1953 Hornet Coupe

51hornet · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 3:26 pm Post subject: 1953 Hornet Coupe

I kind of like this car. Shifter on column should have been done better. Remove sector and leave as complete tube to make look good.

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotor...500wt_1343

denverslim · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

Ya know what? I like the looks of the car too. But......
A 500 dollar non-refundable fee just to inspect the car? Give me a break!
Slim

51hornet · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:16 pm Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

Well I always charge the seller that if they want me to look at their car.

Also the gauges are out of a 51 they are not the gauges from a 53. Alignment of hood is a little off maybe just not closed properly. Dash looks pitted so this car has be cleaned up to look good for photos but would need a good going over to be certain you were getting a good car.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

The exterior looks good, but the rest is way too much fiddling around for my tastes. It will be interesting to see how potential buyers vote with their dollars on this one.

51hornet · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

If its liked you usual see an early bid. Certainly enough people looking for Hornet coupes.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

If the car were a little rough, like daily driver quality, I'd probably fiddle around and do a few off the wall things too. But for a desireable model in seemingly good shape, I think the owner shot the value down by doing the trans, floor shift, A/C, and duals. What's with the Twin-H emblem on the trunk? Is the interior gray or blue? Cobbled I tellz ya, cobbled.

51hornet · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 1:28 am Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

Me I would have zero probs with the guy doing the mods he did. I bet this thing is a great highway car. Air and a 4 speed auto with OD must cruise nicely. I have seen other resto's using that fabric I think its from LB or SMS.

For the right price I would buy this and be happy.

Needs a tad detailing I would put the Twin H on but the 4BBL probably runs nicely. I would paint the scoop teeth black like they are supposed to be and the interior looks grey/blue. I would eliminate the floor shift and route to column shifter to give car cleaner stock look. I would get the 53 guages and put them in and rechrome the dash bezel.

Car looks like it was setup to eat miles owner did not mind taking liberties for comfort and convenience. Like I said few details to make look nicer and I would buy in a heartbeat.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 9:12 am Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

Buying an old car is always a gamble, especially when someone has done mods. Although we can debate why mods were done, I think that most people looking for a stock, top dollar Hudson coupe would want it as close to factory as possible. No bids yet?

51hornet · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 11:09 am Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

I agree people will look and say I want a completely stock coupe for top dollar and they are right to say so.

What I think is if they say had to drive this car from LA to Vegas they sure would appreciate the AC the 700R4 and the new radiator. It would be smooth and at 75 Mph the engine would be turning over under 2k be a nice ride. That is me thinking with I like to drive my car thousands of miles a year not just to the odd show. Taking a poll of all the Hudnuts that come to meets I have not met one yet that breaks 300 miles a year in their car most and I mean over 50% never break 100 miles. For that type of driver a totally stock driver is a great option.

If you on the other hand say I am going to drive from Seattle to Florida for the fun of it you are going to be kissing that modified car at the end of the journey. In my mind that car is 95% stock and the mods are right on for the dedicated driver.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

I agree with someone driving from LA to Vegas appreciating the updates. However, these things defeat the experience of having/owning/driving a vintage car. You might as well just dump a Hudson body on a modern chassis. Better still, just jump in a modern vehicle and save the effort and expense. When you consider the thousands of people who traveled cross country in these cars when they were newer, the arguement for doing mods in order to do the same thing is a moot point. Too, where do you draw the line? Do you stop at doing A/C, a new trans and radiator or do you keep going with air bags and such until the car is just a shadow of its original self. What do you do when you need a screw driver for a specific job? Do you modify a hammer into one or do you buy a screw driver? If a vintage car cannot satisfy certain needs, I say leave it at home and drive a vehicle that is suited to the purpose. It's like people who buy a Victorian house, trash it into a melange of modern design and essentially blow tons of money to make it into something it was never intended to be. I guess some people find logic in spending money to decrase the value of real and personal property.

51hornet · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

Ah, thats a bunch of crap. Why stop there lets get a buck board and go find the old west. A car that is 95% Hudson with convenience mods is great. The argument that the guys who bought them new drove across the country fine is beyond funny. Yeah they roasted their asses off in the summer, their cars overheated they did not have yahoos buzzing around them in tuners. If I want to experience crap automobiling I will buy a Model T.

Whats the farthest distance you have traveled in your Hornet?

You do not need to keep the car 100% stock to the factory if you are I hope you have crap gas and oil and bias ply tires on your car. I expect you to have one of those large old 6V batteries you have to fill up with water every month and nitro cellulose paint on it as well. You better be driving that car wearing 50's clothes I mean if the guys who bought them new could drive across the country in 50's clothes so can you.

Saying you should drive a modern car if you are not happy with a stock car from the fifties is a bunch o' hoo ha.....

You put in seat belts, AC if you like and better brakes. And you enjoy your Hudson. Of course if your idea of a trip is taking it down the drive to get the post then stock is sweet for you. More power to you.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 8:00 am Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

Cop a chill Dude. Nope, not crap at all. It's my opinion and I'm welcome to it. If you disagree, go ahead and cobble up your cars. Not my cup-o-tea, but if that's what you're into, more power to you.

