How desirable is this coupe? (1942 Hudson)

Found this car locally. Love the old coupes, but know NOTHING about Hudsons.

Price is the dreaded "Best Offer". Ad says that the body is rustless, and that the car runs and drives.

What would YOU offer for it?

Chris

 

Its probably fairly rare, but IMO its pretty ugly.

 

They sure ain't desirable or it would already be sold. HRP

 

I did a google search and the first one that came up looks exactly like your pic. The owner was "asking' 8500. Barsteel, I noticed that you live in CT. Seeing as to that your state has very little drivers that should actually be allowed on the road at all, I would advise that you buy something in primer! Best Regards, Rusty

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1947...4047757?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4ac34aee8d

 

5 grand if it runs good.......would make a really cool different and cruiser

 

Old Cars Report Price Guide values for 1942 Hudson Super Six coupe
1. $21,500
2. $15,050
3. $9.680
4. $4,300
5. $2,580
6. $860

I'd say between a #4 and #5 car, so between $2,500 and $4,300

The grille on the green one pictured above looks like a post-war grille, not a '42 grille.

The '42 grille looked like this

http://www.pbase.com/image/110085292

 

I had one just like it until recently. First, it's not sure that it's a '42...I think it's a '46 or '47...unless the grille was changed. The '42 had a somewhat similar grille, but without the deep cove in the middle. Most of the car companies had a big style change in '49. But as with Olds and Cadillac, Hudson changed in '48, so the '47 was the last year for the fat-fendered full-frame Hudsons...from potato to torpedo...lol.

Russco's brief comment pretty much says it in a nutshell. The Hudson is fairly rare and had somewhat unique styling. Some like them, some not so much. So on one hand, they are desireable but only to some folks. The styling grew on me, and I think it's part of what makes them neat. It took me a while to find a buyer though, and I wasn't asking big money.

Aside from the styling question, Hudson was certainly ahead of its time in certain aspects. They had a good independant front suspension with long A-arms. Tube shocks. Mine rode like a dream. Interesting also, is that they had an open driveshaft as opposed to most others that still used the torque tube. The engine is a flathead 212ci inline six. Not powerful, but just fine for cruising, and not too bad on gas. Considering the fairly large engine bay, the open driveshaft and the leaf spring rear suspension, a drivetrain swap is not very hard to do. Only thing is in that regard, is the steering box snout which sticks out pretty far, and would make it basically impossible to install a V8 with a driver side starter. Hudson offered the six or an inline eight cylinder engine, so there's plenty of room to move the radiator forward if needed.

Mine was an extremely comforable car to drive. As I mentioned, good suspension and steering, and nicely padded seats. The Hudson was a little bigger car than some others...kind of like an Olds...fairly roomy. They do have a back seat, and it'd be very comfortable too...except that there's nearly no leg room...more specifically, no foot room due to the enclosed front seat base at the back. To gain foot room for the p***engers, you'd have to move the front seat all the way forward, and that takes leg room away in front. I always thought that cutting out some of the front seat base would allow a little more foot room for p***engers in the back seat.

What's it worth? I sold my basically rust-free Hudson coupe wth no engine or trans for $4,000. A good running and driving car would fetch a bit more of course. I'd say for sure under $10,000. Maybe 6 to 8 grand, depending on the overall condition and your location. You know how it goes...it's worth what someone will pay and how much the owner is willing to take for it.

 

I think it has potential. Common No, Potential Yes. I think a slight tail dragger stance with fender skirts. I am feeling an early 50's custom.

For the Nan Sayers, there was also a time when 4 door were not cool....... Good luck

 

I'm not certain that you could get away with that Hudson in Monroe, Shelton maybe, Derby or Ansonia for sure!
Tough car to do due to low production numbers.
KK

 

More.

