Genesis of those Step-Down pickups?

Jon B
Jon B Administrator
edited November -1 in HUDSON
This page from a Hudson Service Merchandiser of 1953, gives a clue as to where all these StepDown pickups came from: the dealers themselves!





(Click on link to see photo): http://groups.msn.com/HudsonEssexTerraplaneBulletinBoard/miscuploads.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4279

(Note: this is a new link as of December, 2007).



My thanks to Pete Baden of Maryland, whose father was a Hudson dealer, for this bit of enlightenment!

Comments

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    My understanding is that Hudson created one prototype truck, that this was 'rescued' from the roof of one of the Hudson assembly plant buildings prior to their demolition, and that the truck is now owned by a member of the H-E-T Club. I am not sure whether this is something I read in the WTN, or just a rumor I heard. There might have been one or two others but in general, the ones that come up for sale were created by individuals or dealerships.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Hi to all,

    Over here in England we have a motoring magazine called 'Classic American', the June issue this year featured the supposedly one and only factory made stepdown pickup which apparantly was manufactured in 1949 with serial no' 490CM1, - '49 the year, CM for commercial and 1 for the first (and only?) one. The owner is a haulage company owner in Florida. I could scan a copy of the article to anyone interested.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Unless one of these "pickups" have some sort of documentation that proves who made it then the value (or non-value) is only in it being customized and then someone liking it. A "dealer" made truck would be hard to prove and even so could simply be a "hack" job done by Ernie the dealer parts guy in the back.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Bill and Ruth are the winners in this posting. Hudson Stepdown trucks were prototyped in 49 and one was allowed out the door by failure of the staff to do as directed. The Truck was a design example and was used for several activities within the Hudson manufacturing facilities. The truck like all of the design prototypes was meant to be destroyed. Some where in the process the vehicle was appropriated and not destroyed. :mad: The Hudson Jet Convertible prototype was another example of someone ... bypassing instructions. I know from talking with Bernie Siegfried that there were many holes in the net which allowed well meaning Hudson employees to ... save ... rare or one of a kind artifacts from destruction. :rolleyes: Bernie had the Overhead valve prototype engine in his work shop ... he was given that prize after Hudson determined the cost of getting the engine built too high.... The authenticity of any vehicle is based on the pedigree the owner can produce.

    Good and bad examples of created Hudson Stepdown variants can be found across the USA. Most National meets will produce one or more to the ... restoration created or restored dealer inspired Stepdown pickups. I have yet to see one of the 4door 2door prototype Stepdowns ... maybe the company never got past the mock up buck with those?

    Cheers:)
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Ken, I was told by one of the daughters of Mr. Toncray (Chief Engineer) that he would drive prototype Hudsons home for the weekend, to test them in actual use. (This must have been after 1948 since it's hard to believe he'd drive one of the radical new StepDowns in public before they were introduced!) Anyway, she recalls that at least one of them was the 3-door (4-door on one side, brougham on the other).



    Also, I believe Wayne Wehrle of Pittsburgh, told me that as a youth he saw one of the three-doors parked on the street, near his home. It was so unusual that he remarked on it, to his friends!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Regardless of who did it, or why, those stepdown trucks are very nice looking. Its a pity they didn't go ahead and produce it. I'm sure the unibody wasn't a real good payload capable situation for the loads truck buyers would have subjected it to, especially without the extra stiffening of the roof above it.



    The extra cost of tooling up a payload capable running gear vs. the low demand for such a truck most likely killed the idea. I wouldn't attempt to build one myself without considering a thicker inner skin on the perimeter frame and lengthening the inner, rear support frames on up to the front clip in lieu of the bolted in carrier bearing cradle.



    I do lust after the stepdown pickup - can you tell?



    Mark
  • Nevada Hudson
    Nevada Hudson Senior Contributor
    Buy the 1988 York H.E.T. national meet video from John Fromm, and see the real factory prototype stepdown pickup on film !
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    ruth and jerry, We recently bought a 48 stepdown pickup and I just put pics on forum tonight. I read your article on the magazine article for the 49 prototype in florida from the Classic American magazine from June 2005. You offered to scan a copy for anyone interested and if you still have it, I would appreciate you sending it to our e-mail directly or thru this forum. Our e-mail is rlcardo@netscape.com. Thanks so much. Linda and Ron
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Jon B appreciate the like to the page for hudson merchandise service merchandiser, but when I click n the link, I get and error parge. Any way you can scan it and email it to me on this forum or my personal email? rlcardo@netscape.com. Would really appreciate it. Thanks. linda and ron
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I just re-posted the merchandiser page to the internet under a new link (go back to the beginning of this thread, to see it). Now everyone can see it again.
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