newcomer w/ '49 Hudson - hello
Hi guys and gals,
Looks like this is where a lot of Husonites hang out, and I've found lots of good information on here already. Thanks!
Here are two pics of a '49 that I'd been planning to buy for a few years, and just bought a few weeks ago. I'm doing a frame-off restoration on my '41 Chevy 1/2 ton currently, so I won't start restoring my Hudson for a couple of years, but it'll eventually be restored to original and driven regularly. She's pretty darn straight though, with minimal rust down below, so it should be a fun restoration.
I'm not up to par on Hudson history, and am unsure what models were available for 1949. My intuition is that this is a Commodore, but I've also heard the term Super Six thrown around too, and I read on here that someone updated their Hudson from a Super Six interior to a Commodore interior, so that would suggest to the Hudson novice like myself that the models are quite similar.
Can some of you suggest a source for books, manuals, picture books, etc. for Hudsons? I've found a number of websites on Hudsons now, but if any of you can point me to one that lists major and minor differences in models by year, that'd be great. A book that lists the same differences would be great also. And of course, if some of you guys can confirm if mine is a Commodore or what-not, then that'd be great too.
I'm looking forward to restoring this car and if I had enough shop space to restore two vehicles at once, I'd already have started. Thanks for any information you can provide, and I look forward to spending time on this site and learning from some of you.
-Willy
Looks like this is where a lot of Husonites hang out, and I've found lots of good information on here already. Thanks!
Here are two pics of a '49 that I'd been planning to buy for a few years, and just bought a few weeks ago. I'm doing a frame-off restoration on my '41 Chevy 1/2 ton currently, so I won't start restoring my Hudson for a couple of years, but it'll eventually be restored to original and driven regularly. She's pretty darn straight though, with minimal rust down below, so it should be a fun restoration.
I'm not up to par on Hudson history, and am unsure what models were available for 1949. My intuition is that this is a Commodore, but I've also heard the term Super Six thrown around too, and I read on here that someone updated their Hudson from a Super Six interior to a Commodore interior, so that would suggest to the Hudson novice like myself that the models are quite similar.
Can some of you suggest a source for books, manuals, picture books, etc. for Hudsons? I've found a number of websites on Hudsons now, but if any of you can point me to one that lists major and minor differences in models by year, that'd be great. A book that lists the same differences would be great also. And of course, if some of you guys can confirm if mine is a Commodore or what-not, then that'd be great too.
I'm looking forward to restoring this car and if I had enough shop space to restore two vehicles at once, I'd already have started. Thanks for any information you can provide, and I look forward to spending time on this site and learning from some of you.
-Willy
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Comments
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Welcome on board, Willy!
Just glancing at your car, it looks like a Super Six. Both the Commodore and Super Six were basically the same shell, the difference was in the trim level. You have the smaller Super Six taillights and no doubt your dashboard has the simpler trim on it (and you have the simpler steering wheel). A person could have ordered either a six or eight in either series of car.
Lots of people ordered the Super Six with extra doo-dads on it to make it more Commodore-like -- or they added these items later in the car's existance.
Bottom line: serial number will tell the tale. If the first digits are
491 it's a Super Six
492 it's a Commodore Six
493 it's a Super Eight
494 it's a Commodore Eight
The Hudson club's website is invaluable as a source for information http://www.hudsonclub.org/. I'd advise you to join the National club, so you can begin to get our great magazine, and begin to learn more about the cars. Optionally you can join a local Hudson chapter, and keep your eyes open for local, regional or national meets in your area so you can shop for parts at the Hudson flea markets!
Best of luck!0 -
It's a Super Six then, as it's a six cyl and the 1st three of the serial # are indeed 491. I've attached a pic of the dash too (just ignore the packrat scat and nests! - Ha!)
I do plan on joining the Hudson club too! Thanks! I'm looking forward to picking up some literature on my Hudson as well...
-Willy0 -
Someone has upgraded to the Commodore steering wheel and there may be some other Commodore items as well.
One word of warning: the "Achilles heel" of Hudsons is the unit-body frame aft of the rear wheels. When this rusts out you have a GREAT expense (unless you can do it yourself) so before you spend a dime on this car, get under the car and check out the situation back there. If the frame is solid, you don't have to worry. When these cars are properly garaged they're okay, but if the car spent a lot of its life on the road or parked out in the "back forty" it may look like Swiss Cheese back there! And you don't want to pour thousands of dollars into this thing, only to have to drop another couple of thousand into it just for the frame!0 -
If you really want to do your homework look for these three books and READ THEM cover to cover.! haha
1. History of Hudson. By Don Butler
2. The Cars that Hudson Built By John Conde
3. Hudson: the Post-war Years. By Richard Langworth
FYI 2-3 are harder to find but check your library system. You can get shop manuals and body manuals through the HET club.0 -
Thanks for the advise. I'll certainly take a better look underneath when the time comes, however I'll be doing all the work myself so it won't be the end of the world if there is rust out back. The only problem-rust I found is on the bottom outside (rocker panels, etc.). The truck etc. looked real solid from above and below, but that was just a cursory look. I'll do a complete frame-off restoration (blast all metal, etc.) when the time comes.
