Car numbering systems

There have been several posts concerning serial numbers and how they were assigned to Hudson built cars.

The following is an excerpt from General Technical Policies and Information Bulletin Number 4, dtd 9-29-53. Tho it says "New Car Numbering Method" this system is applicable to most years back to 1935:



"In the car numbering system adopted for the 1954 Hudson models, the car number consists of seven figures in which the digit at the left (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7) represents the series designation (Jet, Super Jet, Jet Liner, Wasp, Super Wasp or Hornet) and the remaining six figures, the actual car number. For example: in the number 5269069, the first digit indicates the car to be a Super Wasp.



Exceptions to this rule are as follows:

1935 thru 1946 - two digit Series number, followed by serial number starting with 3 digits (101);

1947 thru 1950 - three digit Series number, followed by serial number starting with 3 digits (101);

1951 thru 1953 - one digit/one letter, followed by serial number starting with 3 digits (101) - except 1953 - used a six digit number, each series using a different number -

Model 1C - 1C-203865

Model 2C - 2C-203543

Model 4C - 4C-202928

Model 5C - 5C-202919

Model 7C - 7C-202917



The starting car number (1954) is 269060 and all cars are numbered in consecutive order regardless of series or model."



In addition, the engine number is the same as the car number, beginning in mid-year 1938.



Hudsonly,

Alex B

The above information can be found in "General Information Handbook for Hudson Built Automobiles"