I just bought a 1949 Hudson. I believe to be all stock other than it has a 1951 308 twin H power motor in it. It was restored about 20 years ago according to the PO and that's when the motor was swapped in it. I bought it as a cruiser and something to run the family around in but I want to customize it as well. Not wanting to do 350/350 combo or anything like that but I do want to customize the interior and dash, things along that line but I don't want to ruin it's value... I don't know quite what I'm getting at here and I know that custom things are in each his own tastes but am I dumb to use this car to customize? Will it be ruining it's value? What would a mint condition car like this be worth? Would I be better off restoring the interior to stock? I like the car and don't have plans on selling it but if it would be smarter to use something a little more mainstream to customize I might consider it. Anyway sorry about the rambling I hope this makes sense of some sort. I know what I want to ask I just don't know how to ask it.
If you don't want to ruin it's presumed value to a Hudson freak don't do any customizing except maybe lowering and they are pretty low anyhow. Well done well thought out custom mods won't hurt an old cars resale value and that is proven in sales all day long every day not only in the Hamb cl***ifieds but on Ebay, Hotrod hotline and other places that cars get sold. That old addage went out with the drain oil in the 90's. There was a time when modifying a car dropped the resale price but that was in the 50's and 60's when self styled restorers *****ed and moaned any time they saw a custom or hot rod. Also a lot of cars were hacked for modifications then with work that was worse than a lot of the rat rod stuff you see now. You often saw hammer and chisel work to install a sterio in the dash or frames modified with a cutting torch to make room for a bigger engine with no effort to reinforce the frame or even clean up the torch cuts. With that if you have to worry or fret over resale value and you are not in business to modify cars for resale you are in the wrong hobby. It's supposed to be how much you enjoy the vehicle not how much you worry about what you will get out of it if you sell it. If making changes to it gives you pleasure and makes you happy do it, if you are worried about it causing the car to loose resale value don't because you will loose too much sleep over something trivial.
Mr48 your last paragraph gave me clarity. I'm not worried about what I'll get if/when I sell it. I was thinking maybe p***ing it along to someone else that might prefer it be restored and then modifying something more common. Like I said before I really don't know how to put into words what I'm thinking. Maybe I'm overthinking this and just need to enjoy the car and do what I want to it.
As long as your mods are reversable you should be OK on value. The 308 is a desired engine for sure with all its' history at the Beach and NASCAR venues. There are pics here of really nice detailed engine bays that are impressive. The most important thing is that you enjoy the car while you own it and create your own custom mods while keeping the value at what you consider reasonable. The Hudsons are legendary cars with many great attributes.
Many times I have been asked why I didn't restore my '57. The answer is simple, it's my car and I wanted it to reflect my tastes and not be a cooky cutter restored car. There is nothing wrong with restored or original cars mind you, they're just not for me. Your Hudson should make you happy and not be done to make someone else happy! Good Luck, KK
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