my buddy is interested in a 47 hudson that is for sale local. i am trying to help him out with opinions of general "whats it worth". the seller is asking 3k and admits to not knowing much about cars/mechanics. evidently the clutch is stuck - which from research indicates the cork bits have sealed together from lack of use and will require some sort of lubricant to unfreeze them. says the car is 100% complete and needs a battery (6v) and the clutch issue addressed. no real rot - for new england anyway - other than a small hole in the rear fender drivers side and a bit of rash in the rocker on the drvers side. we are going to look at it on saturday regardless. it's pretty rare around here which has its plusses and minuses. i happen to have my old 225 slant 6 that i have been reading can be swapped if the hudson is bunk. biggest concerns are parts replacement options as we really dont know much about these cars. looks like it may have been chopped a bi but that could be the photo. def a more squared off roof than the other coupe pics i have seen online. 2 door, 3 speed on the column. the cl***ic cars guide rates a #4 car as being about 2750. to be honest id gues sthis is between a 4 and 5 car with the clutch issue and the bits of sheetmetal cancer. also has no ***le - can get around that but it will cost a few hundred. he says its a brougham but i am not sure. i think its a 2 door coupe. attached the only 2 pics i have. can someone let me know if they think 3 is good/low/high? i know some people luck into cars for 4-500 but for the rest of us looking for a solid price on a project what do you think this may warrant? thanks as always for the time - jason
I have a 42. Same as the 47. Few differences. Looking for parts sux. Mine was a total disaster. Had been chopped. BADLY. Had more lead than I could remove. Tone of warped panles etc. I basically need a whole front clip, and I have to build a roof so she will be a carson top instead. She was a 4 door though. Judging from what you are saying, and what I see in the pix, it is worth that. Not many if any missing parts. But the question is, is there a ***le? BTW, not chopped, that's just how cool they are.
It is indeed a brougham, and it is not chopped. That would make a very cool cruiser with a little cleanup...
That is one ugly roof. Chopped 2 inches in the front and maybe 3.5-4 in the back with a nice curve to it and leaned posts it would be a looker though. No ***le, the way the market is, not knowing what all it's going to need... I'd offer ~$2000 at most. I'd say like $1200-$1500 but that might offend the seller, unless he really wants to sell and no one else is biting.
Not a coupe. A two door sedan.. I have a 47 Hudson coupe that I am presently resto-rodding. Stock type exterior. GM powertrain. I paid $1400.00 for mine. Missing one grille bar. The p***enger vent window latch. Frosting edges on gl***. Bad headliner and soft floor. Company in Detroit had floor pans. Many suppliers of gl***/rubber etc. Cork clutch is also available.
i dig the look of that car , what a great old ride , if its as nice as stated id say 2k at least wouldnt be out of the ball park
thank you everyone - the info is very helpful. im not looking to kick the seller in the ribs, just wanted to see what may be considered fair market value. who knows if my bud doesnt want it maybe ill grab it!
Hudson's lineup in 1947, Super Six, Commodore Six, Super Eight, Commodore Eight, in ascending order of costliness. They had about the best road holding ch***is of the time but the engines wouldn't stand up to high speed thanks to their splash lubrication.
$2500 or so is fair if it will turn over and the clutch is the only mechanical issue. I still need to scare up a hood for a '42 short wheelbase coupe.
Anything under $2500 would be a good price to an end-user. I've seen stuck clutches come loose very easily. ***uming such luck, it wouldn't take much to make a gennie driver out of it. Some parts are tough to locate, but Hudsons have a loyal following and once in the network shouldn't be the end of the world. Is it a 6 or an 8? I see it dumped in the back just a wee bit with skirts and a hopped up Hudson 8. Maybe some Caddy Sombreros and some...
its a 6 cyl model. def in contention. i just know his total budget is not in the 6 figures. not even close lol. there is a also a 41 chevy 4 door for less cash that may be an easier platform but it just doesnt have the same "x factor" though it looks quite nice in its own right and parts are much more avail i am told. we'll go see it on sat regardless. my guess is if 1500 -2k can get t done then it will get done. if not thats ok too. no disrespect to the seller intended, he's just trying to make an educated and "sound" car decision.
Definately a Brougham. You might consider checking out the HET (Hudson, Es***, Terraplane) club. Lots of good folks with valuable information. The stuck clutch can usually be freed up by draining the existing clutch lubricant and replacing it with a mixture of Acetone and ATF. Block the clutch pedal down and let it soak for a few days. Then try spinning the engine and pressing and releasing the clutch. Lots of helpful folks on this site http://www.cl***iccar.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&func=showcat&catid=13&Itemid=152. I have 4 46-47s, three of which are parts cars in rough condition. If you need any parts shoot me a line and I will try to help.
awesome - thank you guys!!! i truly appreciate all the help and advice. i have a feeling i may end up with this thing instead of him lol!
When I was a baby our family car was a 1947 Hudson Commodore Eight Drivemaster sedan. The old man drove it hard, commuting from the new Ford plant in Oakville to Rouge Hill at 70 MPH. The engine wore out and in 51 he traded it on a new Chev hardtop. The splash lubrication engine wouldn't stand up to high speeds. On driving the Chev home from work for the first time, he slowed down to 50 on a curve he normally took at 70 and nearly rolled the car. So he took the Chev back to the dealer. The mechanic could not find anything wrong with the steering or suspension so he asked the old man what the problem was. When he told him, the Chev mechanic said you can't expect a Chevy to handle like a Hudson.
Just finished an interior in a 47 coupe. the guy paid $15 bucks for it in 59. the car was complete and running. He`s just now restoring it, he`s 87. he`s had others cars throuhout his life.
I love this story. My dad has put the Hudson bug into me. We now have a 46 Pickup, 46 2 door sedan and a 47 4 door, the pickup and 2 door in restorable condition and the 47 is essentially a parts car. We bought a later model 232 6 with insert bearings that has been rebuilt for $76 off a certain auction site. Look forward to the fine Hudson suspension qualities.