Finding any Hudson pickup is a rare event, fewer than 3,000 were ever built, but discovering one with a period-correct Super Six engine and twin H carburetors is almost unheard of. This 1947 Hudson pickup, listed here on Facebook Marketplace, was restored by the seller’s father and has been stored indoors for the past 25 years. Finished in brown over black with a manual transmission and a clean title, this survivor is located in the U.S. and offers a remarkably rare chance to own a truly unique postwar truck.
Hudson pickups were never mass-produced in the same way Ford or Chevrolet trucks were, and their passenger car underpinnings give them a sleeker, more streamlined look than most workhorses of the era. This one retains that charm and appears complete, straight, and well preserved despite its long slumber.
Under the hood is where things get really interesting: a 308 cubic inch Super Six engine fitted with Hudson’s famed Twin H-Power dual-carburetor setup. While not original to the 1947 model year, the 308 was Hudson’s performance flagship in the early 1950s, making this truck a sleeper in more ways than one. It hasn’t run in 25 years, but if properly stored, it may require less work than expected to get back on the road.
Inside, the cabin is simple but period-correct, with black vinyl bench seating and a floor-mounted shifter. The dash looks intact, and overall the interior appears complete. Given the long-term indoor storage, the truck shows a surprising amount of preservation and no obvious signs of water or rodent damage.
The body looks solid with no reported significant damage. While there’s certainly some cosmetic aging after decades in storage, this Hudson presents a compelling case for light recommissioning rather than a full restoration. Trucks like this are often hidden away in collections for years, and it’s exciting to see one surface in such honest condition.
Would you bring this Hudson back to driving condition as-is, or go all-in on a refreshed period-correct restoration?
Wire wheels? Wow!
I’m not looking to start a debate here. But quite frankly, I really think that these Hudsons are one of the most beautifully designed pickups of all time. If it was mine, I’d have gone the same route with the Twin H Super Six too. What a cruiser!! This deserves to be on the road.
Sure didn’t see many of these out west back in the day. Cars, yes, but pickups, no. Personally they didn’t appeal to me but my dad really liked them. Of course he liked the car/truck and that’s why he bought a ’59 Ford Ranchero, and later, a couple of El Caminos.
No shortage of power with the 308. For me the 212 would’ve had all I needed but then, I’m not a speed demon with old trucks. If I can cruise at 55 I’m happy.
I think these look good until you get to the back of the cab behind the doors. The side / rear of the cab would look so much better if the top corners of the doors were rounded, and if the side trim continued behind the door around the corner of the cab. I assume they did it the way they did to be able to use passenger car doors and trim and not have extra cost for producing truck-specific parts. But the result looks like someone just sawed a car in half and welded on the back part of an ill-fitting cab from another brand vehicle.
Just my opinion!
You’re absolutely right about the cab design. But what is the pipe sticking out of the side of the bed? A drain?
Looks like a spare tire mount.
It’s the spare tire mount!
A fellow that lived near our former Middle West farm had a ’46 with Twin H-Power under the hood, a retrofit like this one. His truck was black, and he said he drove it frequently. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1946-hudson-pickup-with-a-surprise/
Great article. Apparently Hudson was doing the box in the coupe trunk, too.
Back in the 50’s I was but a whipper snapper and often visited my cousin who’s dad ran a wrecking yard. He had it organized by brand and in one row was all Hudson’s. I remember looking at them and saying to my cousin those are some strange looking cars. He quickly told me that Hudson’s were way ahead of their time. I didn’t really know what he meant but just shrugged and we went on looking for a certain car to pull a part off of for his dad.
God Bless America
Kind of adds to the whole elCamino-Ranchero-domestic ute debate, although Chevy was shoving boxes into the back of business coupes in the thirties. This is cool and rare so worth preserving. Would make a great shop truck for the visibility alone.
I have loved these ever since the first time I saw one. (It doesn’t hurt that I grew up in a Hudson loving family and have many a Hudson mile under my butt.) I would drive down to MO in a heartbeat if I had the cash and a place to park it without the Nevada sun trying to burn it down. Just a great old hot rodded pick-up. A local Reno exotic car collector has one for his daily driver. I drool everyrineI see Mr. H.driving his.
That pipe sticking out of the box I think(??) may be a spare tire mount???? With very little work, paint the tailgate and add some rear lights, would be a real show stopper. I have seen a couple at ATHS /ATCA National shows. With their rarity probably worth close to whatever the owner is asking??
the pipe sticking out of the side of the bed is the spare tire mount .
back in the early 70s, i was in Wolf Creek, Oregon and a friend who lived there took me to a farm where the owner had six of these sitting in a field—never been back so i doubt they are still there but SHEESH!!!!
Wolf Creek, Oregon. A town with stage coach history. Yet my favorite memory is when my first wife and I were traveling from Tacoma, Washington to Redding, California to get married. Just before we got to the Wolf Creek exit on I-5 she got an itch that needed scratching so I exited and we gave the front seat of our 1955 Oldsmobile a great workout.The marriage lasted less than 7 years but the memories have continued on.
God Bless America
Kelsey-Hayes wires? Looks like a mid-50s Chrysler is missing its shoes!
If you follow the body-side molding line through the bed-box, they look like sway back ol’ horses. Or maybe they were all overloaded at some point?
Naaaaah…
Great pics! And so many of them! For $25K seller needs to do better-
Only four pictures and not sure where this description got its information unless there used to be more.
Hudson, Diamond T and Studebaker made the best looking trucks in the 30s and 40s. I would pick the 1937 Studebaker Coupe Express as the best of a very subjective lot.
I believe the seller is at least $10-$13k optimistic on his truck. Sitting for that long… the usual round of fuel, brake, electrical, tires & cooling system repairs common to vehicles sitting for decades will be in order.
I believe the seller is at least $10-$13k optimistic on his truck. Sitting for that long… the usual round of fuel, brake, electrical, tires & cooling system repairs common to vehicles sitting for decades will be in order.
I believe the seller is at least $10-$13k optimistic on his truck. Sitting for that long… the usual round of fuel, brake, electrical, tires & cooling system repairs common to vehicles sitting for decades will be in order.
I believe the seller is at least $10-$13k optimistic on his truck. Sitting for that long… the usual round of fuel, brake, electrical, tires & cooling system repairs common to vehicles sitting for decades will be in order.
Butcher, I don’t agree with you. These are rare enough and with the upgrades on this truck I believe that the price is about right. I don’t believe that Facebook is the right place to advertise it. It should be on Barnfinds, Ebay or BAT in order to get the correct amount of national exposure. This is not your typical Ford or Chevy truck. You have to drive one of these to appreciate the vehicle. Only time and the proper advertising place will expose its true value.
I respect your opinion Wayne. And you may be right. I’ve owned 6 Hudson pickups over the course of the last 43 years and have watched the market on them for that long. I currently own three 46- 47 Hudson pickups and use one for my daily driver. If the seller gets it in driving condition and advertises it on the platforms you correctly mention, he will of course stand a better chance of getting closer to his asking price. The last Hudson pickup sold on BAT for $22k. It was a modified version with a show and magazine feature history, so perhaps apples and oranges there. But, as is said, there’s an a** for every seat. All the best.
At the time they used car front ends with pick up bed on the back. All they had to do was chop off and close the back of the cab. Wala a pick up truck
This reminds me of the red one with flames that almost got me into trouble. cruising down the road, enjoying the drive at very likely well above 55 in a Lamborghini Islero and I see the Hudson pickup, get distracted and almost blew the stop sign. Later looked at it close and it had a small block.