Another Hudson Convertible on the way to Recovery

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
After nearly 3600 miles Russell Chilton stopped by to show me a 1952 Hudson Convertible he purchased and retrived. He departed for home a few hours ago... and after 6 days on the road he will be happy to be back. But, another Hudson Convertible will soon be readied for it's long journey back to fully restored status.



Good Luck Russell and thanks for sharing your car with me.

Comments

  • harry54
    harry54 Senior Contributor
    Russel way to go..... that's what I'm talking about....
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Good-Luck Russell, looks like a good one to save, no matter how long it may take. Is it a Hornet, or Wasp, can't tell from the photo ?



    "47HUD
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    '47HUD wrote:
    Good-Luck Russell, looks like a good one to save, no matter how long it may take. Is it a Hornet, or Wasp, can't tell from the photo ?



    "47HUD



    It is a long wheel base... the picture detail is poor due to the reduction needed to allow posting.



    Cheers
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Test post.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Wow! I'm back on the forum, finally. It's only been like, months!! Somehow, after editing my e-mail address and with the system-wide crash the forum suffered recently, all my past posts are now lost in cyber-space. I had to re-register like I'm a newbie, i.e., first time poster. Look, I don't even have my avatar, anymore. Have to figure out how I put it up before.



    3875 miles was the total tally. Got unloaded yesterday and didn't have time to check the forum. Sorry. It's a '52 Hornet . . . exactly the 'vert I've wanted for a long time. Interesting sidenote to this car is that it spent 30 years UPSIDE DOWN in a creek bed. Meaning, that the rust is on top of the car as opposed to the normal places found on a Hudson. Hence, the missing header!! I've got another header that MIGHT work . . . but is extremely rough and would only be used as a last ditch effort. Would really like to find another header that came off a convertible that was rusted from the bottom up. It would be easy to graft on another header if it was cut say, halfway down the windshield post. Anyway, what a trip!!



    Thanks Ken, for posting the pic.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Ken U-Tx:



    You're partially right. The pic is too small to see the detail, but the rib has been cut off, but the firewall is not recessed, hence, long wheel base. Besides, the door post tag is still there and says, 7B, signifying Hornet. For that matter, the title also lists it as a Hornet.
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    RL Chilton wrote:
    Wow! I'm back on the forum, finally. It's only been like, months!! Somehow, after editing my e-mail address and with the system-wide crash the forum suffered recently, all my past posts are now lost in cyber-space. I had to re-register like I'm a newbie, i.e., first time poster. Look, I don't even have my avatar, anymore. Have to figure out how I put it up before.

    3875 miles was the total tally. Got unloaded yesterday and didn't have time to check the forum. Sorry. It's a '52 Hornet . . . exactly the 'vert I've wanted for a long time. Interesting sidenote to this car is that it spent 30 years UPSIDE DOWN in a creek bed. Meaning, that the rust is on top of the car as opposed to the normal places found on a Hudson. Hence, the missing header!! I've got another header that MIGHT work . . . but is extremely rough and would only be used as a last ditch effort. Would really like to find another header that came off a convertible that was rusted from the bottom up. It would be easy to graft on another header if it was cut say, halfway down the windshield post. Anyway, what a trip!!

    Thanks Ken, for posting the pic.

    Way to go!

    A much bigger project to encompass and not as much instant gratification as you got buying your other stepdown complete!

    Where in the heck did you find it - and what made you drive so far to get it a rare model?
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Hi Dan!! Found it in the Great Northwest-Idaho to be exact and yes, there is definately a finite # of Hornet 'verts available . . . gotta jump when you get the chance, I suppose. I'm hoping for a two year project (probably means more) and will soon be re-organizing (finances and logistics) to Git 'er Done! I'll touch base with you soon about setting up a website to cover the project.
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    RL Chilton wrote:
    Hi Dan!! Found it in the Great Northwest-Idaho to be exact and yes, there is definately a finite # of Hornet 'verts available . . . gotta jump when you get the chance, I suppose. I'm hoping for a two year project (probably means more) and will soon be re-organizing (finances and logistics) to Git 'er Done! I'll touch base with you soon about setting up a website to cover the project.

    I think 2 years is reasonable once you have a shop, plan, and requisite financing needed ;)

    Just let me know what you want offline on the website and we'll see what we can do!

    Is this going to be a restoration or...?
  • hudsonguy
    hudsonguy Senior Contributor
    RL Chilton wrote:
    Interesting sidenote to this car is that it spent 30 years UPSIDE DOWN in a creek bed. Meaning, that the rust is on top of the car as opposed to the normal places found on a Hudson.



    Russell,



    Was this a 'rip-rap' car? There was a recent article in I believe Old Cars Weekly about the earlier practice of putting old cars in stream beds to divert the flow slightly, and reduce the erosion of the banks. With the recent droughts in some places (not here in Southern Wisconsin, we have the opposite problem at the moment) a lot of these cars are now being exposed. There are some pretty decent looking examples in their article. At least most of them would 'cast a shadow' as they say!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    hudsonguy wrote:
    Russell,



    Was this a 'rip-rap' car? There was a recent article in I believe Old Cars Weekly about the earlier practice of putting old cars in stream beds to divert the flow slightly, and reduce the erosion of the banks. With the recent droughts in some places (not here in Southern Wisconsin, we have the opposite problem at the moment) a lot of these cars are now being exposed. There are some pretty decent looking examples in their article. At least most of them would 'cast a shadow' as they say!



