'53 Converible trunk mat
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So far, the only thing I've found missing while disassembling my '53 Convertible is the original trunk mat.
Can anyone tell me if the '53 Convertible had a different trunk mat than say a "52, or '54, and if so, what kind of material, and/or pattern was used for this year? ( or maybe the factory used carpet in the trunk matching the interior carpet?)
The reason I'm asking is because I am trying to stay as original as possible with this car. I have an example of a '52 Hollywood trunk mat, and what looks like a repro mat in my '53 Coupe, that may or may not be accurate, so need some input from those that know, to get this right.
A picture of the "right" stuff would be greatly appreciated. Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Ryan (silverone)
Can anyone tell me if the '53 Convertible had a different trunk mat than say a "52, or '54, and if so, what kind of material, and/or pattern was used for this year? ( or maybe the factory used carpet in the trunk matching the interior carpet?)
The reason I'm asking is because I am trying to stay as original as possible with this car. I have an example of a '52 Hollywood trunk mat, and what looks like a repro mat in my '53 Coupe, that may or may not be accurate, so need some input from those that know, to get this right.
A picture of the "right" stuff would be greatly appreciated. Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Ryan (silverone)
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Comments
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The trunk mats in the Commodores and Hornet from 48-54 used a ribbed rubber black mat. The Pacemakers and Supers as well as Wasps used a kind of straw mat. There were as always exceptions but most of the origional straw mats have crumbled into dust. Rubber trunk mats are shorter on the convertible than any other model stepdown because of the bulkhead that is unique to the convertible. Trunk mats from sedans,coupes and broughams can be used if they are cut to size to fit the convertible. They must be shortened to accomodate the smaller trunk size due to the top mechanism taking up what would have been trunk space. At this time no one reproduces or has reproduced trunk mats.The reason being that it would take a very large vulcanizer to reproduce a full trunk mat. That kind of availability just dosen't exist very much any longer. Good luck in your search Ryan.0
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Hudzilla wrote:The trunk mats in the Commodores and Hornet from 48-54 used a ribbed rubber black mat. The Pacemakers and Supers as well as Wasps used a kind of straw mat. There were as always exceptions but most of the origional straw mats have crumbled into dust. Rubber trunk mats are shorter on the convertible than any other model stepdown because of the bulkhead that is unique to the convertible. Trunk mats from sedans,coupes and broughams can be used if they are cut to size to fit the convertible. They must be shortened to accomodate the smaller trunk size due to the top mechanism taking up what would have been trunk space. At this time no one reproduces or has reproduced trunk mats.The reason being that it would take a very large vulcanizer to reproduce a full trunk mat. That kind of availability just dosen't exist very much any longer. Good luck in your search Ryan.
Thanks Hudzilla, that narrows it down a bit ! I guess I'm faced with finding a good original somewhere, and cutting it down, like you say.
Anyone got one ? Are they imbossed with some kind of design in the rubber, so that cutting it down to size will make it look "cut off" at the bulkhead ?
How about you Bill Albright ? Got one of these mats at the ranch you'd part with ?
Ryan0 -
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.49c8.com/images/fp/53Rear.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php%3Ft%3D3639&h=856&w=600&sz=369&hl=en&start=65&um=1&tbnid=EXFAmceunYwKyM:&tbnh=145&tbnw=102&prev=/images%3Fq%3D53%2Bhudson%26start%3D63%26ndsp%3D21%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN
Ryan,
Click the link and scroll down to see factory photos of the 1953 Hudson Hornet trunk mat. Although I asked this question recently, and received quite a bit of help here, I gave up trying to find original material. I think I have four (4) samples from SMS and they're all different.
Let me know if you can unravel the mystery. 
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Ryan
I have a number of pictures of OEM trunk mats which are the same as the one shown in the images posted by Dave. If you need these pictures I will email them to you.0 -
Ken,
Any idea what the OEM mats were made of? The one in the link I posted looks like it should be similar to the vinyl coated/felt backed mat materials of the 60's and 70's. The samples I received from SMS ranged from the typical ribbed black rubber to something along the line of a heavy fabric.0 -
Heart Of Texas wrote:Ryan
I have a number of pictures of OEM trunk mats which are the same as the one shown in the images posted by Dave. If you need these pictures I will email them to you.
Ken I would surely appreciate you sending those photos. I like to get as much proof as possible that what I'm trying to replicate is indeed what the factory put out !
Having said that, I've got a rotten old example of a mat I pulled out of a '52 Hornet awhile ago out in the yard, and tomorrow I'll see if I can get a detailed photo of the pattern in it. Maybe I can verify that one as authentic, and orignal from your photos. Its waaay to far gone to ever use again, but I can at least insist on the correct pattern if I ever have one made somewhere.
My experience with samples from SMS is similar. They've sent me samples of material they describe as "close", and yes its nice material, but in my eye, if it ain't "exact", then the sky's the limit, and one might as well use Grandma's old curtains, as anything else, because everything else is "different", and not like it was when Grandpa opened the door on the first day.
Anyway,
I wandered off the path a bit there, but yes, please email me those pictures, -- and many thanks !!
