The official history of automobiles is littered with hundreds of companies once part of the market.  Some were even major players.  Hudson was one of the largest and most innovative American automakers before vanishing from the scene in 1957 following a merger with Nash-Kelvinator to form American Motors.  The company had a proud history of building stellar cars like this 1926 Hudson Super Six for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Hanover, Pennsylvania.  This solid example was one of Hudson’s most successful automobiles due partly to its incredible performance at places such as Pikes Peak and Daytona Beach.  This example runs and drives, but needs some refurbishment before returning to burning up the road.  Is the $8,500 asking price realistic for an older hot rod Hudson needing work?  Thanks again to T.J. for another obscure yet awesome find!

The Hudson Motor Car Company got its start in an unusual way.  At the turn of the century, multiple companies were making automobiles with various degrees of success.  By the time Hudson was established on February 20, 1909, there were a few businessmen who had experience with producing automobiles and a lot of financiers who wanted to make money on this popular new form of transportation.  Roy D. Chapin Sr. was a young man who cut his teeth working for Ransom E. Olds on his automotive ventures.  He enlisted the financial help of Detroit department store owner Joseph L. Hudson and eight other local businessmen.  The company promptly began automobile production and was rewarded with the sale of 4,508 automobiles in its first year.

After a few years of producing economy cars, Hudson took a gamble with its new Super Six line.  Under the hood was a large for the time 288 cubic inch inline-six-cylinder engine developing 76 horsepower.  Bear in mind that this was still the era when most roads were unpaved and only the finest of automobiles boasted brakes at all four wheels.  It was obvious that the performance of this new car was a selling point.  Hudson began showing off what the car could do to gain consumer attention.  A Super Six was driven from San Francisco to New York in a little over five days and then did it all over again after taking an eight-hour break.  The car also set speed records for stock automobiles on the sands of Daytona Beach, made a record-setting run up Pikes Peak, and proved its durability at speed by making a 24-hour run averaging 74.9 MPH.  All of this happened just before the United States entered World War I.

Production of the original Hudson Super Six lasted for an amazing ten years before being updated for the 1927 model year.  The name would live on sporadically in Hudson’s lineup until 1951.  Perhaps the most famous of all the Super Six Hudsons was the 1926 sedan that was cut down and converted into a truck in the movie “The Grapes of Wrath.”  The author of the book, John Steinbeck, specifically mentioned the Super Six in the novel to show that the Joad family was once more affluent and that the economy had thrown them into poverty and desperation.

While the impact and reputation of Hudson’s Super Six helped Steinbeck’s readers understand the plight of the Joad family, modern Americans have no real understanding of these distinguished cars outside of a few automobile historians.  Examples like this 1926 model are just another old car in a want-ad to most.  Yet with this car lies an opportunity to own a twenties car capable of respectable performance and built to last.  The seller has done a lot of work to this car, but it is not quite ready for a long trip.  Among the repairs are rebuilds of the steering box, starter, and carburetor.  The engine was also partially disassembled and cleaned necessitating a new head gasket and a set of exhaust gaskets.  A new gas tank was also installed and the transmission and rear end have been drained and filled with fresh lubricants.

The seller tells us this is a mostly complete car but does not state what might be missing beyond “…a few odds and ends“.  We are also told that the body is rust-free and the interior “…isn’t terrible.”  This is not exactly a ringing endorsement but for a car this old that is perfectly acceptable.  What is great is that it runs and drives after all these years.  After reading about how well this car performs, it would be a treat to take it out on the road.  Stops may need to be planned well in advance though.  Hopefully, this unique Hudson will find a good home soon.  It would be a tragedy for such a vehicle to be forgotten and slide into history like its maker.

Have you ever heard of a Hudson Super Six?  Would you be brave enough to drive it at its advertised speed of 75 MPH?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.