1953 Hudson Hornet Convertible

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:41 pm Post subject: 1953 Hudson Hornet Convertible

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Write a check for $59,000.00 and it's yours.

51hornet

The carbs are leaking and the engine compartment looks like it needs work. Wiring under the dash is a mess. Other than that its a convertible. The wheel hubs are horrible.

hudsonkid

from the convertibles I have looked at, this one seems a bargain at 59K....

Dave53-7C

In addition, there's:

Seller says paint is fair
VINYL interior!
Front shocks - 1 red/1 black
Sloppy chassis paint job
Rust above heater
Trunk carpeted - why?
Reflector tape (?) on rear trim
Hood hits right front fender - paint chipped
Trunk lid does fit flush
Paint behind front horse collar looks strange
Steering wheel covered/cracked?

Dislikes - Visor, wires with spinners, and back-up lights on body

At the very least, I'd expect the paint to be perfect and the interior to be leather, especially for $59,000.00. If not, it will take an additional 10-15k.

hudsonkid

reflector tape is not incorrect on back of car. Indents were there to accept the tape. I have seen many hudsons 52-53 with the tape there, and it is OLD tape, to boot.

hudsonkid

30-35K at best.

Dave53-7C

Just wondering, is "the tape" listed in the master parts catalog?

I agree, 30-35k at best and then another 10k+ to make everything right.

51hornet

Yup it will go for that or make the rounds of back and forth buying we see so often with these cars as they move from shill bidder to shill bidder.

Dave53-7C

Sean,

Do you know anything about reflective tape originally being on the chrome rear valance of the 52-54's?

51hornet

Sure I do Dave it never came from the factory. Nothing in my parts books or merchandisers. It could have been a later add on from dealer but not from factory.

Dave53-7C

Just as I thought. I looked over all of my Hudson books again and couldn't find any factory pictures showing it. Nothing shown on new car brochures or in the master parts catalog either. I remember some old timers commenting about someone's car at a show where the indentions had a brushed look. They said it was incorrect and was just supposed to be smooth chrome. Although you could put anything from cartoon strips to reflective tape on, that doesn't automatically mean the factory or dealer would have done the same. Sean, thanks for the insight.

hudsonkid

I've seen way too many with old tape there, and restored cars with tape. Regardless of whether it's listed in the master parts catalog, it seems to be generally acceptable.

I often wonder whether the master parts catalog lists gas, or anti freeze, or oil, not to mention what color the taillight inserts are supposed to be on commodores 48-51 and hornets.

How about the back-up lights that seem to be the norm on most all 51-53's those guide units? aren't they aftermarket, but almost standard on all of the 51-3's you see? Are they in the aster parts catalog?

To use a parts guide merchandiser, or other advertising to determine what was done, or correct, is messed up. I'm sure that none of the cars came from the factory with tape there, and there are many owners that prolly won't put the tape on their rechrome out back (I wouldn't) but what do you think the reason is for those indents back there fella? they serve no purpose. I think the intent was for added safety, and that a lot of people put the reflector tape there for added safety.

The real issue is we just nit picked and pooh poohed the 53 hornet convertible, with a high price. I think we got another convertible we could have done this to with a comparable upper limit price.

The 53 is rare, I would think you want one, to go for it, because they really don't come along often or at all.... This car needs painted to be show, needs a generous amount of detail, a set of wires, leave the interior in vinyl, who cares, drive it, enjoy it. I know where there is a spare red steering wheel that's awful nice.

Dave53-7C · Last edited by Dave53-7C on Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:26 am; edited 1 time in total

Now, now, don't get your undies in a bundle there. We're just having a friendly discussion. After all, that's how we learn things. I've seen lots of cars with ratty wiring, stereos and A/C that didn't come from the factory. That doesn't make them correct. Rather, just something that people do. BTW, I have original, unused copies of Hudson dealer order forms for anti-freeze, motor oil, trans fluid and the like? Any quantity available from cans to 55 gallon drums.

Guide was a supplier to Hudson, just like Alcoa, Auto-lite, Bendix, Borg Warner, Casco, Champion, G.E., GM Hydra-matic division, McCord, National, Spicer, and Timken, to mention a few. And yes, these back-up lights are listed in the Master Parts Catalog as are Guide brand day/night mirrors.

Character lines or skegs in expansive metal panels exist sometimes for looks, but are mostly present to add rigidity to a part, not done as a "favor" to customer who may want to put something in them.

The problem, be it with this rare car or so many other irreplaceable things in this world, is that so many just shrug there shoulders and say "screw it," just use it and don't bother. That's how fine old cars, buildings, pens and the like are lost to following generations. To do it right, the car hobby is expensive and not for the faint of heart. All I'm saying is if someone is going to get involved and commit to something, be it a car, job, house or what have you, see it through and do it 100% or don't bother at all.

Spread the love...

51hornet

HK the guide units were advertised by the factory in circulars sent to the dealers I can scan and post if you want. A lot of these appeared in the parts catalogs or in the Hudson Accessory supplement. Hudson had a set of dealer circulars called Hudson Certified Accessories items on this include the following as just a sample

Fog Lights
Backup Lights
Windshield Washer Kits
Karvisor Sunvisor
Bumper guard kits
Chrome appearance kits
Electric Shavers
Thermos and cooler sets
Touch Up Paints
Car Care kits
Monogrammed chamoises

And many, many more. Hudson had a certified accessory and supply program and they were judicious in the policing of it. I have a six inch thick binder that came from the Hudson Sales Office. It contains the complete year of 1948 in factory bulletins, parts merchandisers and service updates sent to the dealer network. In many of these the head office has found that a dealer was jobbing his parts and accessories from non-Hudson sources they sent people out to stop this.

So when we say we do not find any reference to reflective tape been sold through the Hudson certified channel you can bet it wasn't. This type of thing looks to me to be a after market add on that would have been pushed at the local parts store or in the pages of Road and Track or Mechanix Illustrated. If Hudson thought they could have made a buck on it they would have sold it. The list of stuff they did sell through the network was staggering.

By the way I nearly have every Hudson parts merchandiser sent between the factory and the dealer network from 34-54 yes its 6 binders and they include all of the Hudson one and two pager ads. They are pretty darn cool.

Did you know in those days Hudson used to supply the dealer with personal samples of all accessories free of charge to be installed in the "house" car for training the dealer staff and showing to the public. Hudson also implemented an dealer accessory quota meaning each dealer had to commit to moving a certain amount of accessories per month I have the quota forms. Dealers making quota got discounts prizes and could win cars and trips.

I am scanning this stuff and the rate I am going should be done in 4 years.

Dave53-7C

I don't know if it were just Hudson or if all manufacturers did it, but the volume of accessories that they offered was amazing.

If it weren't for factory publications, original cars and the 100 point cars, the information regarding what the cars originally were would be lost forever. I don't understand how using information published by Hudson regarding what was originally on their cars, or approved for use on their cars, is "messed up."

Sean, you mention parts show in car magazines and available at the local parts store. Don't forget the host of doodads that you could get from Warshawsky's back in the day. BTW, thanks for the crash course on Hudson history. You are the oracle buddy. But don't forget the host of other Hudson accessories like:

Guide traffic viewer
Spare air
Fire extinguisher/tire filler
Hydraulic jack
Wire wheel covers and other hubcaps
Visor vanity mirror
Door visors
Fram oil filter
Spot light
Door handle and gas filler guards