I have seen some very competent individuals here who can create good ideas on photoshop. I have always thought my Hudson needed a better more detailed look around the grille. My thoughts were two larger bullets,one at each end maybe in 4-6 inches from grille opening and perhaps above the grille some smaller bullets or even chrome buttons/door pulls. Any ideas appreciated.
I didn't see this, or your Roadster at Cooly, I would have said hi. If you jump on the Photoshop thread, https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...otoshop-threads.300531/page-728#post-12581991 One of the experts will help.
I think its a great looking car too man! But I fully understand the need to change things up after a while (I've been married 3 times)!!! So, I had a few minutes this morning over coffee and fired up the ol VonZemo virtual dream machine (Photoshop) and plugged in your data. And Whammo! Heres a few "mild to wild" images that emerged from the fog. I hope you see something that you like and if you have any other ideas or suggestions I would be happy to work them up. Later brother. VonZemo Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3
I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's particularly sensitive foreskin....... but what jangles sour the most for me is the way the bar on the original wraps like a doubled bumper. It just catches my eye like a big ol' second chin on a fat man. Vonzemo worked up some nice suggestions...... "nice" mostly for eliminating the second bumper. Don't get me wrong, though. That is a show stopper of a car! If you do nothing, it's still a great car. We're splitting some very fine hairs here. .
Thanks for that work. Gives me room for thought. I was thinking more subtle smaller bullets than those you have shown so that they don't over crowd the opening. I think The Shift Wizard got it right saying it looked like a second bumper. Just after 13 years I thought maybe it was time for a change.
I really like the current grille bar. It softens the visual impact of the bumper a lot. The two are pretty complimentary of each other. Maybe try a very thin floating bar above an below the current grille bar, let the floating bars end a couple inches from the edge of opening. Maybe tuck the bumper in a little closer to the body, especially on the ends where it wraps around the corner.
Its at times like this I always think of the Auto Designers because this is when we get to walk in their shoes for a bit and it is a serious challenge...Fantastic reworks All and great suggestions well worth pondering too.
Just adding to Hudson Customization options. The top concept is based on a project my buddy did on his Black 57 Chev with 57 Buick grille addition...He ran blacked grille surround and we felt there was to much black...when he went to chrome it looked better... So I tried it on 48's and one of the things of beauty in his Custom is the simplicity that is why I just went with the modded floating original grille bar... The lower concept is based on @ken bogren's thoughts minus the bumper mod and move closer to the body. Note the top concept does have his suggested bumper mod and move.
This one has me thinking. I like the end pieces and they could actually be the parking/indicators. Not a fan of teeth like that but maybe some small bullets above the remains of the center grille or just a couple of bullets fixed to the grille a bit inward of the end ones(that could be lights). Thanks to everyone for input.
Hey Paul, Glad to see that you are back home safe and sound. Your trip must have been a real "bucket list buster". What great idea and ride through the states. Your car sure looks great as it is.....we sometimes get a little bored with our everyday look at our cars...forgetting the original effect that they have on first time viewers. Everywhere you took your car on your trip people were amazed at the clean build and beautiful paint....let it be
Hey guys, I had to revisit this thread because I had one more idea that I wanted to throw out. Everyone seems to agree that this car is totally bad ass pretty much as is. Personally I love the linear design cues it has and even though you seem to have a strong interest in adding the bullets and door pulls, in my opinion those (round) elements go against the current design flow and as you can see by the images that have been posted, will really create some major contrast to the face of the car. Not that there's anything wrong with that, especially if its what your going for. But again for me, I would definitely consider doing something less drastic and more in line with the current package. I have to agree with the Shift Wizard that the grille bar extending out from the grille opening is the one element that if any, could be improved upon. So with that in mind I gave it another go and here's one more look at something you might like to try. I think Stogy's ideas are cool too and reflect this same thinking. But as always, this is your car man, so the best advice that can ever be given is to do what pleases you, irrespective of what everyone else says. Hopefully the photo manips we have offered have given you enough food for thought and will help you make a decision your happy with. VonZemo
Hudson I am with the how do you fix something that works so well already crowd. Your vision was spot on already. We also have not hit the nail on the head yet. Perhaps I will try a couple more with rounded features as you were envisioning...I could get fired for not listening......so yeah its a challenge for you and us...I like a challenge and it's good to have team mates...
