A sight that is always sad to see is when someone takes a nice looking car and completely takes it apart to restore it without completing the goal. Unfortunately that is the case with this 44,000 mile Hudson. Although disassembled, this Traveler appears to be complete and in very nice original condition. If you are a model builder then this one may be right up your alley. This giant Hudson model kit is priced at $6,500. Check it out here on craigslist out of Watkinsville, Georgia.
With “some assembly required” the seller mentions that all parts and fasteners are “bagged and tagged” to aid in reassembly. Also the seller has detailed photos, and a journal of the disassembly process. Before it was disassembled, this was a running and driving car. There is no mention of time, but it would appear that this Hudson has been apart for a while. It is clear that the majority of the paint is present, with the only visible rust being at the bottom of the fenders in surface rust form. Whatever the desire may have been, thankfully this Hudson still has hope of being a nice survivor once more.
Examining the photos reveals many nice condition parts with no real flaws or issues. The seller has taken a detailed photo of some paint chipping on the body, but this is minimal in concern. Bright and shiny, the chrome bits look great. The actual body paneling looks excellent as well with only minimal signs of surface rust. Not to say that this Hudson is perfect, but it certainly seems like a nice example to preserve. Unfortunately there are no images of the interior components, so worst case scenario the interior needs to be reupholstered. I really appreciate original condition vehicles, and this Hudson looks as if it could be a worthy preservation. Do you think this Hudson should be preserved or restored?
It is unfortunate that some people have the inability to accept things as they are, the Hudson was running and driving.
Nice that things are bagged, tagged and photographed. If you bought this model kit, how could you possibly determine if you have all the parts whether tagged or bagged? How do you know you purchased all the photos?
There can not be that many ’41 Hudson’s about. The USA was not yet at war, but every one else seemed to be active participants.
Man I agree…..especially with cars. I willingly accept many things in lieu of a project ending up like this. Perhaps in was unavoidable.
Sad to see. This could be a good opportunity for someone but there are big risks buying something like this. Who knows what will be missing and his ideas of detailing everything may not be that good. The price seems high as well it would have been worth more left alone.
Whatever possessed this guy to take this Hudson apart? The four pictures that Brian attached show how handsome this car can be. Sheesh, my father taught me, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I never could understand the tear it apart and walk away mentality. Wish someone could explain that one to me.
The guy who disassembled it got sick and died. Family sold the car as is.
Knew someone that completely dismantled a perfect, original TR6 with 24,000 miles. No reason other than to take it apart, and it stayed that way for years. He wouldn’t sell it, and eventually they moved taking the car with them. Wish I knew what became of it.
These cars are not rocket science. With a parts and service manuals anybody with tine, a brain and mechanical aptitude could put this car back together especially most of the parts and the car itself look to be in fairly good condition. As others have mentioned I think the price is a little high though. But it is a fairly rare car.
I once sold a pool table that had served me well. The guy came from a couple hundred miles north of me as the price was right and he wanted a vintage piece. In all earnest I gave him a great deal and we loaded it into his truck, 3/4 inch slate and all. A few months later I came across all of the rail bolts for the thing. Wish he would have called me, but just illustrating that putting together someone else’s teardown rarely goes without trouble.
The car comes with a parts manual, service manual and assembly manual, along with much documentation. There is a cd of the tear down with a parts list all numbered and coordinated.
Spend a day doing inventory. Pretty obvious where doors and fenders mount. Think of the fantastic paint job you could do at this point. This isn’t a dismantled Citroen SM. You can certainly see what you are up against with this fantastic specimen.
Maybe after the car came apart the guy became ill?
Maybe his wife/daughter, parents etc.. is very ill. Life happens to everyone, and no one strips a good working machine in detail like this for the fun of it…. Just saying’.
He got sick and died.
Had a ’40 Hudson just like this. For me the ’41 is the one to get. The OD trans is common as it is 41 and up. The grill is the better looking style.
Have seen plenty of these preserved. Mine was. If I got this one I would restore it. Lots of work and you would be upside down financially. You would also have a car with style that is so easy to drive and smooth.
This would need to be a labor of love & I don’t know how many are still around that passionately love a ’41 Hudson 4-door.
If the seller says that all the parts are there I, for one, would believe it. There is no reason for a seller to lie about the project, or the parts. Sometimes it is best to just take the word of the seller as the truth. Frankly, from what I have seen of the car, and parts, the probability of the seller lying about it is literally nil.
Bob
Its not that I said the seller was lying and I did not imply he was lying.
There is just no guarantee that you can pack up all the baggies and bits & pieces and photos to take to your shop (home).
Also, you cannot guarantee that you the purchaser will manage to get all of it to your shop.
I inventoried the parts before purchase. All there plus extras.
MERCY!! I have a longtime friend who took a # 3 driver (all original, never been restored) 1962 red Corvette apart THAT DID NOT NEED TO BE RESTORED when he was in his twenties, and now he is in his seventies, and the car is still apart!!! He did not intend to restore it, but he is neurotic for details, and some small imperfection bothered him; so he took that part of the car apart. Following this thinking, he dissasembled the entire damn thing!! He is not mechanically inclined; but he does not know this. He has not managed to put any part of it together, and he has not gotten any enjoyment out of this once beautiful machine for the last fortyfive years! He is from “the school for the mechanically declined”!! He still owns it; and he STILL says he is going to put it back together (the ship has sailed!!). (sigh) Clint Eastwood said, just after he outgunned a man who challenged him; “A man’s GOT to know his limitations!”
In reality, all this guy has done is remove the doors, trunk, hood and interior. And, you need to do that anyway for a repaint. He’s left the mechanical bits alone. From this point, a total restoration is called for, but that wouldn’t be too bad for someone that knows Hudsons. Parts for these are plentiful.
Once bought another man’s project, which was much in the condition as this Hudson, which included “all the parts” to put it back together. Never, ever again will I do that. Unless the guy took this apart YESTERDAY (and it’s obvious that’s not the case), there will be missing parts. Guaranteed. And this is not a Mustang my friends, if you’re missing a part for a Hudson you’re going to have a heck of a time finding said part and it will cost you. Having had a 46 Hudson, believe me when I say that.
There is a detailed list of the parts, numbered and bagged, which I used to check the parts against. It is all there, plus extras.