1952 Hudson Commodore 8 Hollywood Hardtop Coupe
On loan from: Charles Harris, Springfield, NE and Mark Harris, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Original cost: $3,000.00 – $3,095.00
Number made: 190 built with this body and engine combination
Engine, etc.: 254 cu. in.; 128 hp S-Commodore Eight; 123 in. wheelbase; 3,660 lbs.
This car has extensive options including radio, hydromatic transmission, heater, windshield washers, turn signals, tinted windshield, exhaust deflector, and white wall tires with ½ set wire wheels.
The Hudson Motor Car Company began in 1909 and produced cars until 1957. It was created by Howard Coffin, George W. Dunham, and Roy E. Chapin. Based in Detroit, Michigan, its most successful year was 1929 when it sold over 300,000 cars.
During World War II, Hudson produced naval engines and aircraft parts. Hudson was plagued by a problem common to all independent car makers after the war: not enough money to make adequate changes to keep buyers interested. The result was fewer sales and even less money for new products.
However, entering the 1950s Hudson was in excellent shape, selling over 120,000 Step-Downs for the first model year. The new low-priced Pacemaker with a 232 Super Six was a hit with over 39,000 orders. Though it had only 112 hp, its performance was equal to the top-line Nash Ambassador and well ahead of most similarly priced rivals.
Hudson introduced the powerful six-cylinder Hornet in 1951. By 1952, it proved nearly invincible on the stock car racing circuit. Unfortunately, this did not translate to sales in the show room. The company tried to increase sales by adding other series and doing facelifts with more trim and larger windows. The Pacemaker and both the six- and eight-cylinder Commodores disappeared in 1953.
Production kept falling, from 93,000 in 1951 to 45,000 in 1953. Military contracts due to the Korean War brought Hudson a $8.3 million profit in 1952. But that was more than wiped out by the huge $10.4 million loss in 1953.
Hudson merged with Nash Motors in 1954 and became known as American Motors. The Hudson brand ceased to exist after 1957.
Sources: http://classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=4930&year=1952&model=26884
http://www.howstuffworks.com/hudson-cars4.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Commodore
http://uniquecarsandparts.com/lost_marques_hudson.htm (Company history)
See also: http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Hudson/1952_Hudson/1952_Hudson_Brochure/dirindex.html (Original 1952 Hudson brochure, all models)
