Maybe I should start a new series: Psychedelic Outtakes. This is about the fourth or fifth time my camera has suddenly flipped out on me, but at least it picked a good subject this time. This Hudson Hornet convertible is pretty far out, man, even in unaltered vision. Dig this, but then get ready to crash, and see it in the stark sunlight of reality.
This mildly-customized Hornet is a pretty regular customer at this shop; last fall we took a look at its engine’s innards. But this time, let’s take in some of its gaudy exterior and interior details. The step-down Hudson (full CC here) tends to remembered mostly in its fastback sedan form, which makes the convertible “feel” very different then the sedans. One of the more memorable butts in autodom.
Me thinks Hudson was trying a bit too hard to compensate in the ends of its aging body, that was pretty seriously out of date by 1953 or so. Reminds me of Mae West, in her later years. Is this the Mae West of cars; seductive despite being out of date?
Rhinestones; or the reflective equivalent. How’d you like something like that on the back of your Subaru?
Which end has more chrome, by raw material? And, no, that’s not a “stock” paint scheme, along with the wheels and a few other details.
Now that’s a sight. I can imagine a few reflections driving this with the top down. Ray Bans to the rescue.
Dual-Range Hydra-matic. Yes, that does rather fit the character of this big boat more than a manual. The lack of a Park pawl is a bit disconcerting. When’s the last time you used the parking brake in an automatic?
For those that missed it last time, or can’t ever get enough of a big (308 cubic inch) flathead six, here’s it is, minus one of its air cleaners. It was in for some new motor mounts. Can’t likely order those from J.C. Whintney.
Uh oh; something mighty boxy seems to entering the Hornet’s rear end. I’m Sure Mae would approve.
Beautiful car really no other way to describe it
Wow! this is gorgeous!
Is that a 1964 Chevy convertible on the lift as well?
I’m also digging the yellow,purple roofed business across the street.
PS- first picture begs the question: Where’s Lawrence Jones been lately?
When’s the last time you used the parking brake in an automatic?
Five years ago, on the last drive in my Corvair before I sold it.
And I must say, it took me a few years before I stopped setting the parking brake every time I put an automatic-equipped car into “Park.”
Never could figure out if the lack of a parking pawl was to save money, or if it was a lack of space.
I think it was a space and configuration issue relating to fitting otherwise relatively standard Powerglide bits into a Corvair transaxle. Conversely, a PG Corvair is one of the few automatic cars that can be push started.
I use the parking brake out of habit, auto or manual
Nice Hudson.
I think I’m one of the few people who uses the parking brake with an automatic. The Focus and Mustang have pull up brakes where as the T-bird has a foot pedal. The pull up brakes are easy to use an apply and the T-bird has an automatic parking brake release (vacuum operated).
B, double o, t-y, oh my. (A 90s reference for the gen-xers out there.) Love everything about it.
That’s a great colour combo for that car. Love it!
And I always use the handbrake. Much better than putting strain on a gearbox.
I remember that my aunt’s 55 Oldsmobile had no Park position but Reverse functioned as Park with the engine turned off – so she always yanked the lever into Reverse and shut off the engine when we stopped. Paul, I’ve only been in Eugene once but I remember it as pretty flat so I guess you’re not using the parking brake much? Here in SoCal there are plenty of mountainous and hilly areas where you need to use it; hence, I do so all the time.
The Mae West comparison is perfect for this overdone version of the Hudson. I also like the colors. Back in the 50′s all Hudsons looked so old fashioned in this kid’s eyes. Of course I rarely, if ever, saw a convertible in small town midwest.
Nice to get another look at this convertible. And although it’s not stock, I like the two-toning. Even the Chevy rally wheels look good with the whitewalls.
Oh, and I usually use the parking brake on my automatic wagon. If I don’t set the brake, I usually get visions of it rolling down a hill and over a cliff. Or into the river.
I thought this essay was a continuation of our revisit to 1967! Regardless, in psychedelic visions of Through The Looking Glass or plain old digital, that is just one pretty automobile! Wonderful photographs, Paul! That paint literally glows in the bright sunlight.
