Vehicle Description
The Hudson Hornet is a legend, one ably helped by a certain
animated movie franchise, but before the Hornet, Hudson was
building high-quality luxury cars like this 1948 Hudson Commodore.
Originally powered by a wheezy motor, this Commodore now sports AMC
Straight 6 horsepower mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, a custom
leather interior, and a classic Lead-Sled look. The Commodore was
always one Hudson's most attractive cars back-in-the-day, and with
a couple of choice upgrades, this '48 looks even better today.
Restored a few years back, this car still looks great in its
handsome reddish-maroon paint. Subtle but sophisticated, the
handsome crimson finish accentuates the long, low lines of the
Commodore. Hudson's all-new 1948 models were the first to use "step
down" styling, which really meant they were uni-body cars and
therefore the floors didn't have to sit on top of a frame, and yes,
they really are considerably lower than their competition. As a
result, this cool sedan looks chopped and channeled like a custom
Merc, but retains 100% original and unmodified sheetmetal. That
means the doors fit well, everything seals up nicely, and it
doesn't have any of those custom car hiccups that you often find.
Better still, it remains instantly identifiable at a glance and
anyone who knows what a Hudson is will fall in love. Anyone who
doesn't know what a Hudson is will immediately want to know what it
is. It's that kind of car. Nice chrome, bright stainless trim, and
lots of ornamentation make this car look expensive and we can
promise you'll have the only one at the next cruise-in.
Open the long doors of this 2-door sedan and you'll instantly see
the transformation that took place inside. Leather seating from a
late-model Lincoln was transplanted inside, and thanks to those
high-end hides and expert workmanship, the cabin is all-day
comfortable. Innovative construction means there's a huge amount of
space inside the Commodore's interior, making it a genuine
5-passenger automobile. The supple leather materials are in very
good shape, with custom door panels at the flanks, a big stock
steering wheel at the helm, and a slick Art Deco dash filled with a
combination of original and aftermarket gauges. It feels
contemporary and easy to handle from the driver's seat, especially
with options like powers seats, seatbelts, and a roomy center
console. The carbon-fiber inlay on the dash adds a touch of
modernity inside, as does the 13-ball topped shifter that manages
the 5-speed manual below. There's a ton of space in back with lots
of leg room, and even the trunk is massive enough for a full family
to head out on a road trip.
This Commodore originally carried a smallish 254 cubic inch
straight-8, which was a bit of an inefficient boat anchor if we're
honest, so during the restoration it was upgraded with an AMC 232
cubic inch inline-6, and the difference is remarkable. The "Torque
Command" inline six was considered one of AMC's best modern
six-cylinder engines, running in models all the way into 1979, and
it pumps out plenty of torque and never seems to run out of breath
- which is probably why it was used for so long and beloved by so
many. The block is all-stock, and it's nicely detailed with correct
orange engine enamel, a 2-barrel carburetor with a snorkeled air
cleaner, and a giant radiator up front. It fires easily and really
does run hard, assisted by a 5-speed manual transmission with
overdrive that was swapped in from a Chevrolet S-10, so 60-70 MPH
cruising is fairly effortless. Hudson's combination of ride and
handling was tough to beat and you'll note the heavy-duty subframes
and floors are in very solid shape. The rolling stock sits on
chrome factory wheels wrapped with period-perfect American Classic
whitewall bias-ply tires at all four corners.
Ready to be driven and enjoyed as-is, or taken to the next
Lead-Sled level, this Hudson is an unusual opportunity to own a
special car that we don't see on the market very often. Unique
classics like this never last long. Call today!