The roof is a little "Humpty Dumpty" looking in the rear, and the windshield is not slanted nearly as much as some others...and even the decklid shape is kinda like that...so that ads to the "frumpish" look. But with a little lowering in back, I could see that it'd look a little better. For sure they're not mainstream hot rod fodder...but again, if you wanna be just a little different, then it's a good choice. They have a very deep dash top to bottom, and it's positioned kind of high in relation to the seating height. That, along with the more vertical windshield lends a somewhat different feeling. Again, not bad, just different. I thought it was kind of cool. The dash layout is unique too. The gages aren't round. A long narrow rectangles on both sides. The hood flips forward. I never worried about the hood flying up if I forgot to latch it or when p***ing a semi going the other direction. The latch lever is under the dash. If I did forget, all that would happen is the hood would lift up at the rear a couple of inches. I'd slow down 'til it dropped back down and pull the latch.

One thing I noticed. Some have chopped the tops, but it must've been quite a trick. There's a character line that goes around the window frames that goes from wide to narrow. It's not just a smooth surface. So when chopping the door frames, you'd have to not only deal with the difference in width of the window frame itself, but also that character line.

 

Friend of mine built one, standard street rod stuff, 350/350, Nova clip and rear. Really top notch paint and upholstery.Great running, drive anywhere car. Only problem was it took about three years to sell it and that was at a bargain ba*****t price


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

Also...

Looking from the front or rear, the side windows have very little slant to them. They're nearly vertical. It makes for a fairly wide roof. But again, that's one of the stying elements that makes it unique.

 

That guy should give you 5 grand to get that ugly sum***** out of his driveway!

 

One thing about the original engine. The 212 has a small hole near the top of the pistons, right under the rings, and the they are prone to breaking there. Ask me how I know. That's why I stopped driving mine and partly why I ended up selling it. Bummed me right out. I was gonna do a drivetrain swap, but couldn't make it happen due to lack of $ lately. I wish I hadn't had to let it go. But...I'll get others when I'm in better financial shape.

 

Now now. Not even a laughy face?

 

I wouldn't offer much, the body work looks awfully lumpy, like window screen and bondo type, go over it with a magnet before offering anything, if the panels are ****, can you fab replacements yourself or find patch panels for this car? Lowered with a chop(that sound difficult due to the body line) fix the upper rear window, its a mismatch to the door window and looks funny, pancake the hood, it would look better. Like others have said, you probably won't recover the $ you have into it if you need to sell so be sure you like it

 

Sorry ricky, that is one homely car!

 

Normally I like most coupes, but not that one. Eye appeal has a lot to do with value, and I bet most people wouldn't find the Hudson coupe very attractive.

 

I really dig the "odd" cars and makes....It has lots of potential for a very cool custom.

Chop the roof add some skirts and some dummy spots......bam!
Pete-

 

Old enough to be rare. Rare enough to be an oddity. Odd looking enough to be unfavored. Driving anything over 50 years old is still cool. I just wouldn't pay a premium to do so. I would pay about $2,200-$2,500 but there is probably someone out there that would pay twice that.

 

I have one waiting for my present project Studebaker completion.

I bought it for $1600.00, needs paint, clutch chatters. Minor door damage (mail box hit/s****e?). Mine is a 47 business coupe, no rear seat, stationary side windows. I enjoy non belly ****on cars.. Love the forward tilt hood and tall dash.

 

I was trying to be nice in my first post, but I agree that is one ugly car.

 

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder.

 

And beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder!

 

Car has a 1947 Grille----

Check out the Hudson forums:

http://www.cl***iccar.com/forum/

Lots of Hudson information.

 

don't do it ---most people are not looking for anything so odd and you will end up eating a lot of the cost when you go to sell...

 

"For the Nan Sayers, there was also a time when 4 door were not cool....... Good luck"


THAT TIME IS THE PRESENT...

 

Puts the ug in ugly. Rare doesn't equal valuable.

 

It does not matter if it is desirable to US!...if you are unsure about it.....p***!
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