I believe the Hornet was a top player in the early days of Nascar. In a sense, this would be akin to looking at a convertible version of a ’69 Hemi RoadRunner.
Wow, that vehicle is awesome! However, driving with the sun in your back and reflecting off all those chrome must have been a real pain.
I remember the first time I looked inside one of these step-down cars and saw that the steering column and shift lever were chromed. I’d never before seen that, even on Caddies, Lincolns, or Packards.
My ’58 Plymouth didn’t have nearly so much chrome on the instrument panel, but I found that the chrome it did have tended to reflect my shirt color.
Where did the Twin-H-Power badge go? AGB
Good noticing. This Hornet was upgraded to twin-H power by this shop, last fall.
Wow, what a car!!!
Yep, nothing else needs to be said really.
The transmission in that Hudson is a GM Hydra-Matic. Somewhere along the way, a few years later than this, a park position was added to the Hydra-Matic. What about other early automatics? Which ones came with park from the get-go? The original engineering objective was to automate the gear changing and clutching/declutching functions. There’s nothing about that which necessarily leads to including a park function.
One of my all time favourite car designs. Bathtub never looked this good, and with a V8-beating smooth six to boot. Enough said.
Wow, I missed this yesterday. Fabulous.
We were talking the other day about the oversized windshield header on the Miata convertible? Well, here is its Grandaddy.
On the parking brake thing, I use mine when I park on hills. I know that the early Torqueflites lacked a Park feature as well. In my 59 Fury, that was standard procedure – push the N button and yank on the brake. The Park lever was not added until the early 1960s. I know it was there by 63, but I’m not sure when it was added. Who needs a parking pawl in the transmission when there is a great big ol’ drum brake on the driveshaft?
I drive a automatic TP Cruiser and set my parking brake every time I park it.
Beautiful car. I like the 2-tone paint, and the wheels fit it nicely.
I use the parking brake in all our vehicles regularly.
I’m a regular parking brake user too.
We had one guy where I worked who always used the parking brake on Moby Dodge, the great white D-150, and this in a completely level shipyard. Unfortunately this was only a reflex action on his part so he didn’t step on it very hard, with the result that the next driver would hop into the truck, fire it up, back away from the building, drop it into drive, and wonder why the truck wouldn’t move. It wasn’t very many miles before that parking brake wore out.
Can’t remember the last time I set the parking brake. Anyhow, that Hudson is beautiful. My town has a huge car show in early August. It’s usually the only one I go to, only as a spectator, not showing any cars. I could never understand people parking their cars at 8 AM and sitting there all day, since the show actually starts at 4 PM. Well, to each his own.
In this years show, a Hudson 2 door of the featured vintage was parked. I distinctly recall the large speedometer and clock on the dash. This car was 2 tone yellowish beige and darker brown, with reddish brown leather (?) seats. Just a great car. What struck me odd was an old picnic basket and a man’s straw boater hat were in the back seat. I’m sure those items were just for show, but it was a unique sight. Most cars contain ball caps, umbrellas, and other modern items. Those antique items sure put a nice finishing touch on a beautiful car. Like being whisked away to 60 years ago.
I would pay extra for a camera with that feature (man). I think the Mae West analogy on the rear end was perfect too. I wouldn’t throw it out of my garage…
Unfortunately, it does it only when it feels like it. And it doesn’t last long.
I use the park brake all the time, as it’s actually braking the wheels. Putting a transmission into Park and hoping it’ll hold isn’t always safe. I was in a Mitsubishi L400 van in a stationary row of vehicles in a supermarket carpark some years ago, and was T-boned by a driverless Mitsubishi Lancer which came down the slope to my right. The Lancer hit just behind my driver’s door (right side being in right-hand-drive NZ), and hit hard enough to twist the B pillar so that the door didn’t latch once I’d opened it. The Lancer had been left in Park at the top of the slope without the park brake on. My L400 was 3 months old, so the insurance company decided to replace the entire right-hand side. No new sides were available, so they had to order one from Mitsubishi. It took 3 months to arrive and be fitted, which was horribly inconvenient and cost the Lancer’s owner plenty. So will I ever leave my car in Park without the park brake on? Not on your life!