were developed at a cost of $9,000,000. If there had been no merger, the same changes would have cost Hudson and Nash companies a total of $24,000,000." Hudson alone could not financially contiue another year. The Nash name also disapeared the same year the Hudson name disapeared.

Here is a suggestion to improve handling for 55-58 Hudson owners that will surprise most stepdown owners. Instal a 1 1/8 inch front anti-sway bar and a 3/4 inch rear anti-sway bar. Body roll be gone. You will feel as if you were driving something like a go cart. Stepdown owners would have similar improved results by adding these anti-sway bars to there cars.

Just sharing some thoughts and suggestions.
Lee O'Dell

Yes, on all '54s, the first digit of the vin number was the model #. A2C Super Jet vin began with a 2 plus the six digit sequential serial number. A Hornet Special vin began with 6 + the six digit sequential serial #.