Rarest HUDSON? that was built for production?
Okay, here's a fun one...
I was thinking about it, and what is the rarest hudson built, that we either do not know of any in existence, or that if there is a few out there, there's not many.
I'm thinking that the 1952 Commodore 6 convertible is in this category, but I am not sure whether this was actually built, nor if anyone ever seen one?
Also, in the ranking has got to be a 1952 Commodore 8 Convertible, I guess with Lew's and the other one known, that gets put in pretty rare company.
So, outside of the Jet Convertible, and the X-161, they're both prototypes, what do you guys think might be the ultimate hudson rarity?
I was thinking about it, and what is the rarest hudson built, that we either do not know of any in existence, or that if there is a few out there, there's not many.
I'm thinking that the 1952 Commodore 6 convertible is in this category, but I am not sure whether this was actually built, nor if anyone ever seen one?
Also, in the ranking has got to be a 1952 Commodore 8 Convertible, I guess with Lew's and the other one known, that gets put in pretty rare company.
So, outside of the Jet Convertible, and the X-161, they're both prototypes, what do you guys think might be the ultimate hudson rarity?
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You can pick just about any 1933 Hudson, with only 2600 built, not many survive. Only one 33 Major 8 Brougham is known to exist. How about a 1941 stepvan? Is there even one of those out there? I suspect this list is going to be pretty long.0
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How about some of the pre-war commercial vehicles? Say the taxi cabs or panel delivery vans of the mid-'30's? I know that any of the earlier trucks are rare enough as it is . . .0
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The 1940-41 All Purpose Delivery. None currently known or accounted for. This was not a prototype or a one off model. This was a production model. it would really be a find if someone could come up with one. I believe they were Hudson powered but not necessarily built by Hudson. Most likely Checker made them under contract. Willys had a similar vehicle.0
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the 52 C6 is a bit of a mythical beast, apearing only in artist renderings of the sales lit and referenced in the manuals, i don't know that any visual proof of its existance has surfaced. certainly the vast numbers of body styles offered prewar compounded by 1st and 2nd series offerings leaves many opertunities for low production models especially when adding the outside coach builders who were often involved and the stature of many of the clientell and the status symbol a tailor made automobile could be. The pre-war automobile production was a different game.
Certainly any reference to any surviving '33 HUDSON should attract attention. (question to Frank Spring: are most of the survivng 33's still in eastern indiana?)
For consideration amongst the stepdowns, must be the 48 C6 convertibles. Not part of the initial (already late year) convertible announcement 7-26-48. they were added to the line card by 9-1-48. 1949 production began 10-26. I don't have my notes handy, but when I was trying to assemble a list of 48 convertibles, I found 1 true 48 C6. Of the 15 convertibles I have accounted for, many of the S6 have been upgraded to commodore trim but only one bore a 482 serial number.0 -
First thing is you have to figure out the definition of rare!!! With only a little over 3 millions cars built between 1909 and 1954 just about anything Hudson built prior to, at least, 1948 is going to be "rare".
Friend of my just finished restoring a 1932 Terraplane Roadster (think it's a Terraplane) - how many of those are still around.
Getting back into the teens and early 20's, how many are still around. If there are, say, ten 1918 touring cars around (doubtful there are more than 2 or 3) does this make them "rare" - simply "scarce".
I can think of a dozen years off the top of my head where there are only a half-dozen, or less, models known - so does this make them "rare".
I think, when it comes to old cars "rare" is how you order your steak at the local resturant!!!!
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
HudsonTech
Memphis, TN0 -
Ken U-Tx wrote:nick s wrote:
sorry Ken i omitted the word convertible, I have seen several 52 c6's of other body styles including at least one (or two though it may have been the same one multiple times) hollywood.I have personally seen the yellow '52 Commodore Six Club Coupe of Steve Blake's in an Amarillo area yard, back around 1985 or 86. The car was complete and very restorable. Funny thing is, it had the front turn signal bezels and lens like a Hornet, but rear tailights were like a Wasp's. Had front rockets with a big "6" where the "H" of a Hornet rocket would be, and "Commodore" in red letters. I think it had the wider stainless side moulding , and Hornet style rear porkchops. I have also seen a pair of Commodore 6 front rockets at swap meets in the past, so I know they did build a few of them.0 -
The question is "rarity" or "not many made". Any Hudson of the veteran years is now extremely rare. There are one or two prototypes extant, like Perry Springs '28/29 Convertible sedan. '29 Limousines are probably one of the rarer cars around today. There are a handful of '29 dual-cowl phaetons, including one in Oz, and one here in N.Z. '27 roadsters, I know of one here.
Geoff.0 -
Rudy Bennett asked me to post the following message:
"Ken, Hudson Kid has a Rarest Hudson find on the forom. Could you send the Picture of the 1952 Comm-6 with the following statement.
