Hudson dealership shipment information?

50Commodore
50Commodore Member
edited November -1 in HUDSON
This might be a dumb question, but I thought what the heck? If you don't ask you'll never know.



I know that you can get the info on production numbers of Hudson cars through the model years, but (and this is a big but) did Hudson ever keep records on which dealers their cars went to? If you had the V.I.N. number and year of car would there have been a way, or is there still a way to find where the car was originally sold?



It's an odd question that may not have an answer. I just had to ask.



Thanks,



Dan

Comments

  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    50Commodore wrote:
    This might be a dumb question, but I thought what the heck? If you don't ask you'll never know.



    I know that you can get the info on production numbers of Hudson cars through the model years, but (and this is a big but) did Hudson ever keep records on which dealers their cars went to? If you had the V.I.N. number and year of car would there have been a way, or is there still a way to find where the car was originally sold?



    It's an odd question that may not have an answer. I just had to ask.



    Thanks,



    Dan



    Dan,



    For years the only records that seemed to exist were shipping records. I've been digging for over 30 years - all I got is a big hole -and only in recent years have production records started showing up - and those are 1946 up.

    There may be some records, somewhere, but to the best of my knowledge I don't know of any dealer shipment record. I also doubt that there are any way to find out which car went where.

    Now, having said all that, I'm sure somebody will come up with some sort of records.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I've heard rumors that the main Detroit library has boxes full of Hudson Motor Car Company info. However, one must be a "Friend" ($) of the library to view same. Alternatively, one could check with the Detroit Historical Society. Perhaps well informed AMC people might be able to provide some insight. If Chrysler owns all rights to Hudson, maybe their historical deptartment can be of help.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    hudsontech wrote:
    Dan,



    For years the only records that seemed to exist were shipping records. I've been digging for over 30 years - all I got is a big hole -and only in recent years have production records started showing up - and those are 1946 up.

    There may be some records, somewhere, but to the best of my knowledge I don't know of any dealer shipment record. I also doubt that there are any way to find out which car went where.

    Now, having said all that, I'm sure somebody will come up with some sort of records.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr
    Alex, Didn't Jack Miller have some of that information? Seems like he did. Maybe it was for Michigan dealers.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    The National Automotive History Collection, Of Detroit Mi. Is Located At The Skillman Branch Library In Downtown Detroit. It Is Open To The Public For Research. They Have A Web Site "www.detroitpubliclibrary.org/nahc" Their Email Address For Questions Is--"nahc@detroit.lib.mi.us" The Home Chapter Is Having A Meeting There On Jan. 20. They Are Open To The Public Through The Week, And Groups By Appointment On Weekends.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    If John Conde's still living (don't recall hearing of his passing), he may know. Author of one of the two principal reference books on Hudsons, he was Public Affairs Director for Nash, then for AMC. When the merger occurred he went to Detroit and rescued most of the Hudson historical records.
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    A lot of Hudsons factory records when into a big dumpster after the AMC merger and Conde (I think) rescued a bunch of them but didn't get all of it. As far as individual dealers in individual states there may be a state registration records for distributors (who in many years got the cars and passed them to dealer) or for dealers. I called the state of MI. and they told me they didn't have any archival records of registrations going back before 20 years ago. Each state would be different....finding any surviving records by state could be a momumental task. It would be nice if there was a serial registration ledger that stated what dealerships orders came from. Hudson claimed a dealership network of 3000 at one point.
  • Nevada Hudson
    Nevada Hudson Senior Contributor
    If you can get any old "Motor" magazines from the '50's, they always had a state by state, sales list, and state by state registration list in each monthly issue.
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