Design Mistakes

51hornet · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:44 am Post subject: Design Mistakes

Take a look at this pic of the 55 model year. This car is sitting outside the factory and even as a brand new car it looks bad. The fit and finish is bad the proportions are atrocious. The grill was designed by Frank Spring in his original design the grill was much more narrow and the egg crate was tighter. When this got to the boys in Kenosha this resulted. Of the post Hudson cars as I refuse to call these rebadged Nashs Hudsons the 55 was the least vomit inducing. The 56-57 attempts were like an Ed Wood movie bad, bad, bad....

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

True, the 55's are the least offensive job Nash did of ruining Hudson. Like putting lipstick on a pig, I doubt that anyone could have designed a Hudson grill that would have improved on the dumpy, econo-box look of the Nash body. The example above has very poor hood seams and are those motorcycle tires I see? Rather than bringing Hudson down to the turd level of Nash, this was AMC's chance to shine by making the Hudson high end, with Nash and Rambler fighting for middle and econo-box status. When you think of it, how stupid was it for AMC to offer essentially the same car with two different names. I liken this to attempting to emulate GM by producing several brands, all of which are rebadged Chevys. Come to think of it, GM tried that move on themselves and it didn't work out well at all.

51hornet · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

Yes stupidity seemed to reign supreme in those days at AMC. Seemed they did not integrate the two companies very well....

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

I know there are many that will disagree, but my opinion is that the 1955-57 cars were not even a shadow of their former selves. In doing what he did, it's as if Mason hated Hudson and wanted to emasculate it by turning its cars into dorkmobiles.

51hornet · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

The 55-57 are a POS new and a POS now. They rust at the hint of a wind and they are just plain badly designed from front to back. I know what a good car is a I drive a 51 Hornet. I have driven a 55 and a 57 they wallow and they are just plain crap. No other way of saying it. I mean less than 4000 people bought the 57 it look like a baleen whale beached and thats an insult to the whale. How could you design that car I mean how......I cannot fathom it....

The are guys who say but it has Hudson badges and the dmv says its a Hudson who cares they are ALL wrong its a Nash end of story. You saw the last Hudson roll off the line in 54 thats it.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:50 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

I've never driven a 55-57 but would imagine that the inherent suspension design would lend itself to wallowing. That's unless you load up on gasoline and fat people (or a few Baleen whales) before hitting the road.

We all know that badges do not a car make. When you compare the 55-57 full sized AMC offerings, they are the same under the (ugly) skin. I can't speak for other parts of the country, but here, AMC cars were owned by penny pinching DP's. Not only were AMC cars typically uglier than anything else on the road, they were smaller and, to the penny pinchers, offered a (false) sense of value.

Recently, the AACA magazine had an article about the 15k mile 54 Hornet that lived in a basement for 30 years. It ends with, "Everyone should experince the driving ability of a late-model Hudson. They should have qualified that statement by saying, "A pre-1955 Hudson."

51hornet · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:46 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

That don't really have to qualify it as there were no Hudsons after 54 the company closed and the plant was torn down. Sad but true.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:46 am Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

True...I was thinking about those who may not be familiar with Hudson history.

51hornet · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

Who are they I do not know these people everyone I know is.....Dave are you talking about the great unwashed.....

Dave53-7C · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

The unwashed masses ride the bus and do not speak of those new fangled horseless carriages.

If you've ever belonged to the AACA or read any of its publications, you'd know that they're slanted toward cars that have tillers, brass trim and wooden artillary wheels. Like so many clubs, they've been catering to an older crowd and scratch their heads wondering why they're not attracting younger members.

51hornet · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

I have never been a member of that one or the one in Canada. Years ago I used to get a magazine they put out and it was mostly 20's vehicles. I was into 30's Packards and Buicks so I didn't think much of it....

Zephyrmec · Hornet Joined: Aug 19, 2007 Posts: 623

The AACA is a good organization, their problem is that in trying to be so inclusive, it turns into nothing that an orphan or odd/rare car guy wants to get too close to. They seem to respect all makes and varieties, but it's the numbers thing. There must be 20 different classes for Fords, and 20 for Chevys of the 60s alone. Any car 25 years old is eligible... (wow! check out that 81 chevette! ) The local chapters are like any other club, it depends upon the members.

51hornet · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

Oh yeah I can't wait to see the classic Pintos and Bobcats rollout those were class acts. I will stick with indy clubs. May join Packard and Buick as I want one of those and maybe Desoto I liked the 50's Desoto....

Dave53-7C · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 5:11 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

Our local chapter is run by the old boys club. Although the event is well organized, they always pick the hottest day of the summer to have the annual show. One year when the wife and I were leaving the event, I suggested we put the top up and the A/C on. It was so hot she just wanted to pack up and hit the road. Needless to say, we kept the top down. Man, it was so brutally hot, the air blowing on our faces burned as we drove along. When we got home, I left the car in the shade of a tree and we ran into the house and stayed there until the sun went down. You just can't have fun at these things when it's roasting hot.

BTW, the AACA magazine has vastly improved. I have a copy here that has an article on the original, low mile, red, 1954 Hornet convertible that lived in a basement for 30 years.

Dave53-7C · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Design Mistakes

Aren't we way off topic?