This Hudson appears to be an older restoration in really nice condition, at least from a distance. The seller purchased it at the 35th Annual New England Auto Auction in Owls Head, Maine in 2012, apparently for $10,500. He drove his prize 50 miles home and parked it and hasn’t started it since. Perhaps he discovered driving old cars is not much fun for him. Hopefully, he didn’t discover a serious problem like overheating or alarming noises from the engine.
This grand old sedan is for sale here on craigslist in Dresden, Maine for $11,000.Most pictures in the ad are from the auction 5 years ago but the car looks to have survived the nap quite well. It will need the usual mechanical restoration to get it running and driving. If this picture was taken recently, the car was stored quite well.
The interior appears to be in beautiful condition in this picture from the auction 5 years ago.
The interior looks much the same as before it was stored, assuming this is a recent picture. Apparently, no rodents were invited to make their home in this tasty interior.
This picture is from the auction 5 years ago. Hopefully, it’s still in similar condition. If there really are no problems with the engine, one has to wonder why the seller can’t be bothered to get it running. A more current picture might give the buyer reassurance that nothing catastrophic occurred or a clue if there is coolant staining or oil in unexpected places.
One would like to believe that this Hudson is still in this condition and would start and run without issues. If it was running and driving and as nice as the pictures, the price could be reasonable. There are a lot of unknowns about the condition of this Hudson. Even after a close inspection, the buyer should get it running and driving before agreeing to pay top money for it. I hope someone buys and enjoys this car and it doesn’t just sit, neglected.
Oh how I like prewar 2 Hudsons almost as much as Oldsmobiles. Well, not that much. The Hudsons from the 20s were very good looking cars and at least several steps up from a Ford, Chevy or Dodge.
A truly magnificent automobile, but like the dog that chased the bus, if you caught it, what could you do with it? Buy a Ford 250 (or any make) pickup and trailer to bring it to meets? Take it out for ice cream on Sunday afternoon? Just sit and admire it? Watch it decline in value as the years pass, relative to inflation?
Some lace swagged curtains in the rear, a few crystal bud vases with fresh flowers and some period correct clothing and my wife and i, would be out for a Sunday cruise with the picnic basket and blanket in tow ! Very classy sedan !
So this guy buys this car for 10,500, stores it away for 5 years, necessitating a complete mechanical freshening, restoration etc, to the tune of several $1000’s of dollars no doubt… and wants even more money for the privilege?.. with no flexibility and a bitchy attitude to boot… good luck! Enjoy it sitting in your storage area for years to come.
Hmm, driving an old car wasn’t that much fun, you say? Kind of bolsters my thoughts all along. I’d have to think a statement like that would hurt sales, but at least, and most importantly, they’re honest. Fantastic car for 1927. I mean, just look at it. For today? I just don’t know. No air cleaner, red flag. Say what you want, interest is waning for “Full Classics”.
Interest in prewar cars has waned but is coming back with the next generations that aren’t fixed on muscle cars and tri-fives. It just takes one ride to get people’s interest and one drive to get them hooked.
We just need a retro-hipster pre-war movie franchise featuring these cars to supplant the “The Fast And The Furious” generation.
Maybe “The Expeditious And The Vexed.”
Howard, you and David F have voiced sentiments of many of us. After all the years, these vehicles are more fun to look at than actually own and drive. Great for their time, but their time has passed. Have a friend who restored a Model A years ago. Today he rarely takes it out for drives, and when he does, he has to do it at non peak traffic hours.
Geez, do you guys live in Manhattan or what? They had the Northwest Regional Model A club meet right here in Coos Bay a week ago. A hundred and sixty Model A’s, many of them driven in form California and Washington, and tooling all over town. They seemed to be having an awful lot of fun to me. Granted, this ain’t exactly LA, but the point is that the old cars are perfectly drivable, just not on interstate highways.
Hi cyclemikey, don’t get me wrong, if I was behind the wheel of this baby, you’d have to open both front doors, to accommodate the big smile. However, I live in an area with no interstates or divided highways, most all 2 lane ( in at least a 100 mile radius) and people that, for whatever reason, are in a hurry, have very little patience for the car like this putt-puttin’ down the 2 lane in a no-passing zone. As a driver of slow trucks most of my life, I’ve seen some pretty stupid moves by irate drivers that just couldn’t wait to get around me, and quite honestly, in my older age, I feel that way too( even though, I’m in no hurry) Sorry, these cars are just a hazard today. Heck, you may even get a ticket for “impeding traffic”. ( don’t laugh, I’ve seen it) It’s why many of these are trailered to events.
