The Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit has roots going all the way back to 1909, and in 1954 they merged with Nash-Kelvinator to form American Motors Corporation.  Although AMC re-introduced the Hornet name in 1970, the first generation of this vehicle was originally built by Hudson during the model years of 1951-1954.  If the thought of owning a first-year model of one of these unusual cars interests you, this 1951 Hudson Hornet would definitely be worth taking a look at.  Located in Clarklake, Michigan, it can be seen here on eBay at a current bid of $2,550 with the reserve not yet met.  At the time of this writing, the auction has more than 8 days to go so it’s likely that the price will continue to climb.  Barn Finds wants to give a big thank you to reader Larry D. for the great tip on this one.

So the first thought that entered my mind when I saw this car was that I remembered seeing one of these in a movie as a teenager.  It dawned on me that nightclub owner Porky drove one of these in Porky’s, although his was a 1952 model.  That car can be seen here.  But back to the car at hand, the seller says that it was originally a Western vehicle and it shows, as he states that the only area of rust is a spot behind the front wheel on the passenger side.  The underside is said to be completely free of rust.  Although Hornet’s sat pretty low to start with, designed with a low floorpan, the car being offered here has been lowered an additional 2 inches.

Powering this Hudson is the original engine and transmission, consisting of a 308 cubic inch inline 6 cylinder engine and an automatic transmission.  At 5.0 liters, this was the largest displacement six-cylinder engine that had been used in a mass-produced vehicle at that time.  The original rear axle has been swapped out for a Chrysler 8 3/4 rear end with 2.70 gears, which the seller says gives the car very good cruising speeds.  The car is said to run very well and shift smoothly.

The interior has been redone and has upgraded gauges, although the seller still has the original gauges in case the next owner wants to put them back in, and the original radio and air cleaner are also still in his possession.  The paint is mostly original, and there are areas of pinstriping on the front and back that were added at some point in time.  The car has been driven all over the country and appeared in several magazine articles over the years, including Bonneville Salt Flats issue #272.

This Hornet must look really cool at night, as the taillights have been modified with the classic “blue dot” treatment which makes the color appear more like purple than red, especially when the brakes are applied.  What are your thoughts on this 1951 Hudson Hornet?  Do you think it’s a good candidate for a restoration, or better left as-is and just enjoy driving it?