I’m a sucker for Hudson’s “Step Down” styling and engineering of 1949-1954.  These were some of the first American cars to utilize advanced body and chassis manufacturing techniques after the war was over and the effort paid off on the track.  In NASCAR’s early days, the Hudsons were almost utterly unstoppable thanks to their design.  The body and chassis were a semi-single unit and the floor was placed lower than the frame rails, which enabled passengers to “step down” into the interior (hence the phrase).  This saved weight and also lowered the vehicle, improving handling.  When paired up with the later “Twin-H-Power” straight-six engine, the later Hornets were unbeatable on the track in their day, dominating the field in the early Fifties, with 27 of 34 Grand National wins in 1952, 22 of 37 in 1953, and 17 of 37 in 1954.  Three of these Hudsons were up for auction at the Hollywood Car Auction at Amelia Island, and all three of them sold.  The yellow 1949 Commodore convertible sold for $73,000 before buyer’s premium.  The two Hornet sedans up for sale were later models (the burgundy is a 1953 model, while the black one was a ’52).  The black 1952 sedan sold for $62,000 and the burgundy 1953 sedan sold for $87,500.  Enjoy the photos.

 

-Albert S. Davis