Become a Hudson Parts Dealer

I would think that it would benefit them to inventory the stuff if they want to get a fair price for it. I can't see most people being willing to spend that kind of money for a "grab bag" of parts. If I bought it I would not sell to anyone who lives outside of the United States- LOL

Mike your HONEST missive is the best description of the Hudson or any other orphan marque parts seller experience I have seen!



Let me back you up with the following: Gene and Myrna have invested a lot of time effort and money in the parts stash offered on eBay. They have been HETers for many years and actually thought that they would have a fairly easy time of selling off the parts they have accumulated. If you ask either now... they are ready to GET OUT of the business. The idea that Hudson owners or International Truck restorers would be knocking down the door has faded into the reality of carting parts here and there and not making the sales that pay for the travel expenses. Getting counters to their prices from folks who do not want to pay the asking price. A large part of the "INVENTORY" they are offering came from the McDonald Stash ... Mr. McDonald was a fellow who had no written inventory... but could tell you on the telephone if he had a part or not... mostly NOS and nothing stored so any other person would know how to find the part. He operated this business for decades and always filled my orders for a fair price and shipped promptly. When he passed G & M decided to buy this stash and combine it with theirs... months later and half of a dozen tracter trailer loads moved from Seattle to Idaho their dream began... today tired and maybe a bit disallusioned they are ready to get out to this ... Business? A friend of mine is there now picking up a vehicle. Part of his time will be devoted to determining what the STASH really consists of and honestly mulling over the potential of resale. If that comes to pass, these parts will again take labor to load and inventory, not counting a long journey to a new storage location.



G&M are not the only ones who have experienced the phenomenon of orphan parts dealership blues. A former USAF friend of mine moved from California to mid America in the early 1970's. This man had cleaned out the Hudson stashes at six former dealers and had accumulated another five from other HETers. Along with 8 rare Stepdown... when have you seen a 51 C 8 Hollywood or a 52 C 6 Hollywood? In his California storage were 8 tons of assorted rust free sheet metal, engines and transmissions. He tried to sell the used parts, then give them away... finally he and I loaded his 47 3/4 ton Hudson pickup with many loaded and crossed the scales of the nearest scrap yard for so many pennies per pound. Yes, that happened to 8 tons of parts. The NOS stuff we transported to his new duty station... he carefully inventoried and placed these items on shelves in a heated building. Advertising by word of mouth and the WTN, he was confounded by many inquiries whose core request was to get this or that part of less than the asking price. Then NOS parking light frames were bringing 5-10 dollars. Folks thought that outrageous. After several years my friend became disgusted, quit the HET club and pulled his parts from the public. That stash exists today... as do some of the cars...all stored in a Butler building built to house them under lock and key. Are they for sale... probably not.



Not trying to rain on the enthusiasm of the folks who come here to exchange information and greetings... But if you want the parts... make it YOUR Business to buy and pay the price required. Many talk about it ... most do nothing else. In the hay day of the early club... we gave parts to each other ... but then again that was 20+ years ago.



Good Luck to G&M and I hope my friend figures a way to purchase the lot. But if he does not ... remember what I posted above.



Cheers from the HOT