This car spent at least the last 40 years, and most likely all it's life, out West in Nevada (where I live), and it's real dry out here. I've seen very few cases of frame rust on vehicles in Nevada. The sheet metal is in spectacular shape. The car is complete. The engine ran with a knock when parked in the 70s, and of course I'll overhaul it.
We'll just see how it goes...I'm excited!0 -
Hi Willly, Bill Albright Here In So Cal, I Belong To The Nevada Silver State Hudson Chapter And Recommend You Join The Hudson Club And Your Local Chapter, I Am A Hudson Dealer And Will Be Glad To Help You With Info And Parts, My Address Lis 16593 Arrow Bl, Fontana, Ca 92335 Ph 909 823 91680
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Willy-
Welcome to the forum! Nice looking car. I can't add too much that hasn't all ready been relayed to you, but all has been great advice. The Don Butler book will give you the best information when trying to learn the differences between models, years, etc. I think it is out of print, but they pop up on E-bay from time to time. You could also probably get it from Amazon.com. It should run anywhere from $25.00 to about $75.00, and is very well worth whatever you pay for it for the true HUDNUT!
Definately join the Hudson club and your local chapter. The club puts out a bi-monthly high quality magazine that has great classifieds in it. The networking you get from joining your local chapter and frequenting this board are also invaluable.
Help is always just a message or e-mail or phone call away. We all love to help each other save another Hudson.
Also, the '41's a nice vehicle but I guarantee you are in for a wonderful treat and a super experience when you restore the '49.
Welcome again!0 -
RL Chilton wrote:Willy-
Welcome to the forum! Nice looking car. I can't add too much that hasn't all ready been relayed to you, but all has been great advice. The Don Butler book will give you the best information when trying to learn the differences between models, years, etc. I think it is out of print, but they pop up on E-bay from time to time. You could also probably get it from Amazon.com. It should run anywhere from $25.00 to about $75.00, and is very well worth whatever you pay for it for the true HUDNUT!
Definately join the Hudson club and your local chapter. The club puts out a bi-monthly high quality magazine that has great classifieds in it. The networking you get from joining your local chapter and frequenting this board are also invaluable.
Help is always just a message or e-mail or phone call away. We all love to help each other save another Hudson.
Also, the '41's a nice vehicle but I guarantee you are in for a wonderful treat and a super experience when you restore the '49.
Welcome again!
Didn't Realize Don Butler's book was out of print... thought the HET Club store still sold it but I guess not. Dang...... Maybe we can push the publishers to get all 3 books re-published for the 2009 100 year anniversary ???????????0 -
Well, I could be wrong, but was passing on information that was told to me. I got my copy from E-Bay. I guess I should really check it out before I speak out. If I'm wrong, I apologize.0
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Nice buy, welcome aboard.
You also need a Hudson Shop service manual, to tell ya all you need to know to rebuild the chassis and running gear, and a Hudson Body service manual for things like glass and interior. Both available from the club store.
This one looked like yours when I got it in '98.0 -
Oh boy Uncle Josh, that sure is a nice looking Hudson. I'd guess it's a Commodore because of the chrome trim pieces above the headlights? (I'm still learning). So, were they all single tone paint from the factory, or was two-tone an option as well?
I looked on Amazon.com for the three books mentioned above, and all are available used, but they're still pretty darn expensive. I'll see if I can get them on loan at the University's library in Las Vegas next time I'm there. I'd like to look them over before I actually buy them. There's other online sources that are cheaper, and I need to check those as well.
I bought the Hudson from an 85 yr old good friend of mine who has forgotten more about cars then most people will ever learn. He has his own automotive shop and still shows up every day for work, albeit coffee break is from 0900-1030 and again at 1500-1630 everyday, ha! He bought the Hudson locally in '91 and never did anything with it, and it had been sitting for a long while before that.
I filled out my app for the HET club, and should get it out in today's mail. Looking forward to many years of collaboration with you guys, eventually taking the Hudson out on the road to some HET meets, and thanks Bill A for your post about parts, as eventually I'll be knee-deep in this restoration. I'll write down the NV chapter info on my app, and so hopefully I'll get signed up for that as well. I did notice someone else on here a couple weeks ago with "Northern Nevada" listed as their location, but I can't remember who it was. I'd be curious to know where in NV they are. Too bad there aren't regional and state group threads within the Hudson forum on this site, or am I just not looking hard enough?
No Hudsons, but my historical car club drove to the next town for lunch this past weekend. It's only 80 miles each way. Pic attached. We had a lot of fun.
