How come I find myself liking the pre stepdown cars more....

[hudsonkid]

Okay, most of you know I am true to the stepdowns.... I like hudsons 48-54. Well, with exception to the italia's the hollywoods, and the jets.... I find myself in an odd space. For some reason, I have been reviewing pictures and such, thinking about the calendar project I got sorta in the works, etc... and I find that I have for some reason developed a sort of affliction for the pre stepdown models. I'm starting off slow, but lately, I find that I have been looking at the mod 30's coupes in admiration, checking out the pick ups with a lustful eye, even some of the late 20's cars, the formal touring cars, if you will, I have thought about.

I guess what I'm trying to ask, is did anyone else sort of have this happen? I would have never thought about or considered owning a pre stepdown car, but lately, the thought has crossed my mind.

what gives?

just some ramblings out loud!

Best!
Hudsonkid

[37 CTS]

After owning a 52 Hornet for 22 years, I had enjoyed all a stepdown has to offer, and wanted a Hudson with a different look and feel.
I have always wanted a 20s car as that is to me a antique car.
These Hudsons were the cars that featured inovations and developed HMC into a well respected manufacturer.
My '29 H Victoria is a series custom built car. The Biddle & Smart body has both outstanding style and quality. Those big handbuilt doors glide shut and latch like a bank vault. The car is tight and quiet to ride in.
Driving the older car requires skill with Shifting, Spark advance,
steering and braking. Performing repairs is different too. The older cars are very mechanicial in operation and this requires a different skill set and is a learning experience. Parts aquisition is availble thru sources in the US and Australia.
If I ever own a stepdown again I will want it with Dual sidemounts , running boards, Hood Louvers, wire wheels, and chrome drum headlamps. The look of these items is so cool!
To sum all this is to say the car is enjoyable as it is distinctive from other cars, I get so many more favorable comments from spectators at car shows.
Finally as to driving the 29 Hudson I can feel the heritage of earlier model Hudsons as well as in the 29 I sense something of what was developed later into the StepDowns. A 10 mile drive in my 29 at 45 mph is as good as the Hornet all day at 80mph.

[faustmb]

This is not really new for me. The stepdowns had to grow on me. :) My (very lofty) goal is to own a HET car from 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50's. Lately, I'm most interested in the early 30s models. I may have to concede on owning a 20s model...

[66patrick66]

Almost had myself set up with a '53 Wasp, '56 Super Wasp, '59 Metropolitan, and a '54 Super Jet back in '04. Had two of the four, then the deals fell through on the other two. Would've made a neat shop!

I'm quite happy with my '37, which is the oldest car I've owned.

[Clutch guy]

Hey KID,this is called"Automobile pox"no known cure,only gets worse the older you get!!!!!!!!!!!!:D:eek::cool:

[`Hudsonator]

I have suffered from this phenomenon myself. The stepdown led me to the fold, then I became infected with "pre-stepdownitis". The more I work on my stepdowns, the more impressed I become. This hasn't kept me from looking over my shoulder at the pre-war Hudsons and hearing my heart palpitate.

With the exception of the Hash years and the 46/47 grilles, I can't find a Hudson/Essex I don't like.

I've grown to love the Hudsons from 32-39 the most. Looking at those cars and seeing how they paved the way for the innovative stepdown, I find myself wishing Hudson had been able to continue on. Fantastic cars in any era they were produced.

Mark

[37 Terraplane#2]

Being fortunate enough to at least 3/4 of the way "growing up" with Hudson I've always enjoyed ALL of them. A true leader in the auto feild is what sets them apart. The 2o's-30's-early 4o's era was where there was probably the most diversity in cars, that's what makes them so interesting. After WWII we entered the "match the competion" era, and yet Hudson still remained a leader in ALL ways. That's what makes them ALL enjoyable. Then with all the mergers I myself saw the end comeing. Has to be that way,but high company profits took the drivers seat, inovation got the back seat and was told to be quiet and go along for the ride. The focus shifted from building an outstanding car to building shareholder profit. Witness DENVER SLIM and his coupe for one and what it does for him. The car is a KID in it's prime ,Like an unburdaned teenager, as the cars "grew up " to eventually become the smooth, dependable old man you could always count on of the stepdowns. BUD

[SuperDave]

If anyone is familiar with the driving and rideing qualities(?) of Mopar and Ford products prior to WW2, they are in for a pleasant surprise when they take the first ride or drive in a Hudson of that era. Although i had ridden in a 46 as a child, my memory had faded. As an adult when I got my first chance to drive a low mileage new 42 Hudson, (It's now in Les's garage in Australia) , I was shocked. These were solid quality autos that would rival Cadillac ,Packard and Buick of the same time period. It's no wonder people who have experienced them for the first time are impressed.

