- Spirited Ford V-8 competitor
- Daytona speed records in 1933
- Only year of the Terraplane Eight
Please note this lot is titled as a Hudson.
With the Terraplane an unmitigated success in 1932, the Hudson
company went one better for 1933. Using parts on hand�pistons from
the Terraplane Six and crankshaft from the eight-cylinder engine
that Hudson had been building since 1930�the engineers came up with
a lightweight eight of 244 cubic inches. The combination of the
engine in the lightweight Terraplane chassis resulted in a
sprightly car that gave the Ford V-8 a run for its money. A
Terraplane Eight sedan set new records for the standing mile and
kilometer; the flying mile, five miles, and 1.5 km. In June 1933,
Al Miller made history by driving one to the top of New Hampshire's
Mount Washington with the shifter wired into high gear. In Britain
the Terraplane Eight chassis became the basis of Noel Macklin's new
Railton car.
This 1933 Terraplane Eight joined the Merrick Auto Museum
Collection around the turn of the Millennium. The beneficiary of a
1,200-plus-hour restoration, it has a blue body with white
pinstripe and black fenders. A bold chrome grille shell is topped
by an iconic gryphon mascot. The wire-spoke wheels are silver and
have 6.50-17 blackwall tires. The spare is mounted at the rear
under a full steel cover. The upholstery is pleated and buttoned
grey cloth, and the "Quick-Vision" instrument panel pioneered
warning lights for oil pressure and generator. There is a locking
glove box, and the rear seat is furnished with a footrest bar.
Directional signals have been unobtrusively installed for greater
safety in modern traffic.
As spirited as the Terraplane Eight was, it lost out in Hudson's
longer-term plans. For 1934, all Hudson products adopted the
Terraplane lightweight architecture. The small eight was
discontinued and the larger 254-cubic-inch Hudson engine was
restricted to the larger cars. This Terraplane Eight is a lasting
reminder of a brief but interesting moment in time.To view this car
and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM
website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/hf19.