Free yes Free to the one that has a 1952 Commodore Convertible that is being Driven or being Restored. (a New-Mint right front fender emblem just as it came from the Hudson factory in 1952 and was ordered but never installed by the Owner )
Thanks to all. Rudy"
Rudy posts here as ..super651... so contact him directly about this offer.0 -
If one goes thru very early books, & I have an original that covers all the body styles from '09 thru '19, it shows enclosed limousines, model 6-54 roadsters, town cars, and various other exotic bodied Hudsons of which NONE are known to exist.
There are other body styles from the early '30s of which few or none are known to exist with the '31 Hudson sport roadster (boattail) being probably the most prized (a few known to exist).0 -
How about Buzz Stahl's 1920 Model"o"??I think it has some neat history also.I have not seen it yet,but Davis restorations,Charleston,Il. is currently working on a 33 Hudson,I'm not sure of the model,but I have heard it is the only one.:cool:0
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Someone mentioned the '41 Panel van. I believe there is one known to exist in NY state somewhere. The thing about commercial vehicles generally is that they get used until they no longer have a service life and then get scrapped so while maybe low production, they were not necesarily babied with the anticipation of keeping them. Then factor in the WW2 scrap drives, attrition through accidents etc.
I think the most models offered any single year was '38, there probably isn't an example of every single model. Others might have been converted to the fancier models and you could only figure that out via serial numbers.
I took the entire 2007 HET roster and put it on a spread sheet and corrected all the errors it was possible to correct through the information given. Some of the rare models may exist outside of the club. who knows but one thing that did pop up interesting in the step-down era is that the club has a very low number of '48's among members (yes I checked '49 serial numbers) and that was a GOOD production year. I suspect there's more out there. The single most-owned model year among HET members is 1951 representing 10% of all known surviving cars that HET members own. (that the club knows about according to the 2007 roster.
I would love to get me claws into one example of every limo/7 passenger Hudson ever made.0 -
Buzz' is a 1919 "touring limousine" which I helped him arrange to buy. It is "loaded" with expensive options, such as the Westinghouse air shocks (std. on only a few very expensive cars, such as Locomobile), bumpers, etc. as it was supposedly a showroom model at the zone distributorship in Milwaukee (it was for sale at a National there many years ago where a now deceased sometime HET member bought it) and when the 1920 models came out the dealer gave it to his wife & thereafter chauffer driven for many years.0
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If you're talking about production vehicles where they are rare because they had a low survival rate, I'm sure there's plenty of early models and styles that are unique or non-existant. I am not knowledgeable enough to comment on choices
If you're talking about ones that were somewhat less popular in a particular body style, I would agree that the 52 commodore 6 and 8 coupes and convertibles are the rarest stepdowns along with the 48 super eights in the same body styles. I would also include the stepdwon business coupes which are slightly more common. I would think that a 57 hudson hollywood would be rare in certain trim as I thought they only made a couple hundred total hollywoods in 1957.0 -
I don't beleive actual production of '48 Super Eights would be as low as some of you think, as only eight cylinder cars were available during the late 1947 production run of 1948 cars. Although my dad was a small dealer in Ohio buying through a distributor in Toledo OH, it was Feb. or March of 1948 before he received his 1st new six cylinder Hudson.
Jerry
53jetman0 -
There is a 40 or 41 panel van in central Illinois sitting in a metal shed along with a 40 coupe. The panel trucks top was chop about 8 inches in the 60's. But I think it could be restored properly with a donor sedan.
A 53 Hornet convertible production was very rare
Russ0 -
russmaas wrote:There is a 40 or 41 panel van in central Illinois sitting in a metal shed along with a 40 coupe. The panel trucks top was chop about 8 inches in the 60's. But I think it could be restored properly with a donor sedan.
A 53 Hornet convertible production was very rare
Russ
Russ, I can't quite figure out if that restoration is right down my alley or yours! Is this a panel truck or step van similar to a Divco kind of truck that I was referring to? Ed0 -
Ed:
It looked like the one that was in Reno but has been about 8 years since I have seen it. Wasn't able to get a real good look at it but it look solid and has been out of the elements for 40 years.
If interested, give me a call and I will take you down there or give you directions. The fella is alittle different (more of a mountain man type).0 -
The panel delivery at Reno (featured in the WTN) is a 1939 owned by John Forkner of Washington State. There is a 1940 panel van in Texas, unrestored. I haven't heard of any other '40's, and am not aware of the existence of a '41. :cool:0
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Heart_Of_Texas wrote:Rudy Bennett asked me to post the following message:
"Ken, Hudson Kid has a Rarest Hudson find on the forom. Could you send the Picture of the 1952 Comm-6 with the following statement.
Free yes Free to the one that has a 1952 Commodore Convertible that is being Driven or being Restored. (a New-Mint right front fender emblem just as it came from the Hudson factory in 1952 and was ordered but never installed by the Owner )
Thanks to all. Rudy"
Rudy posts here as ..super651... so contact him directly about this offer.
