Hudson Hot Rod

1951 Hudson Hornet

- Originally Modified in 1958
- Stored In 1960 Until 2011
- Restored In 2018
- 1956 308ci Inline 6
- 262 Head
- Mild Cam
- Twin Intake
- Clifford Headers And New Exhaust
- Pink and Black Exterior
- Original White Interior

Featured here is a 1951 Hudson Hornet that is an amazing barn find and a true time capsule of the car culture of the 1950’s. This car was originally modified in 1958 and two years later was put into storage in 1960. Emerging from a 51-year slumber in 2011 this classic cruiser went through a mechanical restoration with meticulous care and attention to preserve this car’s appearance in its as-found condition.

The pink and black two-tone paint is a classic 50’s color combination on this four-door Hudson. The finish is unrestored representing the condition it was in when pulled from storage and preserved. The hand-painted pinstripe throughout the body is a classic touch and compliments the base paint job. The chrome, bumpers, and related trim are all original, showing pitting, and are rich in patina. The trunk compartment is unrestored featuring the original rubber floor mat with the spare tire and jack tools all present. The trunk floor is well preserved, no doubt due to the rubber coating applied 60-some years ago keeping the metal free of any rust-through. The front windshield visor and stainless side-window visors with the driver’s side-mounted searchlight are classic 50’s era owner add-ons. In the case of this Hornet, these subtle touches accentuate the sleek body lines and the lowered stance on this classic.

Opening the doors on this Hudson is like opening a portal to the past that takes you back to a time when dashboards were pieces of art adorned in chrome and ivory. The interior is all original and has simply been cleaned. The original upholstery is present and in good condition, showing some light wear, but no rips or tears. The seat insert fabric and door panels as well as the rear grab rail are great examples of the formal quality of car interiors that was so rich during this time period. The dash cluster has a heavy Art Deco influence with an oversized speedometer and clock framing fuel and temperature gauges and oil and amp indicator lights and plenty of chrome accouterments. The Motorola AM radio is still present and looking at it you can almost hear the classic doo-whoop music coming from the speaker.

Under the hood, the original engine was replaced with a larger 1956 Hudson 308cid inline 6-cylinder with a 262 cylinder head and the powerplant was gone through during the restoration process. Era-correct performance upgrades include a mild camshaft, Hudson dual carburetor intake, and Clifford Performance header that flows into a new exhaust with a glass-packed bullet-style muffler. Power is transferred through a column-shifted 3-speed manual transmission.

Underneath, the frame and underbody are unrestored however, the frame and floorboards are clean with no signs of any rust-through issues. The lowered stance was accomplished using lowering blocks on the rear leaf springs and lowered front springs with new shocks on all four corners. The brakes have been rebuilt including new lines and rubber hoses.

This car is truly amazing in its capturing the car culture of the time and is turn-key ready for cruising to share it with other enthusiasts. Please call if interested or e-mail with specific questions. Thanks for looking.