[66patrick66]

The ride in my '37 (whose suspension is much better than the '36, BTW - new design), when compared to a '37 Ford or a '37 Chevy Master Deluxe is like night and day - the Ford still had the "buggy springs" and carried those up to '48! the Chevy had those "knee-action" shocks that leaked and were a real PITA. The Hudson/Terraplane suspension was at least ten years ahead of both GM and Ford, design-wise. Even the Cadillac and Buick of '37 didn't ride as nice!

[terraplane8]

The ride in my '37 (whose suspension is much better than the '36, BTW - new design), when compared to a '37 Ford or a '37 Chevy Master Deluxe is like night and day - the Ford still had the "buggy springs" and carried those up to '48! the Chevy had those "knee-action" shocks that leaked and were a real PITA. The Hudson/Terraplane suspension was at least ten years ahead of both GM and Ford, design-wise. Even the Cadillac and Buick of '37 didn't ride as nice!

Patrick I thought the '36 & '37 suspension was the same except that the '37 had a front anti-roll bar added?

[Ol racer]

The secret to the ride was the front axle 'swiveled' in bushings underneath the spring stack. The springs only controlled the ride while the L & R torque Arms were 'positioning' Arms. The 'wrapped' leaf springs were ocassionally lubed to help soften & quiet the ride.

Incidently, the Suspension was named 'Radial Tuned' 30 some yrs before Pontiac introduced Radial Suspension. The Axle & Torque Arms were very strong as I can attest after hitting many objects on the tracks and bending a couple but never breaking anything....

[terraplane8]

The secret to the ride was the front axle 'swiveled' in bushings underneath the spring stack. The springs only controlled the ride while the L & R torque Arms were 'positioning' Arms. The 'wrapped' leaf springs were ocassionally lubed to help soften & quiet the ride.

Incidently, the Suspension was named 'Radial Tuned' 30 some yrs before Pontiac introduced Radial Suspension. The Axle & Torque Arms were very strong as I can attest after hitting many objects on the tracks and bending a couple but never breaking anything....

Did anyone ever retro-fit this front-end to the earlier chassis, eg the Terraplane Eight? They were a huge improvement on the earlier front-end.

[junkcarfann]

The secret to the ride was the front axle 'swiveled' in bushings underneath the spring stack. The springs only controlled the ride while the L & R torque Arms were 'positioning' Arms. The 'wrapped' leaf springs were ocassionally lubed to help soften & quiet the ride.

The axle does indeed swivel in bushings, but is also positioned and held firmly to the springs like other cars. The Hudson 112 had the same front end setup minus the Left and Right torque arms, which would not have worked if the torque arms were necessary for positioning. The factory did that to save money on the cheaper 112.

[terraplane8]

The axle does indeed swivel in bushings, but is also positioned and held firmly to the springs like other cars. The Hudson 112 had the same front end setup minus the Left and Right torque arms, which would not have worked if the torque arms were necessary for positioning. The factory did that to save money on the cheaper 112.

The torque arms were used for positioning the axle instead of the springs. They also took the braking force which is why this type of front-end is anti-dive and very effective in operation in that respect. That is also why both ends of the springs were shackled, as neither end was required to be fixed, ie non-shackled in order to position the axle in-line with the car.

Without torque arms the springs must take the positioning and brake forces and will be subject to twisting and racking which is why the radial control front-end was such an advance as it thoroughly tied down the front axle which otherwise was only located by springy springs.

The torque arm principle was used on later British cars as well even with independent front ends. Two cars I had, a 1947 Lanchester LD10 and various 1954-64 Rover P4's had this torque arm and gave very good anti-dive braking. Anti-dive stops all the weight of the car being thrown onto the front wheels under heavy braking compressing the front springs and unloading the rear wheels with consequent locking up of the rear brakes. This causes skids and loss of control. Hudson being the safety experts would have been onto this.

[akcoop]

even some of the late 20's cars, the formal touring cars, if you will, I have thought about.

