What year serial number (81725) Hornet Coupe Is This?

nhp1127 wrote:

Someone gave me a serial number of a Hornet Coupe. It is 81725 Anyone know what year it is by the serial number? Thx. Niels

Well, 1951, might be correct - or it might not be. 1951 Hornet serial numbers started witn 101, but so did 1952 and 1953. The serial number, found on the ID plate on the right front door post, also had, above it the model number, and in order to determine the year you need the model designation:

1951 Hornet - 7A; 1952 Hornet - 7B; and 1953 Hornet - 7C.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

hudsondad wrote:

While you're correct about the model designations as an easy way to determine the year and model, I think if you check your information again you'll find that the serial #s for 1952 and 1953 were 6 digit. I believe 52 started around 132XXX or so. They did not start in 1952 with a three digit #. The engine will also have the same # as the body if it's original.

It appears you are correct - in my General Info Handbook I have a 1948-1954 Model Year Production chart. For some odd reason Hudson ended the 1951 model year with 132915 - and began the 1952 model year with 132916.

It continues with 1952 ending at 202916 and 1953 beginning at 202917.

1953 ends at 269059, but 1954 starts at 298054. I never noticed while playing with this production chart.

Up to now most sources gave -101 as the starting number for 1951, 1952 and 1953. Most of these sources were Hudson parts books, or owners manuals. A couple of odd ball sources went with the 132916 figure. In doing my reasearch we found so many odd ball things with Hudson that what we finally ended up doing is taking the majority of sources; ie, if we had 5 sources and 3 used, in this example, -101, and 2 used something else, we would go with the 3 sources. Yes, it does lead to errors - but what has been left from Hudson records are confusing and hard to deal with.

Looks like we got to make some changes in the General Handbook.

Thanks for the heads up - it's input, that can be verified, that makes the book more and more accurate.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Bill Cox - TN wrote:

Actually, Alex, your '54 information is missing several months. The car with Serial #X298054 was the first car Hudson built in April 1954 (production on the '54 models began in August 1953). I have a chart with the beginning serial numbers for the 1954 models, and the range of serial number produced each month, on the Smoky Mountain Heartland Chapter website:



http://www.smokymtnhetclub.org/fiftyfour.html



Bill

Hi Bill,



Ok. I have a chart that gives 1948-1954 Model Year Production Data - the 1954 numbers on that match your web site numbers (except you have an overlap between end Sept (278789) and start Oct (should be 278790) - typo??).

In my General Info Handbook I have a starting serial number of 269060 for all 1954 models (which may, or may not, be correct, but it 's the best we can come up with - and it does continue from the last -53 number - 269059) and this also matches the beginning serial number on your 1954 list and my model year production list.

If you'd like a copy of this chart drop me an email at the address below and I'll send it along - goes for anybody else also. This chart breaks down by serial number, month built and units built.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

HEThudsontech09@yahoo.com (Drop the HET)