1951 Hudson Hornet Restoration help.

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited January 2015 in HUDSON
Kia ora from New Zealand,

I am helping my folks restore their 1951 Hudson Hornet which had been reupholstered in the 1990s. Unfortunately some of the original fabric was removed meaning we are unsure of the lie of fabric on the seats. 
Does anyone out there have a Hornet (1951) with original upholstery (or true to original re-upholstery) who would kindly post a photo showing the seats from the side view? 
Much appreciated,
Jessica. 

Comments

  • 46HudsonPU
    46HudsonPU Administrator

    Jessica - Welcome aboard! 

    Good to have you.  I'm sure you'll find a wealth of information here.

    You may also want to visit the Hudson Essex Terraplane Club website, and consider joining that Club - Members come for the cars, and stick around because of the great folks there!

    We hope you enjoy your time here at the Hudson Essex Terraplane 'Open Forum' -

  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    Welcome Jessica.  Where are you situated?  I have a '53 Hornet, but it is different from the '51 in interior details, so  not much help probably, as mine is leather upholstery, which was an option in most models at extra cost.  I am in the Nelson district.
    Geoff 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Hi Geoff,
    Mum & dad (Tony & Lynette) say hi.
    You're right, yours will be quite different, as is the '50 & '52 , hopefully someone will be able to help out.
    Jessica.
  • Glowplug
    Glowplug Expert Adviser
    edited January 2015

    I'm The original 1951 Hudson sales brochure is at this link http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Hudson/1951_Hudson/1951_Hudson_Brochure/dirindex.html

    The pages show upholstery photos


  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Thanks Oldfarmer, fortunately we have the original brochure. The upholstery in the car we are working on is an on page 10, however it doesn't show the side view of the seat bases. As we see it we have 3 options: stripes vertical, horizontal or vinyl like the sides of the seat backs.
    Thanks for replying,
    Jessica.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Jessica-

    The sides had the vinyl.  
  • DavidC
    DavidC Senior Contributor
    Actually,I see a pic of the front seat base in the 51 owners manual that clearly shows striped cloth vertically oriented both on the front and sides of the seat base. The top (seat) surface has the stripes oriented front-back. The seat back support appears to be covered in a solid color material, maybe vinyl. This pic is limited to the area where you operate the seat adjustment lever. I will attempt to take a pic of the pic and send it.
  • DavidC
    DavidC Senior Contributor
    Attached is the pic. The Owners Manual does not say it is from 51, but the fact that it refers to the model as 7A suggests to me it is.image
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Well, in all fairness, I was saying that about my '52, which has original upholstery and has the vinyl on the sides of the seat frame and the sides of the springs.  I thought '51 was the same (and maybe some are), but maybe not.  
  • Nevada Hudson
    Nevada Hudson Senior Contributor
    edited January 2015
    Attached is the pic. The Owners Manual does not say it is from 51, but the fact that it refers to the model as 7A suggests to me it is.image



    That is 48-49 upholstery. SMS in Oregon, USA has real close to the original upholstery.

    They had that same photo in owners manuals way after 48-49.

     

  • Nevada Hudson
    Nevada Hudson Senior Contributor
    edited January 2015
    Well, in all fairness, I was saying that about my '52, which has original upholstery and has the vinyl on the sides of the seat frame and the sides of the springs.  I thought '51 was the same (and maybe some are), but maybe not.  
    It is similar. '51 has vinyl or leatherette on the top half of the seats. 
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    That's what I thought!  It looks like the earlier cars.

    And Nevada Hudson-
    She's talking about the sides, not the top!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    edited January 2015
    Thanks David & Russell,
    That pic is nice & clear David but unfortunately not the model we are working on. 
    The pic below shows the rear seats, as Nevada Hudson pointed out it has vinyl on the top & sides of the seat backs but doesn't show the ends of the seat bases. Of course it doesn't matter in the rear, being two door but the front seat sides will be visible (& will forever taunt me if we find out afterwards what we did was incorrect!)
    I'm sure someone will solve this with a photo, till then there is plenty of re-padding & sewing to keep us going. :)
    1951 Hudson-07
  • Walt-LA
    Walt-LA Senior Contributor

    Made some notes on senior cars at the  Auburn meet which follow, no guarantee, but believe to be accurate. Walt-LA

    Front and side of bench seats is done in cloth on sedans,
    with vertical stripes. SMS pattern is close, but not exact (colors a good match
    in brown upholstery, but width of strips and texture of weave are slightly
    different from the original). Some coupes at Auburn were done in leatherette on front of bench.
    Backs were all leatherette at the top, on side frame, and strip next to seat
    frame. Have good photo of the different fabrics lined up-together. Don’t know
    if other colors follow same pattern.

     Two buttons on bench and seat back, on both front and back
    seats.

     Box/frame to which seats are attached is covered with
    leatherette, not carpet.

    Windlace on kickboard (below the dash) is vinyl or rubber not
    fabric.  Try Three River Supply. Restoration specialties
    may also have.

     Kick panels seem to be covered with leatherette.

     Carpet has fairly large vinyl or rubber inset in front of
    accelerator and brake pedal. Seams/grooves run fore and aft.

     Rear package deck is covered with leatherette matching the
    seat backs. It is double or triple stitched, and glued down.

    Robe hanger (rope) is covered in the same fabric as used for
    windlace. Fits inside of bezel. Ditto divider between fabric and leatherette on
    door panels, and at top of door.

     


  • DavidC
    DavidC Senior Contributor
    Sorry all, was hoping the 51 manual showed a 51 seat. Go figure. Thanks for correcting my error!
    Dave
  • Glowplug
    Glowplug Expert Adviser
    edited January 2015
    http://matneys.com/tag/1951-hudson/
    This URL will take you to pictures of my friend Mark Huffman's 1951 Super Six which shows the interior. I know you are working a Hornet, but these pictures clearly show what was the direction of the upholstery. Hudson was very particular about standards. Hornet would be the the standard and the others would follow that standard.
    Be sure to view the menu where you will view other HET cars.
  • DavidC
    DavidC Senior Contributor
    Wow, now the stripes are going in both directions on the sides and front! What is the truth?
  • Walt-LA
    Walt-LA Senior Contributor
    For what it's worth, I've seen both vertical and horizontal stripes with what appear to be 51 hornets.... Makes you wonder. :) Walt
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    I'll give you a dollar for every memebr of the public who comes up and says "You have those stripes going the wrong way"!!!
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    edited January 2015

    I parted out a 51 Hornet four door. Texas tan ? Really rusted out. I am keeping the rear seat for my 49 Two door..Anyway. ..here are some pictures of the original stuff.

    There is no vinyl on the bottom cushions. The fabric is one piece and has only one seam on each end where it is wraped around and sewn.

  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    Here is a picture of the rear door panel. same car.
  • 48Sed
    48Sed Senior Contributor
    image
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Great photos, Thanks! 
    These look very similar to the car we have, I think that's conclusive enough to go with vertical stripes. Thanks again everyone for commenting & helping out. I will post some progress shots once we have something to show. :)
    Jessica.
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