Has anybody ever heard of a car that was feature way back in the day named "Night Train" it was a Hudson as far as i can tell. I saw that car at an old timers shop this morning, I dont know anything about hudsons, but it looked like a pretty cool old custom. Ernie
I know all about that car. The current owner Ed Mueller and i found and bought it in Sacramento back in 1991. It made Hot Rod magazine in the mid 50's and was owned by a guy named Duane Aspengren out of San Diego. When we bought it the Hudson was pretty much the same as it was back in the old days and was powered by an 324 Olds and Hydro trans. The car is sectioned but not chopped. We have spent years trying to find Duane Aspengren but have had no luck. Axle
thanks for the 411, Ed is a nice guy, but i didnt want to poke too much through his stuff and be nosey, but when i got home i wanted to read more on this car and couldnt find anything. Definately a neat looking car. I bought a 235 for my 50 chevy off him today. nice guy.
Back on topic? Damn I was just going to reference "Chauncey "Nighttrain" Jackson" as played by Ice T. Anyone have an image of this car they can post?
Holy shit. I just saw this the other day.. its amazing. hopefully he brings it back to its former glory.
Bad memories for me I wanted my dad to buy that car for me soooo bad, I have pics somewhere of me when I was just a snot nosed little kid but I wanted it in the worst way. Get rid of the Packard bumper and it was perfect in my eyes.
Rocket 88 engine in a Hudson....blasphemy! ;-) BTW, I have that book somewhere too, "The Complete Book of Engine Swapping".
>>"We have spent years trying to find Duane Aspengren but have had no luck."<< This him ? <TABLE border=1><TBODY><TR><TD>DAUNE ASPENGREN </TD><TD>07 Apr 1932</TD><TD>May 1981</TD><TD>(not specified)</TD><TD>92010</TD><TD>494-30-4365</TD><TD>Missouri</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Looks like a typo on the first name. Woulda been 25 in '57, and his last residence zip (92010) was Carlsbad CA- just north of SD.
Good book, was looking through it last night, cover is falling off, need to tape it back together, got it when I was 16, long time ago. Like your hornet! 308 and hydro? I have a 53 Hudson Superjet with 202 and hydro. Runs great, just needs brake work, and of course body and interior. Probably start on it soon.
That was the first serious piece of automotive literature I got; bought mine when I was 13 or 14 years old. I was inspired helping my cousin install a 392 Hemi in a 58 Ford sedan one summer. My book is in similar condition to yours. I also have books 2 and 3 stashed somewhere. One of the books mentions dropping a Ford 300 6 in a Datsun pickup; that got my Dad really interested as he had a 69 Datsun truck. He looked pretty hard at dropping a Buick V-6 in it but we never got that far. Yep, the Hornet's got a 308 and hydro. Used to run great; been sitting up neglected and now needs serious work. Hope to get it going this year. Hugh
That car has a Kool look! Not the first sectioned Hudson I have seen but it looks real nice. Where is it now Thanks Dave
axle- I found the info on the Social Security Death Index. >> http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com << May 1981 would be the date of death. Same guy ?
Interesting. I've not seen this car before. The section job looks a bit like the red and white 51 up here in WA with the continental kit. It was also done around the same time, but still has the Hudson 6 in it.
Ed Meuller bought the car from Wayne Ballerstein in Concord, CA. Wayne got the car in 1981, I believe, from a Wayne Graefon in SoCal. I think Wayne B. drove the car back to Concord from the HUDSON National Meet that was held in Buena Park. Wayne B. has copies of HOT ROD with car featured. I think it was in a number of other publications also. At one time the car had a 1954 Pontiac grille, then a Corvette set of teeth. (another story!) Last time I saw the car it was on a trailer behind our pickup(another story!) being towed to the Western Region HUDSON meet @ Buellton, CA in '92 (?) Ed was in the process of restoring it @ that time. Let's all hope the Ed can get the car restored---
Hudson custom is that the one with lightning bolt on the side? If so it came from sonoma down here in cali.???/
The last time I saw the car all it needed was the interior to be done. It was dark blue with fake Hemi valve covers on a SBC. When you think about a sectioned Hudson it seems funny in your head until you see this car. I like the red and white one with the lightning bolt cause it still ran the 6. The hood was modified to clear the carbs. Either way the guys who built both of these cars get my respect, section a unibodied car that has ALOT of compound curves.
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