History 50s built sport custom

info on old custom. I found this old girl in South Carolina and have info that it was built in California in 1951 and driven in1960 to Orlando Florida, in 1964 had a interior fire and was never repaired. I don't know how it got to SC . It started life as a 41 Hudson and has a Chevrolet automatic with a closed drive shaft, engine is missing, the hood tilts to the front and it has a small trunk. The workmanship on this thing is top quality .Just wondered if any body has ever seen pics of it or has any info about who built it or who it was built for.

Thanks,
Mason

 

pics of the car as found.

 

That car has a lotta potential to be so cool !!!

 

You might find this interesting, Mason.

In 1952, Trend Magazine's 'How to Restyle Your Car' had an article showing the conversion of a Hudson 4-door sedan into a sports custom. The roof was brought down to make the deck of the car.
I remembered it for the trunk access through the former back window.

The car was owned by Charles Martz, of Aurora, Missouri.

 

Thanks for the info. I already thought that it was a rear window opening for the trunk but the lid looks factory made. This old car has seen better days but I thought it a shame just to let it rust away and as I stated the workmanship is very nice especially when you consider what they had to work with at the time . It has very little lead it's mostly just metal finished. Another bit of info it has a Columbia rear and a straight axle.

Thanks,
Mason

 

That thing is awesome!

Would be cool to restore it back to how it was in 1951 (or could have been, if you dont know exactly what it looked like)

 

I'd bet money that it surely is a roof for a deck, and that it is a rear window opening.

I don't doubt you think the lid is factory, because some cars had a spare tire door like that. see pic below.. But if you look at the very poor upper corner fit of your lid, you can tell these never were fit together at any car factory.

 

Bingo! We have a winner!
There were quite a few of these Martz customs done in the 50's. Probably not done by Martz, but along the lines of the instructions given for this type of customization. I have heard that quite a few have been done from Hudsons, and even one that is currently undergoing a restoration by a friend in PA (it was made from a 1939 Hudson convertible).

 

That deck lid opening looks familiar...





Very cool save. Hope you have some time and patience.

 

That's a great find. It seems like quite a few sports customs have surfaced lately.

 

Most of the sport customs don't have doors that open , this one does and also has a channel for the windshield and a hydraulic antenna. Also 41 Hudsons look to have independent front suspension this one has a axle-looks to be ford with Lincoln brakes . Just thought it was cool , it needs to be restored but I have enough projects already.

Mason

 

thats a start to something awesome, good find!

 

I too have a martz roadster a 1939 morel 92 hudson that is now well on it's way to be back on the road i'm working with a late june 2014 dead line i pm'ed you with contact info

 

A little more info...

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/...hudson-roadsters-mustve-been-quite-the-craze/