This sweet-looking 1937 Hudson Terraplane in South El Monte, California boasts a freshened-up Cadillac V8, Mustang II front end, and other trick modifications that make it one unique ride. The Terraplane filled Hudson’s low-budget slot, coming to market cheaper than similar offerings from Ford and Chevrolet. Still the Terraplane was known for its interior room. Thanks to conceptcarz.com for some details. What look like illuminated Pontiac symbols make fine front turn signals, and you can find those Buick-style port holes on eBay. Speaking of eBay, you can cast a bid for this one-of-a-kind custom here on eBay where at least 10 bidders have driven the market value of this Hudson beyond $6000. The seller has lowered the reserve, so your next bid might be within striking distance of making a deal. Can anyone identify those slotted vents covering the bumper strut openings?
The Cragar S/S- style wheels were the coolest rims in the high school parking lot for decades, and suggest this Hudson’s foray into Hot Rod City occurred in the ’70s or ’80s. However the NASCAR-style exhaust outlet looks like more of a ’90s touch.
Dig that green metal-flake steering wheel! Whatever else you change, that baby’s got to stay. The Mustang II front end, a classic swap for this era car, brings modern components and cheap parts to the front suspension. A Mustang II may also have surrendered its gear-shifter for this GM-powered Hudson. Note how the newer fabricated metal shows far more rust than the original steel.
Friends, if you’re going to list a car for sale, please describe if or how well it runs and drives. We’re left to guess on this one. Apparently the nondescript “rebuilt Caddi engine” and three-speed automatic transmission have accumulated fewer than 3000 miles since their refreshing. Was that recently, or in 1975? Inquiring minds want to know. The HEI distributor suggests it’s from 1975 or newer, ergo it packs at least 472 cubic inches of displacement. That will get you to the church on time. Regardless of its state of tune, this mill’s bountiful torque will ignite your tires almost at will. I see an extension cord; maybe it’s a plug-in hybrid!
What look like finned ’59 Cadillac tail lights Frenched into the rear fenders pay tribute to the V8 motor up front. I believe that fender is significantly flattened, but it’s hard to tell with all that lovely rust and multi-colored “patina” on there. The thicker metal on these old cars will laugh at your small hammer and dolly, but you can probably work it out with a beefier hammer and a boatload of patience. What would you change on this hot-rod Hudson before taking it for a spin?
VW strut covers?
1935 Ford horn covers.
I know that there will be a lot of scoffing about the surface rust and such, but I think this is just a great car. I mean, if it were cherried out and covered with perfect metalflake Candy Apple Red paint, it wouldn’t be as cool. I like the crusty wheels, and the fact that it has a Caddy engine just seals it for me. I had a ’71 Fleetwood 75 with of course a 472, and it was decidedly NOT gutless, so this Terraplane should move out smartly. Somebody’s gonna have a lot of fun with this car.
I was thinking it was a great build until I got to the rear fenders.Those taillights don’t fit any other part of the car. New owner better get rolling on rust repair. Would be a shame to lose that chassis.
I love the look,but im pretty sure those welds on some of the front suspension are bad ,not enough hear. Who ever buys iit had better do some serious weld inspection ,you wouldn’t want to be going around a bend at speed and have the front end come out from under you. If one weld is bad it usually means they all are questionable as a good welder would never leave a poor weld when its just as easy to do a proper weld,if you know what your doing. [ x high pressure welder] GREAT CAR THOUGH,ID LOVE IT IF IT WERE CLOSER
When I bought my ’48 Lincoln street rod (with Mustang II front end), I of course inspected the build first and found that the welds, while not ground down to perfection, were done by a talented welder. I knew what bad welds looked like, thanks to a couple of unsuccessful attempts as a teenage kid. My welds looked nothing like those of my dad, a mechanical engineer and backyard tinkerer. I really like the frenched in taillights on this Terraplane and hope they can be salvaged.
Those “Buick-style portholes” are officially called Cruiserline Ventiports.
This must have been some car when it was first customized! Faded now, someone bring it back up to a period-correct standard again!
Utterly fabulous! Yes it needs a huge amount of work, but the Terraplane is such a beautiful base to start with. If only I had the funds and the talent, I’d LOVE to bring this home to the U.K. and let my imagination run wild.
Converting it to RHD would be your first hurdle.
I think it’s a shame to hot rod such a rare car
Dave and Fred are correct about checking the welding, and that would go for the rest of the workmanship, engine install etc. And if they used the original frame you would need to check that out. This is a fabulous car and with the caddy mill it screams traditional hot rodding. Having said that , if the rat rod thing is what he’s after, he hit it. I don’t get the whole rat rod thing, and to me there’s a fine line between a rat rod and a piece of $hit. This one just looks overall sloppy. I’d rip it apart and restore to its original 60’s flavor. AND PAINT IT.
Good luck to the new owner
Stay safe
Cheers
GPC
m.g.
Looks like a couple of vintage motorcycle horn grills down below in front.
60’s MGA FENDER VENT
Well, if you’re gonna keep that metallic green steering wheel, then a nice deep shade of metallic green should cover the car as well. Redo the interior in cream leather with a green or tan brocade covering for the center sections of the seats and carry that theme to the door cards as well. While you’re there, paint the dash metallic green and add some real wood facia for the
gauge cluster and the glove box too. You can do all of the above AFTER you check the frame and welds for structural
integrity. As for rodding this car, it was the thing to do back then especially when you bought an orphan model like this terraplane. To restore one to factory spec 50 years ago would’ve meant that you’d be spending 20 years just gathering
parts and putting everything back together again. Orphan cars
are more prone to be butchered for any usable parts for a “better” more complete version of the same car. So by the time the guy who built this car got hold of it, there probably wasn’t
a whole lot of parts left on it to begin with. In their stock form,
they were good dependable cars that were soundly built. My
Grandad liked ’em so much he bought several before getting a
stepdown Hudson in ’48. After the Hudson plant closed in ’57,
he bought a new ’58 Ford wagon before switching to GM in 1960. Great start for a restomod project though! Stay safe folks!
I used to own this car. Bought it from the guy who built it. Easily a 30 k car today.
I paid 6 k for it. Ram like a bat outta hell.
Sold it to a guy in ca. he obviously did nothing to it nor kept it up. It needs to be left alone cosmetically.