I will assuredly say what I want with all due respect.
Granted, pre-war vehicles were a chore to operate in comparison to what most folks are accustomed to. With modern innovations such as “self park” and “back-up” cameras, the general motoring public has no clue about operating a vintage motor vehicle. Today’s vehicle operates the supposed operator. Vehicles of this type are meant to be preserved for “occasional” use. Who in they’re right mind would choose to grab a cup of coffee and expect to drop it in a cup holder for a commute to work in a vehicle such as this ? (Let alone expect it to start on a damp cool morning at 4 a.m.without a little trial and tribulation).
Of course, it is nothing compared to the average vehicle in anyone’s garage today…and it should not be !
It is automotive ancestry !
Personally, I welcome the challenge of being able to drive older vehicles as well, and comfortably as my ancestors did.
“Complacency is, it’s own downfall”.
I get that most of Us have “paid their dues” when it comes to driving vintage vehicles but….future generations should not be denied the opportunity to experience the challenge of enjoying history. Hence My Daughter restoring a 1935 Ford when My Son’s had no interest.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, with proof !
Awhile back, Hagerty insurance sponsored an employee, as I recall, who attempted to drive a Model A everyday for a year (believe it was captured on a site named: 365 days in an A). It was an interesting endeavor, and certainly allowed one to reflect on how different basic transportation was for our great grandfathers.
King Al, the site is http://www.365daysofa.com/
There’s a guy in our town who drives his beautiful Model-A all year around including in the snow! It’s his “regular” car. He probably doesn’t have to take it on the freeway but here in New England you can get most anywhere without a freeway, it just takes longer. (And is much more enjoyable.)
While not real real old, my ’73 VW Super Beetle is slower than more modern cars too, buts it’s a lot of fun because you have to drive it, it doesn’t drive you. And again, New England is very driveable.
I also have a 49 hp 1300 66 Type 1 which has been a pleasure to restore and drive.
I wonder Howard. Did you a actually drive vehicles of this vintage? I was fortunate to do so.
Hi DG, actually, nothing this old. Oldest was my ’49 Diamond T pickup ( top speed 42 mph) However, if you read my recent post to cyclemikey, I drove plenty of slow trucks for a living, ones that THIS car could pass. All I’m saying, is today, with impatient drivers ( it’s one of the reasons I retired from driving) have little or no patience when it comes to cars like this ( or trucks) ambling down the road. I’ve seen some nasty crashes, where the driver just couldn’t wait to get around the SMV, and paid a hefty price. I love this car, but you can bet, I’d trailer it to the edge of the town where the show was, and putt-putt in.
Howard,
First, let me say thanks for your body of written work, depicting your vehicle related experiences through the years. I have long enjoyed your comments back into your Hemmings posts.
Re: your comments about trailering a car like this to edge of town, then drive it in: I had another friend who did just that with a 20s Buick he had restored. Still, a crazed driver T-boned the trailer. The Buick was wrecked. My friend was greatful he, his wife and kids were safe in the tow vehicle.
Yo Ho….As you know “CCA cars, especially pre WWII, are generally, and I say generally, a bear to drive. It takes skill, dedication and HUGE desire. As the demographic for this pre WWII vehicles shrinks, aka , goes to the garage in the sky , there will be more and more of these up for sale. But hopefully as with everything else future generations will discover them and bring them back from impending oblivion. One can only hope! :)
This may not be fun to drive but the upholstery is beautiful.
Don’t sell yourself short….once behind the wheel, you would have a blast…. :)
Red velour in 1927? I think not.
Maybe it belonged to Mae West?
Brushed velour was widely used in carriage works long before this era, padded with horse hair. Henry VIII wore red velour.
Broadcloth and Mohair yes but red velour not in a 1927 Hudson.
Standard Encyclopedia of American Motors says: ” Claims of 100 mph top speed for the 1927 Hudson were not uncommon and Barney Oldfield drove a 1927 coach for 1,000 miles at a Culver City, CA racetrack at a speed in excess of 76 mph.” Somebody buy this and go run over a Buick. Ha.
