Customs Bought a Hudson

With a few modifications you could fool the general public into thinking it was a chopped Merc.

 

Why? As automobiles go, the Hudsons were arguably considerably better cars than Mecurys in objective measures. Styling is subjective. In any case, a Hudson doesn’t have to masquerade as a Merc to deserve admiration.

Ray

 

Wasn't really my point, just an observation.

 

That is a fabulous car you have acquired !
" Money has no value, unless its spent "
And its evident that you have spent your money very well !

 

There, I fixed it for you…..

Ray

 

Love that car. Congratulations on your purchase.

 

Sweet Hudson..........welcome to the club!

 

In my opinion Hudson was thinking about Kustom design way back then. You made out.

 

Way back then, Hudson was trying to figure a way to stay in business ...

 

A little lowering will make it look even better. The 54 was the last of the "real Hudsons". With the later merge with Nash they changed a few things on the Nash and still called them Hudsons in 55/56 but otherwise known as the "Hash". With a unibody construction Hudson couldn't change much other than cosmetics on fenders,lights etc and couldn't compete with the big makes who were introducing new body styles each year. The end was coming unfortunately. Hudson has an incredible history from 1908 to 1954.

 

Sharp as a tack!

 

.

 

LOVE that car!

 

Love it! CONGRATS!

 

Looks like you lost a couple of doors in the process, nice car.

 

What is a "DG200 auto" if I might ask?

 

Did Marshal Teague sign the dash?????

 

CLEAN!

 

It is a Borg Warner but made by their Detroit Gear division. It was the substitute for the Hydramatic in '54 because the Hydramatic factory burned down. The DG-200 is the same as the Studebaker "Automatic Drive". A fully automatic transmission of the traditional variety with a torque converter and gear set. The pattern is PNDLR.

 

Or better yet, "Doc" Hudson ? ? ?

 

1954 was the best looking stepdown, nice Hornet coupes are pretty rare now. Is it an iron or aluminum head engine?

 

Back in 1980, I helped "Merc" Mylar prep his '50 Merc for the Santa Cruz (CA.) annual run, the "Beach St. Revival".

We slid into the parking lot of the host hotel, and an old gent walked up and started in with the 'history of Hudsons'.
He was insistent that Merc's Merc was a Hudson, and ranted and raved about it so that after about 10 minutes nonstop, poor Merc was in doubt of his own Merc's origins!
The old gent was a 'good attorney'. (such a thing?)

 

Did you see I started I conversation with you

 

Iron

 

Thanks..I knew of them but not the nomenclature .Nor that they were used in Hudsons..I bet the hydro felt faster from a stop ;-)

 

Maybe, but the GM Hydro was much heavier. The Borg-Warner was used by several independents.

 

I said I'd never fall in love again, then you posted that Hudson pic a 2nd time!

 

I am a fan of the earlier stepdowns(48-53) and always thought that the 54's looked too much like a 54 Ford maybe or similiar MOPAR era car. Still if I was given one I wouldn't say no. Maybe the convertible with a Carson top would look good.

 

The 4 door Merc could have looked like mine here, I made it a convertible chopped with a Carson.

 

Sweet hudson! Inspiring me to make time to work on my '49 brougham!