Check the oil pressure in that Caddy 429. The weak link is the front cover/oil pump housing. If it’s worn out you’ll play hell finding another one (I got lucky and found one, but I doubt it’ll happen again). Otherwise it’s a great motor.
Nobody else has said so, so I'll point out that 2-door stepdowns are much more valuable than the more common 4-doors. So it has that going for it. On the other hand, it seems like Hudson fans will pay more for a Hudson-powered car (even if hot-rodded and modified) than they will for one with a V8. I personally like it, but it would come down to how good the work is, and how much rust is in it. Check the perimeter frame that runs behind the rocker panels and rear of the car very carefully. These cars are good and strong but they will rust badly in certain places. My gut feeling is that it would not be a good trade.
thats a pretty cool bike. minus the screen I would ride that and forget the Hudson until a better one comes up. Check the rear as thats where they tend to rot out first. Being a uni-body means those repairs can add up. Check the cady over and give it a burn out test if it looks good. Personally I prefer the four door Hudsons more than the two door hudsons with a stock unchopped roof line. Try the HET club/forums - heap of die hard Hudson guys but just keep in mind they mostly like em original.
You need to always make a pro/con list wether mental or written. Look car over closely and figure the amount of work and cash you may need for any repairs or improvements. That should be for any deal. Do not let nostalgia, coolness or desire fog your gl***es .
Sell the bike, find another Hudson.. You will easily spend another 2-3K to fix hidden issues. If you are in love with car, then trade but don't come back telling us you dun F'D up. Do a reach for other Hudsons and see what compares.
I asked for advise here a while back so I feel like I can offer some now. I'd say if you want the car, more than you do the bike, do it but..............get some boot also so you can get rid of the flames with some new paint and issues you don't see now. Someone said the bike is worth more than the car and with that I agree. Oh, those bumper guard? Leave 'em on they add much to the car.
Even if you sand the flames off you may see them in your next paint job. I know from personal experience that that design work I.E. lettering , panel painting, Pinstriper, and flames will show up after they are sanded flat off and repainted. Try sanding a small piece of metal that has two colors on it one on top of the other and you usually will find faint traces al the way to bare metal. Just check before you spend money repainting it only to still see the flames still in it from different angles. On the positive side I always thought every one took Mercurys and tried to make them look like Hudsons, I have a 53 Hudson Coupe and love it. Frank
I own a 1941 Hudson (fat fendered four door) and my over the back fence neighbor has two step downs. The ******** Hudson owners out there hate modified (i.e. V-8, street-rodded) so that'll impact future resale. Personally I'm a hot rodder so that doesn't bother me... However, there is no way I'd trade that Indian for that Hudson... The Hudson would be worth more if it had the 308 cubic in flat head straight six with dual carbs... in excellent condition could be worth maybe $12 to $15k. My favorite step down is the two-door Brougham, has a shorter trunk and more of a fast back than the coupe. They all look cool, even the 4 doors... no need to chop, factory lead sled!
Why in the world would someone put a Holley on that thing? They came with 4GC's..a great carb, or Q-jets. Even better. Just curious.
That's a short wheel base Wasp. Curious how they stuffed the engine in there. Is the firewall cut? There are better long wheelbase Hudsons for the price. Customs are hard to sell for the money spent, not a lot of people agree on " just right"
That particular Hudson is not worth trading for your beautiful, painted, well mainted, low mileage Indian. Hudson is at the point where it needs a thorough rebuild. Plus the trunk doesn't fit. Wonder what else is wrong with it? Skip that Hudson even if a trade was not involved. Better ones out there.
It looks like its sitting on a GM frame clip, theres a lot to like about that car, if you go to a cars and coffee or even a car show you are unlikely to see another.
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