My Hornet isn't used as a cross country vehicle and I don't need to drive it hundreds of miles at a crack to enjoy it. I respect the rarity of the car and don't drive it into situations inappropriate for its abilities. It's easy to do, try it sometimes. As a matter of fact, I don't drive more than a few hundred miles (in any vehicle) since it bores me. Thankfully, the Wright brothers invented a thing called an airplane. And yes, I have a 6v battery that need to be filled with water and it works just fine. Crappy gas and oil? You somehow think they are better now? Now that's funny.

Have you ever traveled in a 50's car during the 50's? As a kid, I have done so with my family. Nothing like you mentioned ever happened. So, your guess at what life and cars were like then is patently obsurd.

I guess I don't understand the need to modify a car to fit a situtation when there are alternatives. Speaking as an American, we as a people seem to have little regard for our own history and the things that comprise it. So, for me, it's a matter of respect to honor the things of the past by keeping them as they originally were.

51hornet · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 9:50 am Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

Exactly you don't drive your Hudson. I had got that reading from your posts. The fact you have never posted hey took my car for a drive, heck I don't think you have ever posted about driving it.

Me I drive my Hudson in summer as a daily driver. Thats why I bought the car thats why I bought 4 more. If I wanted a factory show piece I would get a picture and stick it on my garage wall.

You don't drive anywhere because it bores you. (2008 traveled 175k miles in a plane thanks for the info on planes)And I traveled all over the country in the 60's in cars with 6V systems and no AC and no belts. And the roads the cars the drivers were all different. And I remember being hot(remember sitiing in the back in shorts sitting on a towel because of heat? I do. In the cars in summer we drove with all the windows down and the sound of wind. Thats what you did, you did not know any different. My Dad loved to drive his car so a family holiday might be a 7k round trip and 2 weeks on the road. So yeah I know what its like to drive long distances in a car. And growing up with a mechanic we might be on the road in a 38 Packard or a 42 Buick or a 51 Wolsley. You name we were in it and on the road. Piling into the car and traveling was what we did. Every Sunday we went for drives they might be 300 mile round trips my Dad was crazy about driving places.

And I have lots of experience driving a totally stock Hornet cross country. You get over 3500K of driving in a week and you understand a lot about a car. That is not going to stop me wanting to drive it across the country again. I love driving like that. My family likes to go out driving in the car with me and I am smart enough to know what needs upgrading to make it a safe experience. Thats a Hudson engine pulling me down the road. Driving it does not bore me. Driving new cars bores the crap out of me. In the 50's I could buy AC kits for that car I could even buy disc brake upgrades. And people put those on so are those in era mods any less authentic. I do not think so.

And yes oil and gas are far superior to the 50's blends. And if you like I can even explain the changes in production methods from then to now and how the chemistry of oil and gas has changed radically from then to now.

And I agree totally you have a right to your own opinion. But don't tell me I am cobbling my cars together if I disagree with you and don't post as if your version of Hudsoning is superior to mine. You want a low mileage rarity that you do not drive much. I want a Hudson that I drive the wheels off of and then restore it again drive the wheels of it again and so on. I do not need to hear I am defeating the experience of having/owning/driving a vintage car.

Better statement is IMHO I prefer a stock Hudson as for me it defeats the experience of having/owning/driving a vintage car to upgrade it as I do not drive my Hudson very much because of its rarity.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

I've done lots of things that I've never mentioned here or anywhere else. So what? Are you're saying that because I don't talk about driving my cars means I don't drive them? What sense does that make? FYI, I drive them all routinely.

How can I believe that you drive your car(s) all summer long? If you did, using your logic, you'd be posting about it.

So, if you also drove mega miles in old cars, what's the problem with them? They seem to have made the trips fine, otherwise I'd think you would have said otherwise.

Sorry if you misunderstand that I'm a good natured person who uses the word cobbled or cobbling freely, yet in a joking manner as far as you're concerned. I know of your mechanical abilities and would never imply that you do anything half way. Sad to think that you'd think otherwise.

51hornet · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: 1953 Hornet Coupe

I don't talk about driving Hudsons as I know that bores you ROFL

I got my long trip stories and driving stories on this site. Driving long distances and wanting to do more is what led me to what I think are modest upgrades of course not for the museum quality restorer non-driver but good for me. But here ya go today the daughter and I went to the car wash in the 51 we then stopped off and got a milkshake from the A&W drove around a bit. We then got home and she helped me align the doors on the 54 that we are prepping. We moved the 54 forward in the garage about 3 feet then back, short drive but very smooth.

Cobbled up here has a negative connotation unless you are referring to my ability to repair shoes. Up here when you restore a car you have to have a full inspection done and in that you have to state what upgrades you have done. When they inspect the car they scrutinize what you have done so as you say some idiot does not cobble together parts to make brakes out of inferior parts. You better be sure you are doing a good job or they will fail the car and you will not be able to get plates until the car is road worthy.

And driving mega trips in the day was because this is the car you had you drove it there were not alternatives. Long drives were fun but they were also a pain in the ass for comfort. In the 70's we drove cars with AC my Dad even updated some of our older cars with GM AC units and disc brakes he did so because it made the cars nicer to drive and safer. We upgraded when we could. We had a 64 Olds we upgraded to AC it never had it you could have got the option ours did not so Dad added. We did for comfort.

Same now I do things for comfort and safety. I like to drive them as much as I can. I want to be able to drive down to the national in Spokane. Can't say anymore than that nothing wrong with driving in comfort.