All you need to know about Hudson.
Born: 1909 Nationality: American
The Hudson brand was founded by a consortium of eight Detroit businessmen, led by Roy D Chapin and department store magnate Joseph L Hudson, to build a car that would sell for less than $1,000. By the end of the first production year in 1910, the company was number 17 in production volume among some 300 US car-makers. Among the versions particularly popular was the Model 20 Roadster, powered by a Renault-designed 4-cylinder engine.
Hudson died in 1912 and didn't see his brand become one of the "quality" cars of its time. Chapin, in an earlier venture the founder of the Thomas-Detroit motor company, took over and steered Hudson through the years of the first World War to become the world's largest maker of six- cylinder cars, led by the "Six-Forty", the first light-bodied six in the US.
In 1916 Hudson sold more cars than either Ford or Chevrolet. A companion brand, the Essex, was founded the same year - it was built to a popular price, its closed models only marginally more expensive than open versions. Its various models sold well right through until the Depression years. Significant models during the 1920s included the 1922 Essex coach, and the 6-cylinder Essex Roadster of 1924.
During the early 1930s, Hudson further developed its 6-cylinder and straight-eight engines, and the Essex-Terraplane - which later became the Terraplane brand in its own right. A Hudson-engined Indy car achieved 10th place in the 1931 race.
Despite significant losses during the Depression, Hudson and Terraplane came through the crisis. Aviator Amelia Earhart was one of those who drove a 1933 Terraplane Convertible in the brand's promotion of its product. In 1939, though selling very well, the Terraplane name was dropped. Many believed this was because the main Hudson company felt it was being eclipsed by its subsidiary's success.
Hudson innovated in a number of areas, including a "double automatic" braking system which had a back-up mechanical set-up in case the primary hydraulic system failed. A semi-automatic transmission with button shifts was introduced in 1941. The company also achieved some stylistic successes, especially the 1939 Hudson convertible brougham.
In 1948, the year after the three millionth Hudson had been produced, the company brought out its first new postwar car, with a unitary body construction and a large six-cylinder engine, designed as a low and stylish car with ample interior room. Its Commodore 8 sedan was the flagship of the brand at this time. In 1951, reflecting the new vibrant America, it produced its economy Pacemaker and the large and powerful Hornet sedan. A year later came the Hudson Jet. By this time, Hudson had more than 3,000 sales outlets in some 100 countries.
Reviving an activity of the the early 1930s, Hudson became strongly involved in American motorsport, and dominated road and stock car racing between 1951 and 1954 with a special sports version of its Hornet. But in spite of those successes, the roadgoing Hudsons were becoming perceived as old-fashioned and underpowered against their rivals.
A long-proposed merger with rival independent Nash took place in 1954, forming American Motors. For the next three years, Hudson models were in reality rebadged Nashes, and in 1957, the Hudson name disappeared, along with the Nash brand.
The story of American Motors has been documented in an earlier piece in this series. It shone well through the 1960s, struggled downwards in the 1970s, and was finally bought by Chrysler in 1987.
Best Car: The Hornet of 1951
Worst Car:
None were really bad, just got left behind in the mid-1950s
Weirdest Car: It wasn't their style