39 Hudson Roadster
Browniepetersen
Senior Contributor
Hi Folks,
I am new to this so please be gentle. I did figure out how to post a picture of my car and what I am looking for is someone who knows something about this roadster's history. What I do know: The ID plate tells me that it is a 1939 series 92 118" wb 2door convertible. The folklore tells me that it started it's normal life "back East" and in the 50's it was given a few (?) modifications. It was advertised in Hemmings around 2001 and found a new home in Wyoming where I aquired it.
Does anyone know anything about this car? And where can I get a convertible top with irons and attachments to put on it when it is finished?
Brownie
I am new to this so please be gentle. I did figure out how to post a picture of my car and what I am looking for is someone who knows something about this roadster's history. What I do know: The ID plate tells me that it is a 1939 series 92 118" wb 2door convertible. The folklore tells me that it started it's normal life "back East" and in the 50's it was given a few (?) modifications. It was advertised in Hemmings around 2001 and found a new home in Wyoming where I aquired it.
Does anyone know anything about this car? And where can I get a convertible top with irons and attachments to put on it when it is finished?
Brownie
0
Comments
-
There were some pictures of a similarly modified car on this board a few months ago- painted bright blue, I think. I don't know the names of anyone involved, so can't do a thread search to find it. Some others may be able to. As far as a top, I would just leave it open (personal preference), or, if you're determined to have a top, how about a removable "Carson" top? I've never heard of top irons and mechanisms being available on the aftermarket, and as desirable as convertibles of any make are, it would be a shame to cannibalize one. I can't really see it, but is that a "boat-tail"? I don't really think you could make a conventional folding top look right on that car. Just MHO, of course!0
-
Can we see some pics of the rear and front end treatment too?
The hood doesn't look like a '39 Hudson one, more '42 Ford/Lincoln looking.
What a neat looking machine. That would be fun to restore. Goodluck. Paul.0 -
Browniepetersen wrote:Hi Folks,
I am new to this so please be gentle. I did figure out how to post a picture of my car and what I am looking for is someone who knows something about this roadster's history. What I do know: The ID plate tells me that it is a 1939 series 92 118" wb 2door convertible. The folklore tells me that it started it's normal life "back East" and in the 50's it was given a few (?) modifications. It was advertised in Hemmings around 2001 and found a new home in Wyoming where I aquired it.
Does anyone know anything about this car? And where can I get a convertible top with irons and attachments to put on it when it is finished?
Brownie
Check with Pete Booz... he will have contacts that may help you. Carson top for that car would be super correct for the period. A similar car used to belong to a hudson club member who resided in Ames Iowa.0 -
Check with Bill Albright, he had a 40 with similar modifications a few years ago. He's on here a lot or call him at 909-823-9168.0
-
Keep an eye on eBay for the January 1952 Motor Trend magazine. One of the cover stories was on Charles Martz, the gentleman who formulated the customization concept called the Sports Custom. Motor Trends's article is an easily obtainable basis of background for your car and shows several pictures of how he chopped a '40 Hudson sedan into a roadster. Martz also published a small paperback on how to build one...ads for that ran in the back of car magazines of the era. Several of these cars were done...each a little different...many were Hudsons and I've seen '39/'40 Fords as well. John Pontius in Auburn, Indiana now owns one...a real junker (but, he's a glutton). One was on eBay within the past 2 months. HET Club founder Merit Marks once had one...his son Roy is in the roster and may be able to provide you some information. Gus Souza in the Chicago area has one built by Barris from a '46/'47 Hudson convertible. There used to be a "Sports Custom Registry" within HET, but I no longer see it listed in the WTN. Tim Hutchins who lives on Brick Street in Burlington, Iowa kept the registry and owned one that was built in an Iowa prison. A search of Whitepages.com still shows Tim at that address if you wanted to call him. Hope that helps! Hudsonly, Hal0
-
In fact...here's an eBay listing for you...
http://cgi.ebay.com/MOTOR-TREND-Magazine-Jan-1952-Vintage-Italian-Lancia_W0QQitemZ250148798531QQihZ015QQcategoryZ280QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Hal0 -
Thanks for the great leads. I will post the other original photo's that I have in the morning after I reduce the file size. The car does have a "hump" on the back with a location for a spare tire. The dash is from a Country Club and I was able to find a mint original set at the Western Regional meet this past year. I'll start contacting those that you have provided to me to see if I can find out some more data.
Brownie0 -
I remember seeing advertisements in variious magazines in the early sixties on how to make a roadster from a '40-'47 coupe or tudor hudson sedan. Those mag's were popular mechanic's,hot rod and some custom car mag's. It is great to see one still around, good luck!0
-
Here are the two other photo's that I have from the original set.
The "hump back" seems to be the trunk section from a mid 30s sedan and is not a boat tail.
I have seen Bill's yellow boat tail several times. It would be good company if the two were from the same inspiration.
I am currently bidding on the Motor Trend from 1952 and I will give Tim a call later today. Thanks for the lead. I'll also give John a call. I did see the one on ebay. Also, an interesting project.
Brownie0 -
Hello Brownie, I looked at a car similar to yours here in So Ca. in the Hollywood hills, 1990 +/-. The trunk was made from the roof; the opening to the trunk was from the inside. The motor was an early flat head ford. The windshield was a custom made. The dash was from a ford 50's. He wanted $3,500 at that time. Dany Springs also looked at it!
VicTor Z0 -
Here are some pictures of another custom... Hudson0
-
This is a big - but neat looking project!
Unless you flat out get lucky finding convertible bows and parts - go with a Carson style top it would be way more financially fiscal and would still look great
heres a link to a thread that Bill A did on a Hollywood custom I believe...looks good!
http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7162&highlight=carson+top0 -
Well, it has 40 Ford type headlights, it's sectioned through the cowl, and pretty throrougly modified.
For a top I'd measure how wide and how long and just go find a late 80's Cavalier, Plymouth Sundance, or LeBaron and use that as the basis if it's wide enough. That would give you the top, the mechanism, and you could cut the supports right out of it for your car. For the front header I'd narrow it or use two as needed to bring it to a V in the center that matches the windshield. And just mount it in the car so that when it's up it meets the top of the windshield frame - don't try to chop it.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- 37K All Categories
- 106 Hudson 1916 - 1929
- 19 Upcoming Events
- 91 Essex Super 6
- 28.6K HUDSON
- 562 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise
- 995 Street Rods
- 150 American Motors
- 175 The Flathead Forum
- 49 Manuals, etc,.
- 78 Hudson 8
- 44 FORUM - Instructions and Tips on using the forum
- 2.8K CLASSIFIEDS
- 602 Vehicles
- 2.1K Parts & Pieces
- 77 Literature & Memorabilia
- Hudson 1916 - 1929 Yahoo Groups Archived Photos