The Hudson Motor Car Company has an interesting history and they produced some interesting cars, like this lower-priced model, a 1950 Hudson Pacemaker. This Peacock Green car is listed on Hemmings with an asking price of $4,500 or offer. It’s located in Granger, Indiana and it hasn’t been started in 5 years but it ran great the last time it was on the road. Let’s check it out.
Did you know that Hudson was started by former Oldsmobile executives? Or that the famous department store owner, J.L. Hudson of Detroit, gave a majority of the startup funds for the fledgling company? However it got its start it soldiered on through two world wars and finally hung up its hat in 1957, not long after the merger with Nash-Kelvinator that created American Motors Corporation in 1954.
When the step down Hudsons debuted in 1948 they were almost like having a custom car right from the factory with a high beltline and low side windows that gave it the look of being chopped. They were about five inches lower than most of the competition. When the lower priced Pacemaker came out in 1950 it had a four-inch shorter wheelbase and was about six inches shorter but it retained the classic look of the bigger cars. This particular Pacemaker looks like it’s in great condition but it isn’t perfect. “Needs brakes and clutch work. Rear end shimmies near 40 mph and the back frame is soft.”
The interior looks like a classic Hudson to me, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mint condition interior in one of these cars for some reason. This one needs work as you can see and the seller has provided a few photos in the Hemmings listing. I’m assuming that the front seat will need to be recovered and the back seat looks pretty good but it’ll need help, too. The seller says that “The best part of this car is that it comes with just about any extra you could imagine, fender skirts, window shades, traffic light finder – even a Hudson kleenex box!”
This pretty tidy looking engine is Hudson’s 232 cubic-inch L-head inline-six which had 112 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. The seller says that it “Hasn’t run in 5 years, but it ran great then.” There is no question that 99% of Barn Finds readers would have this thing humming again in no time. They mention that they “replaced the gas tank about 10 years ago. It comes with boxes of spare parts.” This would really be a nice project for someone for not a lot of money. Have any of you owned a Hudson Pacemaker?
Looks like an honest old Hudson. So could there be a connection between the two issues in terms of the Seller’s description stating “Rear end shimmies near 40 mph and the back frame is soft.”
It sure would be worth looking into, you might be on to something Rough Diamond, I’d also look into a bent rim or a separated cord in one of the rear tires. The frame can be repaired by a good welder fabricator, and that issue would not scare me off. Nice old car I like it.
I’m guessing that it’s a rear tire issue and possibly shocks, the latter may be what the seller mentioned as a ‘soft rear frame’. Mind you, most of us would probably have a soft rear frame at that age… ;-)
Nice buying for someone, methinks…
What is a soft rear frame? Is that the same thing as it is rotted with rust? If you want to sell a car, much less an orphan brand, you best be able to reassure a reader thinking about your car. “Soft rear frame” does not inspire confidence.If its a shimmy cause by bad tires, well say that. I’d love to have a Hudson preferably the big boy with a Twin H . Love the step downs……..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWE5pw4RJg4
What frame? Were these not unibody cars?
There are structural members as part of the unibody structure that are referred to as frame members.
As a Brit, I love reading up on the rarer cars shared on this page that might be unknown outside of the USA, and this is definitely one of those rarities. What a lovely old girl she is too.
Don’t owners realize cars are worth more if the run. I think they tried but it would not start. Sooooo they say it ran 5 years ago. “Ran When Parked “
I’ve spent about 9 weeks in Cuba over the last 8 years and I might have glimpsed one Hudson. I don’t know why. (Tons of Studebakers, Ramblers, at least three Henry J’s even…) This one looks like a great start to a fun & productive project–the Step-Downs are gorgeous cars.
If the rear structure is an easy fix, I would daily drive it in a heartbeat!
If not….. tubbed and narrowed, stock 5.7L hemi/auto swap, then daily drive it!!!
I would definitely pull the flathead. They offer too many problems. Install a good OHC in-line 6, restore interior and … yup…go through it with a fine toothed comb. Them drive it on weekends and to car shows. Yeah! Have some fun. I love these early Hudsons! Never owned one, but sure wanted one.
I have a Pacemaker…Thank God, it’s not a Hudson or I’d be in big trouble. When I die, they can write on my tombstone, “Pacemaker was runn
ing, when buried”
I was gonna say … I’d love to have this, so I could tell the gang down at the Senior Center that I’d just gotten one, then mess with their heads by inviting them outside to see it!
This was a classic case of painting yourself into a corner: the engineering was impeccable, the car handled like none other; Hudson was able to rule the stock-car circuit for a few years with only a flathead six to whip the V8s … but then when the styles changed they were stuck with that massive perimeter frame and small glass area, and no money for a redesign or new tooling, and the market just passed them by.
Now that they’re classics, and popular with a lot of us old car freaks, it’s nice to see them out and about. I sure hope this gets a good home with someone who’ll drive and appreciate it.
A soft fram, shimmy in rear, gears or walking axles, dead springs.
There is Mention of a good frame straightening shop, squared leveled and trued does not come cheap, in fact usuallybody off.
Oh I know, one can cut, beef by welding in a passable manner.
Lots of Hudson people out there, the group range all over states, parts of Canada, Mexico who will help.
Even this lesser¿¿¿¿ model is a worthy candidate for refurbishing as a costly full blown resto above its worth.
Having driven a few Of the stepdown Hudson’s, including this 4 door
model, stock, they are fully capable of being driven on today’s streets and highways.
I want one, but I can’t at this time! I mainly want one because I was born where they were made! They are gorgeous cars, I have always turned my head to look at any Hudson! My sons boss recently purchased one to gi to my grandson because my grandson is named Hudson! My sons boss said that any kid named Hudson has to have the car to go with the name! His boss is very well to do, and restores cars just for a hobby and his own pleasure! Very nice guy!
The “art” of truingerr up a unibody, especially older models, is no easy task and one reason so many crashed ones were crushed.
There is a Javelin that sits pretty today, whose resurrection began by buying it for parts car, in those days wrecking yard business could not sell salvage vehicles with titles, legally that is.
As to getting everything true it now has a tubular frame, front cut in half, with a donor front. Unless one knows their stuff, I just assisted, not a job for shade tree, the next owner may never know difference.
Not my auto.
In photo cannot see details but one should check body for stress cracks as well the frame.
I have seen even framed finds with not true settings.
Also that rear shimmy may be no more than a bent driveline, I once bought and changed a rear end and then the tranny only to find driven out of balance.
Was a nearby T0 era Hudson that spent most of its mileage at Salt lakes and held records off and on as recently as 10 years ago.
The “art” of truing up a unibody, especially older models, is no easy task and one reason so many crashed ones were crushed.
There is a Javelin on city streets that sits pretty today, whose resurrection began by buying it for parts car, in those days wrecking yard business could not sell salvage vehicles with titles, legally that is.
As to getting everything true it now has a tubular frame, front cut in half, with a donor front. Unless one knows their stuff, I just assisted, not a job for shade tree, and the next owner may ever know difference.
Not my auto.
In photo cannot see details but one should check body for stress cracks as well the frame, the body is the frame,
I have seen even framed finds with not true settings.
Also that rear shimmy may be no more than a bent driveline, I once bought and changed a rear end and then the tranny only to find drieline out of balance.
Was a nearby 49-51 era Hudson that spent most of its mileage at Salt lakes and held records off and for over 40 years, was still running as recently as 7 years ago.