I guess what I'm trying to ask, is did anyone else sort of have this happen? I would have never thought about or considered owning a pre stepdown car, but lately, the thought has crossed my mind. Hudsonkid

I got into Hudsons when I was 9. My granddad had a 47 C8, and later we bought a 50 C6, both 4drs. I used to ride by a house that had a 29 Hudson for sale when I was about 12. Man I would have loved to have that car. Last August, I finally got my 29, and I am only 38!

Here is August 2007

http://209.234.75.36/share/1929_Hudson/first_look/firstlook.JPG

Here is February 2008
http://209.234.75.36/share/wp/1929HudsonFrontLeft.JPG

[ESSX28-1]

I got into Hudsons when I was 9. My granddad had a 47 C8, and later we bought a 50 C6, both 4drs. I used to ride by a house that had a 29 Hudson for sale when I was about 12. Man I would have loved to have that car. Last August, I finally got my 29, and I am only 38!

Very nice looking car. I'm impressed with your progress in such a short time!!

[akcoop]

Thanks! All it takes is time and money (and friends who take pity on me and do stuff for free). Unfortunately it is 4 degrees here today in Iowa and I want to take it out and drive it!!!! I have had it out of the garage once to drive up and back down the block. I almost didn't get up my driveway because it was partially ice covered. The entire drive train has been redone, but surprisingly the only externals I had to do was all the chrome (except rear bumper), repaint front fenders and skirt under the radiator. Other than that, it is the same car in the top picture.

Aaron

[37 Terraplane#2]

Very nice, the old cars are not fast but they definately are CLASS. If your considering putting anything other than what's there on the running boards there's a guy on Ebay has some real cheap rubber matting . It has a raised pattern of little squares about 1/4 --3/8 inch each continous all over. I can send you a peice of scrap if you want to see it , and or a pic of mine . I put some on my 37 Terraplane and it looks real nice. Not original but it only cost me about $30 bucks. Just put it on with contact glue and run the wifes rolling pin over it to press it out so it lays down good. BUD

[akcoop]

Thanks, but I am saving my money up for K-Gap's original looking running board covers. I pretty much used up my fun money (and a little more) to get her done. But when I do get some more, I need all the rubber stuff - running board covers and floor mat from K-Gap and new tires from Coker. I am headed to Afghanistan in August for a year, so it will probably be Christmas 2009 before Santa can bring them! : )

Aaron

[37 Terraplane#2]

More power to ya guy. I'm all for keep it original on the old stuff if you can scrape up the bucks. To my dissmay I have to settle for looks good and good enough for me. Watch your backside over there and I really hope we get a President that will give you guys what you need. BUD

[faustmb]

Aaron,

That is a beautiful car. Most guys our age are into Muscle cars (most of my friends are). It's good to see other like me that like the old stuff.

Matt

[hudsonkid]

Wow, I am impressed that the 29 went thru such a transformation so quickly. How much of it is still original? The paint on the car didn't look horrible, could you save anything? That just seems so fast, to have one go from point a to point b so fast.

Looks like you found a terrific survivor, to start with!

[akcoop]

The interior is in good condition. The head liner is ripped in several spots but nothing major. The seats are in good usable condition. There are a couple of wear spots (seat frame by the door), that I now understand why they are worn - I have to be very careful not to hit them when I get in and out. The paint is a 60s paint job. There are plenty of blemishs, but you can see the original paint below and it is a little darker.

The biggest issue was the engine. Full of rust, holes in cylinder 3 and 4, a hole in the tappet chamber, a seized pump shaft, among many other issues. I had a lot of help from talented friends. One, a machinist, cut and pinned a new SS shaft onto the end of the existing one, the other sleeved all 6 cylinders, Karl Hamson from the 16-29 site sent me some pistons, a little shelf worn, but I was able to use two of them. I had the radiator boiled, I cleaned and sealed the gas tank. Ran some new wires, where they had gone bad. Ron Fellows fixed my clutch plate, I had the flywheel and pressure plate done locally. I just kept plugging away, ignoring my family, spent money, blah blah blah.

On the exterior, I painted the fenders and radiator skirt, had all the chrome redone (about $1000), fixed the fins in the radiator shell, and shinned everything else up.

Someday, I might redo the rest of the car, but the interior would have to really deteriorate for me to do that. I love the fact that it is still original. I will take care of it for another 40 years and then pass it on either to my kids or some other Hudson affectionado. I will keep doing little things here and there to keep her going, but I am just going to enjoy her for now. :)