Looking at the tail of the ornament makes me think it would be from a 51 rather than 52. ?0 -
Last year of Super 8 production 1949 they only supposedly according to Butler made 1074 cars only available in 3 models Sedan, coupe, and Brougham... I've only seen sedans never saw a Brougham or Coupe in Super 8 trim or lack thereof since it was a way for Hudson to offer a less expensive 8. My guess is Hudson got rid of it because most people probably figured for the same money better to get an upscale 6cyl than a trimmed down 8 and only a marginal increase in HP. The 2007 Roster only lists 43 Super 8's of all years pre and post-war. This doesn't count cars listed that the model cannot be ascertained from the information HETers provided. The Roster lists around 1000 8 cyl cars in the club all years and models.
I've seen 2 sedans both of which I'm pretty sure are not in the club one of which I could've had cheap if I could've figured out a way to be able to pay for shipping it cross country... still could kick myself for not buying it anyway but oh well.
--Russ any rare commercial vehicles are worth saving for someone crazy enough to take on those projects. (raising hand)0 -
Super Dave - That's because the '52 Commodore 6 used the more narrow molding like the Wasp, rather that the wider molding used on the Commodore 8 & Hornet.
Jerry
53jetman0 -
Bill Albright Here, I Have Owned Many Rare Models. Have A 48 Sper 8 Sedan In The Paint Shop Now. Have Had No 22 Italia, A 41 Woody Wasgon, One Of 3 Known To Exist, Several 46/47 Comm 8 Converts, Have Had 2 53 Hornet Converts. Still Have The 53 Walt Chapman Convert, If Production Was For One Month, That Makes Me Believe Only 30 To 40 Could Of Been Made, All The Orig Interiors I Have Seen Were Maroon And Grey Two Tone Leather For 53. Also Owned The 37 Panel Delivery, I Sold To Hemmings Motor News. Also Have A Pair Of Nos 52 Comm 6 Emblems, I Dont Know What I Will Ever Use. Also Restored A 38 Opera Coupe, Only One I Have Ever Seen. The Fun Goes On Bill A.0
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What about the 1927 Murphy body Collapsible Sedan? It's on page 109 in the Butler book (top left). Only one of those as far as I know and it's in Southern California.0
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None of the Dover commercials are known to exist.0
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Aaron D. IL wrote:
Aaron, Believe it or not the Super 8 actually was available in the 1950 model as well. Model 503.Last year of Super 8 production 1949 they only supposedly according to Butler made 1074 cars only available in 3 models Sedan, coupe, and Brougham... I've only seen sedans never saw a Brougham or Coupe in Super 8 trim or lack thereof since it was a way for Hudson to offer a less expensive 8. My guess is Hudson got rid of it because most people probably figured for the same money better to get an upscale 6cyl than a trimmed down 8 and only a marginal increase in HP. The 2007 Roster only lists 43 Super 8's of all years pre and post-war. This doesn't count cars listed that the model cannot be ascertained from the information HETers provided. The Roster lists around 1000 8 cyl cars in the club all years and models.
I've seen 2 sedans both of which I'm pretty sure are not in the club one of which I could've had cheap if I could've figured out a way to be able to pay for shipping it cross country... still could kick myself for not buying it anyway but oh well.
--Russ any rare commercial vehicles are worth saving for someone crazy enough to take on those projects. (raising hand)0 -
Since you are talking production, and since some coach builders such as Biddle and Smart (check out the article in the most recent WTN) did limited runs, I would expect that the 1937 English build Coach that was recently on ebay (the one in red, in Scotland) advertised as a "one only" car would qualify---Oh, wait a minute, one showed up here in Northern Utah last summer. I guess since the Martz cars were customs, they do not qualify in the survey? There were six Hudsons, one Buick and one Nash that have been seen in the last year. There must be more out there. By the way, there is only one running/restored at this time.0
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wrong, several Dovers exist - saw one at Eldon's collection during the National this summer.0
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That must be the only one, because their aren't any in the roster that I remember seeing.0
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According to a production chart I have there were 5,338 Super 8's in 1948 and 6,365 in 1949.
Amazing the things you fine in my General Information Handbook!!! Buy a copy and you too can be a Hudson Guru!!!!!
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
HudsonTech
Memphis, TN0 -
Well, this thread is just what I've been waiting for!:D I first saw my 1942 Commodore Eight Club Coupe sitting at a fellas home for sale and thought to myself- War year, Hudson, eight cylinder, can't be many of those around. Turns out that after joing HET and checking the roster, only Pete W. in Washington state and myself with this particular model and body style. I've seen other eights and sixes: sedans, 2 & 4 door, pickups, and even convertibles, but not too many of each. Anybody, know of any more Eight cylinder Club Coupes made just before we switched to military hardware? I would really be interested in knowing about them...or would I:rolleyes:0
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