Hudson Super Eight Trivia Question of the Week: 1. During what span of years were automobiles produced under the Hudson name? Was it: A. 1899-1949; B. 1920-1959; C. 1931-1957; D. 1945-1960 or E. 1909-1957? 2. What was ‘Doc’s last name in the Disney/Pixar animated movie Cars? (NOTE: The answer to THIS question appears in the story below, so you might want to think about it before reading on if you want to guess it on your own.) 3. How’s your knowledge of states? Cities named ‘Hudson’ are located in 17 of the United States of America. Can you name one? Two? Three? ...or more? Let me know by e-mailing me at mailto:the_fin_man@msn.comm but don’t ask me! I was cunningly concealing a piece of sketching paper within the open pages of my Geography book on which I was sketching cars instead of listening to the teacher. (And yes... my Geography grade reflected that action on my part! But some of my sketches were really great! At least I thought the were.) I will list the reader who can identify (without looking it up) the most states with a city named Hudson. Sorry, there’s no prize or reward being offered here. It’s just for fun, so the ‘honor system’ will apply– please be honest. 4. How many television sets were in use in the United States in 1947? Was it A, None; B, 500; C, 2,000; D, 9,000; E, 14,000 or F, 100,000? 5. On October 27, 1947, ABC debuted a new radio show starring Groucho Marx. What was the name of this show? 6. Born January 8, 1947, this English pop artist’s starred in the 1976 film ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth.’ His hit songs included ‘Young Americans’ and ‘Fame.’ What is his name? 7. Born February 18, 1947, Dennis DeYoung was a founding member of what American rock band? 8. This European aircraft manufacturer built its first automobile on June 10, 1947. What is the name of this automobile company, which is today, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors?
For the answers to these trivia questions, visit the Fin Man’s web site at http://www.thefinman.com.

Ask any gen X or Y person what the word ‘Hudson’ means and, if they were paying attention in their high school Geography class, would probably tell you that it’s a river in New York state, and they would be correct. They also would be correct if they say Hudson was (or is) the name of a New York Central locomotive from the thirties; a U.S. Navy destroyer used in World War II; a now defunct, Detroit-based department store chain; a volcano in Chili; a racing boat hull manufacturer in London Ontario Canada; a Major League pitcher; a nineteenth century British botanist and a city in any one of eighteen of the United States of America. Need I go on? The list of places, people and things with the name Hudson is enormous. (If you want to see them all, search in Wikipedia.org.) But to us ‘OLD CAR, guys’ (as distinguished from ‘OLD, car guys,’ it conjures up memories of a fine and long ago ‘orphaned’ American automobile.

Hudson was scrambling to fill the demands of returning servicemen and the new, optimistic post WWII consumers. Like most automobile makers, Hudson had been producing weapons, primarily aircraft and engines, for the United States during the years 1942-1946. Shifting back to production of automobiles for the private sector at war’s end was a formidable task, so Hudson (like virtually all auto manufacturers), was forced to use their old, prewar body parts, preforming a hasty make-over changing trim and adding chrome adornments here and there.

Hudson began life as a car known for value and maintained that reputation throughout its life-span. Priced slightly above the entry level models from the ‘big three,’ but well below the top-of-the-line marques, the 1947 Hudson offered a lot of features for the money. Two trim levels were offered in 1947, the base Super series and the upscale Commodore. Both were available with either six or eight cylinder engines and in a variety of body styles including four door, six-passenger sedans; two door, six-passenger coupes, broughams and club coupes and convertible Broughams. Exterior trim was nearly identical on both models and was a carry over from the 1946 cars with only slight changes.
The options list was a big one compared to many automobiles of the period. Included were such amenities as turn signals at $26.00 on Super models (standard on Commodores); three quarter leather upholstery, $32.00-$53.00 (price varied depending on model); electric clock ($14.00); Royal Red paint (as shown on feature car) ($23.00); front and rear bumper bar extensions (also shown on illustrated car) ($20.00); AM radio ($77.00); ‘Weather Master’ heater/defroster ($50.00); chrome wheel trim rings (often called ‘beauty rings’) ($13.00); fender top lamps ($16.00); chrome horn ring (on standard 17" steering wheel) ($6.00); larger (18") custom steering wheel with horn ring ($19.00); passenger side inside sun visor ($3.00) and air-foam seat cushions front and rear ($17.00). A variety of tire sizes and wheel covers were offered.

Both Super and Commodore models rode a 122" wheelbase and were 207" in overall length. Six cylinder models were powered by a L-head, straight six engine with 212 cubic inch displacement and 103 brake horsepower. The eight cylinder engine was also an L-head, straight block design with 254 cubic inch displacement and a 128 horsepower rating.
The Hudson achieved a high approval rating from aunt Dorothy for although it wouldn’t have won any beauty pageants, it was a car she could trust to get her from point A to point B with very few, if any, headaches.

Although it wouldn’t turn heads at the senior prom, the Hudson was a car that parents could depend on to bring junior and his date back home on time. Aunt Dorothy might have had her doubts if junior called to say the Hudson broke down and he would be late! The old ‘flat tire’ or ‘I ran out of gas’ excuse would have been a much wiser choice.

The company built its 3,000,000th car in 1947, but the model year sales total topped out at a disappointing 95,000 units, causing Hudson to drop to number 13 in American automobile sales, from a high of third place, just behind Ford and Chevrolet in 1919. Of all the Hudsons produced during the company’s forty-eight year history, only one model is recognized by the Classic Car Club of America as a true ‘Classic’ or ‘Full Classic,’ that being the 1929 L Series.

The Old Cars Price Guide lists current day prices for 1947 Hudsons in the upper teens for a very good, show quality car... that’s IF you can find one. As one might expect, a convertible demands a hefty premium, listing somewhere in the 30 to 40k range.

For more information and photos of the 1947 Hudsons, visit my web site at http://thefinman.com. (Additional photos may not be posted until Tuesday.) If you want to learn even more about Hudson automobiles, visit the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club’s web site at www.hudsonclub.org.
Don’t forget to MARK YOUR CALENDAR. Join The FIN MAN for the Route 66 Festival on Saturday, October 4, 2008. For details visit his web site at http://www.thefinman.com.

Bruce Kunz is available for your group’s special event and is currently booking dates for fall 2008 and 2009. During his appearances, he presents an overview of the collector car hobby plus a detailed look at American cars from the fifties and sixties. His program includes a Power Point presentation with images of collectible automobiles and various associated nostalgia and Americana. Guests also have the opportunity to play "FINS for FUN" (which inspired his nickname), the video car trivia game Mr. Kunz first produced in 1987, in which players compete for auto related prizes donated by supporting Fin Man sponsors. For more information, click on this link: http://groups.msn.com/the-fin-man/seminaragenda.msnw.

Bruce Kunz is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians, the St. Louis Chapter of the Buick Club of America and the Monte Carlo Owners Association of America. He welcomes your comments and suggestions. To e-mail him, click here > mailto:the_fin_man@msn.com.
All material copyright 2008.