I think this car doesn't really need anything. If anything, the wide thin grille bar pulls the eye out to the edges of the car too quickly, and then because the grille bar doesn't line up with the side trim, it kinda stalls out at the wheel arches. VonZemo's last manip is perfect; floating the grille bar helps pull focus towards the center and reduces the conflict between the side trim and wrap-around grille bar corners. I tried adding some teeth...small, not too tall, and set back into the shadows so they pull some focus towards the center of the car, but not TOO much. Also tried adding some satin ribs to the existing grille bar to stop the eye from getting pulled out to the corners of the car immediately.
It takes guts to take a finished artwork and revisit it and modify it for whatever reason. What I have seen here on the Hamb is change being pulled off in a positive way...some not so but more yay than nay...Husdon has thought long about this and he'll know when and if to make those changes. One must be careful to not lose the Hudson that is the base of this custom.
I am with the Keep It Simple and Less is More idea. That grille bar was innovative in that it is actually chrome plated fibreglass!! It is losing its shine and the guy who did it 13 years ago is now dead. So Lindsay from LDI Kustoms (Lindsay Did It) sent me a photo of a Pontiac grille and bullets he has. And that idea, similiar to Von Zemo's ideas above is starting to appeal to me. I would like to keep the area under the headlights clean ie no parkers etc here and incorporate the parkers in the headlight and have some separate indicators, somewhere maybe in the grille area but small and unobtrusive. Von Zemo could you please do this one for me.
Here ya go, with the LDI set up, straightened and re-chromed. Notice side markers at the end of the trim and the front parkers would be in the new headlamps. I'm figuring the turn indicators could be in the back of the grille. This looks pretty sweet !
WOW!!! I think that has nailed it. Maybe the photo shopping has the bullets a bit big but the general idea is there. I love it. Thanks Vonzemo much appreciated. Not sure what you mean side markers at end of trim. Maybe my old eyes are having trouble seeing that.
@hudson48 that grille bar you are going to use is very fortunate as it looks as if it was ready for supplying next years metal required for new vehicle production......nothing a little love won't cure...exciting changes are in the wind...
Thanks guys and Stogy your so right about the luck of that grille ! How cool is it though that Lindsay happened along with this stuff ! Hey only on the H.A.M.B. folks. Sorry to hear about the true state of the chromed fiberglass which now gives more reasoning for your wanting to bring about the change. I have to admit, the more I look at this possible grille design, the more I dig it. I think your vision on this is spot on man and is inevitably going to make this beautiful machine even more appealing. Well I hate to say it but it looks like the easy part is done. Now its time for the real craftsmen to turn this illusion into reality, if you do in fact decide to go this route. I encourage you to keep us posted on the progress, it will be interesting to see how close the end result is to what we envisioned here.
Most all of the options look good but I think the only change that appeals to me is spex's first option. The wrap around is what makes it special. Without it, it looks like another Merc or 53-4 Chevy with a grille bar/bullets. Just my opinion.
Lindsay said that this is actually a "beauty bar" from a 1955 Pontiac. It was an accessory item that went between the front bumper bar overriders in front of the main grille.
I was thinking about the early days of customs and from what I have read owners were constantly revisiting their cars and making changes. The car has been finished 13 years now and what prompted this was that the existing grille bar is not going to last. As mentioned earlier it is actually chrome plated fibre glass that is losing its finish. The scrolls and pin striping in the middle is actually covering up some bubbling and other defects in the bar. So why not a change as a lot of customs have evolved over the years.
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