Hornet Options

Your original question asked about options available 48-53. As the respondents have said many of the creature comforts that exist on today's cars as standard delivery items were not incorporated into the cars at the factory. Several historic activities should be remembered to bring the answers into context.

One the US was just coming out of the post WWII economic controls. Chrome and many of the items that were absorbed by the war effort were still in short supply when the first Stepdowns came to the show rooms. As time went on the Korean War claimed much of the chrome and the chrome quality of grill bars, bumpers and other bright spots suffered. Stainless steel was used in some grill bars to compensate for the lack of chrome.

The mark up on a new Stepdown was paltry compared today's cars. Other than in large metropolitan cities, the Hudson Dealers were service station owners, farm implement sales outlets and in the beginning sold competing marques along side the Hudson. To assure the dealer had a chance to make some monies on each unit, they were the source of undercoating, initial service and make ready, and on occasion the place where the wooden bumper of other missing part was received and replaced. Selling a radio or heater to the public was a BIG money maker for the dealer. This included under seat heaters for the northern owners, automatic battery fluid filler and a host of other items yet mentioned.

One interesting story told to me by Bernie Rosen of the famous ROSEN - NOVAK Hudson dealership, Omaha, NE. Was about the bulletin they received in late 1952 from their factory representative. The bulletin started out with the basic how to get the former customer back in the show room and to continue making money selling service. Then the author added some new ways to make money. Noting that the slab side 48-51 Hudsons were all the same, that adding the side trim from a 52 or the recently offered 53 would upgrade the older models to the newest standards. Finalizing the bulletin the writer goes on to say, Paint it Pink if that will sell the car. The point was that some buyers idea of a paint scheme was all their own and that the sales of Hudsons should not depend on having a factory paint job. Bernie showed me some pictures of tutone cars they did to satisfy some of the locals ... none of them in the Hudson literature.

Finally the NASCAR fame of Hudson caused the same stir in the young at heart Hudson owners that a 327 Chevy did for the fellow driving a stovebolt blue flame six. How do I get that in my Hudson? The dealers were all pushed a skeleton Hornet engine with twin H. as well as literature advising what Severe Usage parts one could purchase. Most of the US in the 50s was dirt or gravel roads and those roads were tough on all cars ... heavy duty suspensions were ordered to keep the cars in top shape over the racing aspect.

One thing that was not mentioned was Leather interiors. Expensive but available... I have seen three factory stock leather interiors in 4 doors, two in coupes and one in a Brougham.

One note on aircondtioning...Airconditioning was an option from 1951 on in a Hudson. The option was a rear mount unit with the plastic risers through the rear package shelf. Larger dealers would install and service the units. Al Saffrahn restored a 54 Hornet Hollywood with one of these dealer installed systems. Years ago, I saw one in a 52 Hornet sedan at the Youngstown Nationals.

Great question, Happy New Years.

TYPO MEANT 54 hOLLYWOOD, NOT 56