Cheers,
Jason0 -
Uncle Josh wrote:Nice buy, welcome aboard.
You also need a Hudson Shop service manual, to tell ya all you need to know to rebuild the chassis and running gear, and a Hudson Body service manual for things like glass and interior. Both available from the club store.
This one looked like yours when I got it in '98.
What about the "Master Parts" catalog. It's item #374 at the Club store. Is that helpful/necessary also?0 -
My car was originally Red/Maroon. (RM stamped on the upper passenger door hinge. These are late Chrysler colors I matched up with plasticote then had mixed. They change based on the light but I like them. And yes, it's the Commadore with 3 sp OD
Someone gave me a master parts catalog, but I don't use it much. Might be good to check eBay parts you're buying. Several people maintain a list of modern part numbers that will work, their stuff accesable from the HET home page, and many of which show up here on the forum.0 -
Willy74
Welcome to the Hudson World. I own 2 '49 Hudsons. A Super Six Sedan and a Super Six Brougham. I did a total restoration on the Brougham. It took me 26 years to complete. I have attached a picture for you to see. If I can be of any help to you please feel free to contact me at anytime.0 -
hdsn49 wrote:Willy74
Welcome to the Hudson World. I own 2 '49 Hudsons. A Super Six Sedan and a Super Six Brougham. I did a total restoration on the Brougham. It took me 26 years to complete. I have attached a picture for you to see. If I can be of any help to you please feel free to contact me at anytime.
Never thought I'd see a car that curb feelers actually looked fine on. That's a real nice lookin' Hudson. Congrats on the restoration. It's certainly an easy car to two-tone b/c of the chrome strip, and they they look good either way.
So, what's the difference between a Sedan and a Brougham???0 -
Willy, great car. Wanna trade for a 29 Dodge Bros pick up? You found your way to great group of people who will be a great sourse of information on your car. Welcome to the fold.
Harry0 -
The Broughams and the Sedans have have the same roof line and trunk lid. The Convertibles and the Coupes have a longer trunk lid.
The Broughams are also sometimes called two door Sedans.0 -
willy74 wrote:So, what's the difference between a Sedan and a Brougham???
A "brougham" the term Hudson used for a 2dr sedan, in the 20s and 30's they called them a "coach". In 54 (and 53-54 jets) they called them "club sedans". Hudson also referred to 48-54 convertibles as "Convertible Broughams" don't confuse them with the sedan type broughams as the 48-54 convertbles were all based on the coupe body (before Frank Spring jumps all over me:D except for the Jet convertible as there was no Jet coupe body)0 -
hdsn49 wrote:... It took me 26 years to complete ...
A case study in patience for sure - she looks beautiful - you should be proud of the effort regardless of the time...it's about the journey after all, not the destination (now you have both
) 0 -
:)Hi Willy, I tis great to hear that another Hudson enthusiast lives in here in Nevada. I am the President of The Silver State Chapter and welcome you to the world of Hudsons. We send out a newsletter bi monthly and have meets quite often, sometimes with other car clubs.as we are small. Where in Nevada are you located, as we have members in Northern and Southern Nevada. Your Hudson is a '49 Super and parts are available. Drop me a note on the message board and I will contact you about membership and upcoming events. Thanks, Arnie M.0
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Willy,
You had mentioned in one of your posts that you were going to do a "frame off' restoration. Just to let you know that there is no frame on the car. Hudson's famous stepdown design is based on the fact that this car is unibody. As was mentioned before that is why you have to be on the look out for rust underneath, especially in the rear corners. The car has an "outer perimeter frame that goes all the way around the car. The transmission crossmember is welded to this as are other frame pieces which are main supports for the rear shackles and rear end. I have thre of them myself, 2 hornets and a Super Wasp all of which have frame rust issues. chances are good that you won't have this problem based on where you say the car comes from. Good Luck to you and you have found a great forum here. There are many good people here. By the way, when you are looking for parts, ask club members first. there are some guys out there who do remanufactured hard to find parts and rebuilds on various mechanical systems. K-Gap is a good source and others.
Glenn Degere0 -
53hudsonguy wrote:Willy,
You had mentioned in one of your posts that you were going to do a "frame off' restoration. Just to let you know that there is no frame on the car. Hudson's famous stepdown design is based on the fact that this car is unibody. As was mentioned before that is why you have to be on the look out for rust underneath, especially in the rear corners. The car has an "outer perimeter frame that goes all the way around the car.
Glenn Degere
I guess "frame off" is used so much as a general term these days. Sorry fo the confusion. I'll restore it from the ground up. It'll be fun, I'm sure.
Arnie M. - I sent in my membership app last week. I'll PM you as well to get info for the NV chapter. I live in Ely, one of the best spots in Nevada.
Cheers,
Jason0
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