Ryan ( silverone )
HETryan.ankney@gmail.com (remove the HET)0 -
One of the fabric-like samples was a nicely patterned black and the other was yellow and brown. Still, I give SMS credit for trying to help. To help them identify the pattern, I faxed them a copy of a large picture I swiped from an eBay auction of an original, unrestored 53 Hornet. It looked like the pattern in the link I posted and was pale blue in color.0
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Dave53-7C wrote:One of the fabric-like samples was a nicely patterned black and the other was yellow and brown. Still, I give SMS credit for trying to help. To help them identify the pattern, I faxed them a copy of a large picture I swiped from an eBay auction of an original, unrestored 53 Hornet. It looked like the pattern in the link I posted and was pale blue in color.
These are two pictures on the mat taken out of my 52 Commodore 8. The color now is an off white and khaki green. But it could have been yellow and brown when new. I don't know if this will help you or not.
This is the whole mat.
This is a close up of the pattern
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Ryan...
The picture PAT posted is an OEM mat. Blue Green over off- white were the colors of the OEM mat. The mat was made of some sort of a woven plant material. I would liken the material to those found in the roll up sleeping mats used in Japan. The thickness is very similar. Close weave is not unlike that found in high quality Panama and Cowboy hats.0 -
I have a 53 convertible with the original trunk mat. It is a off white cloth with a ribbon around the edge. Sort of like the above picture but the ribbon I believe is different. Have to take a closer look. It is surprisingly still in decent shape. Am in the process of tearing everything down and taking it to redistrip in a week or two0
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OK, now I'm really confused. In the link I posted (the pictures are on page 88 of the book, Hudson Automobiles 1934-1957) as well as the photo I grabbed from an eBay auction, the pattern appears to be comprised of rectangles on a darker background. On page 61 of Hudson Performance Portfolio, there is a picture of an open 53 Hornet trunk and the mat material appears to be the same.
Hmmm, looks like Hudson threw us a curve ball on this one. Perhaps different mats were available or there was a switch in manufacturers. The picture of the 52 mat is similar in appearance to the sample material I received from SMS.0 -
http://www.kitfoster.com/images/2007-11-14_54HudsonSJetTrunkWeb-Large.jpg
Let's add this to the mix.0 -
SRCraftsman2 wrote:These are two pictures on the mat taken out of my 52 Commodore 8. The color now is an off white and khaki green. But it could have been yellow and brown when new. I don't know if this will help you or not.
This is the whole mat.
This is a close up of the pattern
This mat appears to be exactly the same as the rotted one I yanked out of a '52 Hollywood, SRC. Mine is no longer saveable, but at least I've got a good sample to use to repro the mat, and with your picture of the whole thing, I can see exactly how its shaped !
Thanks a bunch for this. I can forge ahead once more.
Ryan.0 -
Ryan,
Is what's left of your mat the same color and pattern as SRC's?0 -
Dave53-7C wrote:Ryan,
Is what's left of your mat the same color and pattern as SRC's?
Yes it is Dave. I took some pictures this evening, but hammered away at the Convert. for the rest of the evening, so will process and post them tomorrow.
The computer stuff is almost more difficult for me than disassembling a whole car --- especially when I have to resize and store and send pictures etc. At least I understand what's happening when I turn a wrench !! Not always so when I tap a keyboard.
When I went to school, all we had as tools to help us count was fingers and toes. :-)
Ryan.0 -
Ryan,
I know how it is as time goes by while you're having fun with a car. I'd be interested to see what your mat looks like. Any thoughts on what you're going to use as a replacement?
When it comes to computer stuff, I know enought to be dangerous. LOL
It sounds like we're both from the era when the library was our computer. Now that I think of it, learning was a lot of work back then.0 -
Dave53-7C wrote:Ryan,
I know how it is as time goes by while you're having fun with a car. I'd be interested to see what your mat looks like. Any thoughts on what you're going to use as a replacement?
When it comes to computer stuff, I know enought to be dangerous. LOL
It sounds like we're both from the era when the library was our computer. Now that I think of it, learning was a lot of work back then.
Here's what's left of my mat Dave. Its pnly good for a sample piece to make a new one now, which is why I haven't cleaned it up at all.
Somewhere, I'll find the exact match material and make a new one. Looks like that's my only option.
Ryan0 -
OK Ryan, exactly where is the mat? Oh, I see it now. LOL It seems that the patterns so far are the same. Since the colors seem to vary, I wonder if it's just age or whether Hudson matched the mat to the body color. The picture I have of an original, albeit tired, mat from a 53 Hornet looks similar to yours, both in color and pattern. The mat was close to the color to the car. When you find that mat material, please let me know. Or, if you're cranking mats out on your Singer, put me down for one. 0
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Ryan when you find that exact match material please let every one know. Lots of us need trunk mats.0
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I need a couple of mats also. Put me down. Thanks, Bob0
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HI HERE IS WHAT I USED IN MY 50 PACEMAKER CV
http://groups.msn.com/HudsonEssexTerraplaneBulletinBoard/50hudsonpcvrestobaby.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1621
I CAN GET THIS MATERIAL FROM A LOCAL SUPLYER AND CUT IT IT WILL BE $50 FOR EACH CAR I WILL CUT IT BIG AND YOU TRIM IT TO FIT YOUR CAR JUST RIGHT0 -
Billy K.TN. wrote:Ryan when you find that exact match material please let every one know. Lots of us need trunk mats.
You bet I will, Billy. It'll be one way for me to help repay all the great help I've recieved from the good folks I've met along the way in this great Hudson Community !
Ryan.0
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