Squaring a vintage vehicle away properly after decades of folks Mickey mousing with every aspect of the vrjicle is a daunting and very expensive task to get done corrrctly. Once this is accomplished…ownership is a privilege. And while I also own exotics…..taking MISS SADIE…our for a ride is every bit as appealing to my now than Lambo, Ariel Atom….or Ferraris…..each has its own personalities and virtues…. trust me a properly sorted v8 Caddy of 30s vintage is an astoningly wonderful albiet slow reliable machine. Drive em….dont stow em
Reminds me of a sweater I bought once. Bought it, wore it home, hung it in the closet, never wore it again. Same color, same remorse.
I drove a ’66 Microbus as my primary transportation for two years in the late ’80s. This Hudson would be faster and more comfortable, probably quieter, and while it may take longer to stop, at least it would do it in a straight line. And it’s a lot prettier than my particular Microbus was.
Amen.
I think 11 grand for a car that old in such great shape is a steal. You can pay that much for a very hum drum used car today.
Dresden……..God’s country
I am certainly not knowledgeable about these cars, but I have an abiding suspicion about that roof treatment in the rear. To me, it looks like a 1980s representation of what a classic car was supposed to look like, especially with that fake nonfunctional add-on broughamhardware, padded burgundy vinyl roof and what looks like an extruded aluminum rear window frame. And I too am suspicious of that red velour upholstery. You can certainly tell me I’m full of it, and don’t know what I am talking about, and you’d be right. But, anyway, that’s my untutored suspicion.
I don’t know about the color choices, since these cars were built before color photography. The Brougham was indeed a padded rear roof and if you look at the image at the lower left of this advertisement from 1927, you will see the landau irons:
I think its a very handsome car, especially the artillery wheels and landau irons. Hopefully the pictures are current. The seller could always mount a pole in the back, install a bar and make his money back a dollar at a time…wink, wink…VIP style.
Hmmmm.
Driving a 90+ year old car at about 100 mph would in my humble opinion
( all due respect to Barney Oldfield) NOT be a good idea. In 1927 the steering, suspension and braking designs were rudimentary at best. Also don’t forget , the cars of that era were often metal skins on wood frames. What’s all the hype about high speed? The great thing about old cars is slow driving down country roads and secondary highways.
Well, here’s a 90 year-old vehicle that would have no trouble keeping up with modern traffic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0JlQeCeExs
THAT is living! Thanks Brad.
In my opinion the interior color is hideous.
Yes hideous…a sort of boudoir motif…..not suitable for any car.
Reminds me of a violet Minerva with violet plush interior, that limped and wheased its way onto the concours field (required that it travel under its own power at least 50 feet from its trailer) and WON! 50 cars there by invitation, maybe 100 more not judged except for getting invited for the next year.
I like the interior.
Not original? Don’t care, really. It’s in keeping.
In the 70s, I ran a 34 Lanchester 10hp as my daily driver. 1970-78 to be imprecise. The rod brakes were excellent, the steering was OK, bit wonky.
And at the time the speed was OK. 40mph cruise, or 45mph if I was in a hurry. It topped out at 61mph. On the motorways, no problem. We once drove 550 miles to Scotland in a day.
Now, at 40mph I’d have every truck down my neck. Not much fun.
And of course, no heater no demist, well you can use a potato on the screen to keep it from misting.
The killer for me with cars this age is lack of parts, and increasingly lack of knowledge as that generation moves on.
Currently my daily, not that I drive anything daily, is a 63 Rambler (yes, over here in the UK) and parts are OKish, plus there is a great forum, but many of the posters are older than I am and in another decade that knowledge also will largely be gone.
It is indeed a very different drive, a car of the 20s, and requires skill and . intelligence.
How about if the driving test had to be taken on a car of this age? That would whittle down the dummies on the roads.
I drove a 32 Chevy five window BA Confederate in traffic quite a bit, the only challenge was stopping quickly with mechanical brakes. Got a little toasty in the summertime ;-)
I drive my 34 REO Flying Cloud Coupe a couple times a week. But I’ve upgraded the mechanicals- V8, auto trans, disc brakes, rack & pinion steering. The only trouble I have with it is it’s wide turning radius. It is a head turner whoever I go.
I drove a 1934 DeSoto Airflow as a daily driver in the 1990s. The only problem was using hand signals. I did eventually get tired of double clutching while upshifting, however.