    I was telling Russell on Saturday about that very practice. I know of a very nice restored Comm 8 Hollywood which was pulled from the banks of the Mighty MO when the river took a change of course after a very big flood. In that case the shadow was pretty well complete as the mud and dirt kept the O2 away and I was very surprised how little corrosion existed.



    Cheers
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Hudson Guy-



    As Ken posted, he had just educated me about the "rip-rap" cars, but no, this car was actually "rolled" over (by man or God, not sure which) and was left "upside down" in a creekbed for 30 years or so. Didn't get to see a picture, but was my impression that the creekbed was dry for most of the year and would only have water in it during rainy seasons.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Dan-



    "I think 2 years is reasonable once you have a shop, plan, and requisite financing needed":



    Shop: We have a shop now which is 30 x 47 and plan on adding another 30 x 60. The existing shop will become our machine shop and the new addition will hold cars, parts, etc. (maybe paint booth).



    Plan: We already have a plan for this car. Let's say it will be 95% restored original with only a few minor (modern) updates, which will include: 700R4 transmission, 7X engine (maybe), AC, 12V w/alt., hidden audio system. The only exterior modification will be the continental kit I got from Ken Cates will be added. I've already formulated and laid out exactly how it will be engineered. We'll have to get probably at least one donor car as I'm missing some key parts. My only real concern at this point is possibly finding a useable header from another 'vert. The passenger door is also questionable, but I know I can use a skin from a coupe, if necessary.



    Requisite financing: I told you before about selling our '32 Ford 'vert. She's still in the paint shop but soon to be done. After that, it's final assembly and she's ready to go. I'll make a post about that later and if anyone can help me sell it, then I'll pay a finder's fee. That will more than allow us to complete this project.



    Only thing you left out was desire and staying power. Don't think I'll have a problem there, though. LOL!!



    I'll be in touch!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I truly admire your devotion to the Hudson marque Russell, and I am happy for you. I know how it feels to have such a "treasure" loaded up and heading home. It may not look like much right now, but its a Hudson, its a Convertible, and its "yours", and the heck with the naysayers -- they'll see someday what you saw all along, and I bet they'll wish they had the vision you have then.



    The convert that was advertized on ebay last march comes to mind when headers get mentioned. I wonder if that one ever sold, and where it is if it didn't, and whether that one would have the parts you need.



    I'll try to attatch a picture here of it.



    Best of luck with this car Russell. If I can help in some way, don't hesitate to ask.



    silverone.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Russell, forgot to mention you can see several more pics of the ebay car on my website, www.hudsoncollector.com - forums and galleries, fallen stars, basket case convertible.



    silverone
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    silverone wrote:
    I truly admire your devotion to the Hudson marque Russell, and I am happy for you. I know how it feels to have such a "treasure" loaded up and heading home. It may not look like much right now, but its a Hudson, its a Convertible, and its "yours", and the heck with the naysayers -- they'll see someday what you saw all along, and I bet they'll wish they had the vision you have then.



    The convert that was advertized on ebay last march comes to mind when headers get mentioned. I wonder if that one ever sold, and where it is if it didn't, and whether that one would have the parts you need.



    I'll try to attatch a picture here of it.



    silverone.



    Best of luck with this car Russell. If I can help in some way, don't hesitate to ask.

    Glad to see I wasn,t the only one to save that picture! I think there are a couple usable stainless pieces on that one. easy to remove too! LOL. Russell, Best of luck with your convert. Let me know if I can be of any help. I fixed up a convert in another life and recently did a Hollywood. Ask questions quickly before I forget everything! Dave w.

    Dave W. Fl
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Dave W.-



    Thanks so much for responding! Help? I'll take all I can get. At this point, the most helpful physical items would be to:



    1) locate a good 'vert header and possibly a pass. door (mostly the header).



    2) If you have restored a convertible in the past, any pictures you would care to share, particularly assembly-type pictures would be most helpful. I do have Doc that I can use to find proper routes for brake lines, fuel lines, etc. but the convertible-specific parts and pieces and the way they are assembled and heck, even the way some of them look, for that matter. I know I'm missing some pieces, but won't know what they are or what they look like until I get there, so to speak.



    For that matter, engineering drawings from Hudson would be most helpful, if they even exist. For example, I have a header that came off of a coupe and has had modifications to make it a convertible header, but without a pattern or another header to finish and fine-tune it, I can't really "dream up" what it is supposed to look like. Good pictures and even dimensions would be a plus.



    Lastly, any parts you have for a '52 Hornet (particularly convertible-specific parts) that you have or know of or hear about, please let me know.



    Hey, you asked!!
  • mrsbojigger
    mrsbojigger Senior Contributor
    Russell,
    There is a yellow convertible over at the Rosanky Car museum not far from here if you need to take a look at one.
    Chaz
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    mrsbojigger wrote:
    Russell,

    There is a yellow convertible over at the Rosanky Car museum not far from here if you need to take a look at one.

    Chaz



    Thanks! Been there once, forgot about that car, though. I've been meaning to hook up with you, Chaz. Send me an e-mail . . . maybe we can finally hook up.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Russell, congrats on joining the convert club! I just got my '51 Hornet this spring. My car has been sitting since 1972 so it is as unmolested as possible with the exception of the engine and radiator as one could want. If you need specific photos of anything such as fuel lines, brake lines or such from a convert, please let me know.



    Mine is already converted to 12V as somebody put an Olds engine in the car in 1960. (Bill, I found some receipts to verify under the front seat!). As the Olds is a 1955, the Hydramatic works fine and will stay for the time being.



    Good luck and keep us all informed!!
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