Driving Miss Daisy ?

There was a nice write-up on Mr. Bell in Classic Auto Restorer a few years ago- he bought several new Hudsons when he found out they were quitting production, and has other low mileage examples as well. I think he has a Jet with less than 100 miles. Very good club booster, and, I'm told, just an all around good guy.

If memory serves, Mr. Bell sold one of the two cars used as Miss Daisy and it went west, Arizona, I believe ( An earlier forum post says that it was the one used for interior shots). Park will know. Walt-LA

Fellow Dixie Chapter member John Upchurch, my wife and I dropped in on Mr. Bell just a couple of weeks ago. He's doing quite well for a fellow of 92. And yes, he still has the maroon car used in Miss Daisy. As said above, Western Region Director Frank Fry has the other one they used. Herbert sold the '54 Hornet sedan he bought new, about four years ago, to a museum in NY state. That car had just under 300 miles on it. He still has nine Hudsons, including the two '54 Jets and the '53 Hornet coupe, all of which he bought new. His Jet Liner shows around 60,000 miles. The Super Jet has only about 2500; the Hornet coupe about 45,000. Herb doesn't plan to sell any of the remaining Hudsons, as his family has asked him to pass them on to his two Grandsons. (I'm humbled and honored but undeserving to be mentioned in the same breath as Herbert. He's a real gem ... my wife calls him "the classic southern gentleman.")

I have a bit of a story about Herb and myself, that he probably does not remember.I was interested in buying a 48 or 49 Commodore about the time of the MOVIE. I believe it was 1990. One day I was reading through Hemmings when I spotted an ad for the first old car auction at I think the Atlantic City Convention Center. The feature car was the 1948 Hudson from the movie Driving Miss Daisy. This was January. Fran and I were still on Long Island so this was a bit of a drive and in a snow storm as well.Loaded with hope, enthusiasim and a large cash guarantee we drove down to A city. Entered the car corral and were advised that Daisy was only a Promo, not for sale. We got in the car and drove home. Flash foward 6 months to Docs Apple Blossom Meet in Front Royal Va. Who do I meet? Herb Bell And was it Dottie? He was so upset that this happened to me and told me how some auction wanted to use Daisy as an attraction and would give them an all expenses paid vacation if they could ship their Hudson to New Jersey and putit on display ,but the ad printers made the ad semm as if Daisy wqs for auction. This of course, triggered numerous calls to Herb asking why he did not offer Daisy to the HET members first . Herb assured me that Daisy is willed to heirs. Your rigt ,Park ,Good guy. A few months later I purchased Henrietta, my 53 HHC which has some fame in that she is Hemmings History of Hudson cover car. Also correct that Frank Fry has the interior car. We just left each other a few hours ago.