Looking at 53 Super Wasp

Medic · Jet Joined: Aug 02, 2009 Posts: 3

Hi all;

I hope I'm posting in the right spot; if not, please feel free to move my post to the appropriate forum.

I'm very interested in a car for sale near me (a 1953 Hudson Super Wasp Coupe). I've owned many AMC cars, including a few 1967 Marlins, but have always respected the Hudsons, and loved the body lines and really like the looks of this one. I've checked out prices before, and presumed a nice one was out of my reach, but this one seems up my alley...

The car is an old amateur restoration. The body has filler, which is in some cases starting to loosen, and the paint has lost some lustre and been touched up in places. The car is a nice '30 footer'. The front chrome seems very nice, the back chrome would need to be redone. The interior was redone mildly customized. Glass seems decent.

It's got the original engine and 6 volt electronics. Not a Twin H car, but has the overdrive.

I like older hot rods, rat rods, all kinds of cars. This one to me seems like a nice 'driver' that would fit in at a cruise-in as it is, and could be a 'rolling restoration' project.

The only thing that concerns me is I want to make sure there is no rust in the undersides/perimeter frame. The driver's door seems 'out' a bit at the bottom, and I want to make sure it's an adjustment issue and not as a result of a rust issue. I didn't see any glaring rust issues but I didn't get right under the car for long.

He's asking $8500 cdn (about $7900 US today). Is this fair? I'll try to get some pictures to post later.

Rick
Niagara Falls, Ontario

51hornet · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:57 am Post subject: Re: Looking at 53 Super Wasp

Hey Rick,

if you can post pics or an url to pics that will help. Question is how much filler and why is it on the car? accident or just to smooth out waves. Not a lot of Super Wasp Coupes from 53 so if you do not mind the work you could restore to nicer car. Question is how much work and what cost. Buying the car for $8500 then say having to spend 10k would not be a deal unless that was a Hornet coupe.

$8500 would be nice for a car that is a reasonable driver not one that has sagging doors and lots of bondo.

Getting under the car is a must and have a pocket knife or probe so you can make sure the frame is not rotten behind the wheels around the underside of the trunk and along the rails under the doors.

OD is good does it work have you taken the car for a drive?

Welcome to the site and lets see some pics and get you a car.

Medic · Jet Joined: Aug 02, 2009 Posts: 3

I went to get pictures today but the car wasn't out; I think he mentioned he was driving it to a rod show today. He said that he had looked at the bodywork and the bondo seems to have been used as a cheap way to fill out dents/smooth the body, not related to rust issues. He seems like an honest enough guy, but he did mention he only picked up the car five months ago or so, which could be a red flag; did he buy it to 'flip' and make a profit, or did he buy it then decide it has too many issues? I'll gauge his response. Judging by the one that just sold on Ebay, I see that there are some to be found in 'decent' condition.

I really don't want to own a very nice show only car, as I've been down that road before, and find that then I just worry about it too much and want to keep everything bone stock original, which just hampers the fun! Originality is OK, but with rare cars sometimes it's just easier to have the freedom to customize certain things just a bit.

51hornet · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject: Re: Looking at 53 Super Wasp

I would be looking under that car and seeing if there is rust in the frame. 5 months is not long to own it and then flip. Be nice to test drive it see if you like it then if the frame is good go for it. At that price if the car is half way decent you can't lose if you like it.

Be a bummer to pay 15k and find out its got issues but under 10k you don't mind just driving it and enjoying it.

rocket88 · Hornet Joined: Jul 22, 2009 Posts: 50

Hi Rick,
$8,500 sounds pretty good, I bought my 53 Super Wasp out of New Mexico about 4 months ago for 8,650 and had not seen to many others even close to that price, so if car is pretty solid it would be a good deal. Sounds like you like the same stuff I do, I have an A Coupe with 56 Olds engine done 50's style and a 34 Plymouth Coupe hot rod with Ford Flathead power.
Good luck with Super Wasp.
Cheers Mike.

rocket88 · Hornet Joined: Jul 22, 2009 Posts: 50

Rear view

Medic · Jet Joined: Aug 02, 2009 Posts: 3

It seems like a good car...although it would be nice to get it on a hoist to really look at the undercarriage, these Hudson's are so low it's not like I can poke around under there Smile

It's still for sale. I'm sure a New Mexico car would be quite solid Laughing

rocket88 · Hornet Joined: Jul 22, 2009 Posts: 50

Let us know how you get on.

stone · Hornet Joined: Jul 31, 2009 Posts: 223 Location: france

Rockett
Your car is magnificent
Achetee on ebay?

Felicitation
Stone

rocket88 · Hornet Joined: Jul 22, 2009 Posts: 50

Hey Stone,
Thanks, it probably looks better than it really is in the photos, the paint is not that great and front and rear bumpers could do with rechrome, but it is a pretty solid car and its all there. My French is not to good but I did buy it on EBAY out of New Mexico.
Cheers Mike.

stone · Hornet Joined: Jul 31, 2009 Posts: 223 Location: france

The color pleases me a lot
I I look for photos of the mle 1949 to see how c is
And choose a new tint as mine
Stone