1953 Hornet Convertable ??

[dynolou2]

I had a call from a man who is begining a restoration on a 1953 Hornet convert. He would like to know : production figures by serial #,what options were commonly factory installed, what options were dealer installed, what interior colors and materials were available, and any other info you have. With only a published total of 27208 of the Hornet series for 1953 that is not that many cars I wonder how many 53 Converts still exist.. Thank you in advance for your help. Lou Cote :)

[Clutch guy]

I had a call from a man who is begining a restoration on a 1953 Hornet convert. He would like to know : production figures by serial #,what options were commonly factory installed, what options were dealer installed, what interior colors and materials were available, and any other info you have. With only a published total of 27208 of the Hornet series for 1953 that is not that many cars I wonder how many 53 Converts still exist.. Thank you in advance for your help. Lou Cote :)

Dynolou,I restored a '53 Hdtp,and wanted some info also.I found,in leather,that you could get red,blue,and green interior colors,with the dash corresponding accordingly.I called Jack Miller and he had the dealer order card/form with all the options availible and the cost of each upgrade and/or option.This is a really cool sheet.Something else I found was that in '53,the convertible cars were only produced for about 2 months,which basically equals the cars that were pre-ordered from the dealer were built and that was all.The Hdtp. numbers were about 300.I thought the order card was really cool,Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels were 275. painted and 375.chromes.That cost was more than 10% of the price of the car!! Hand-polished leather was 141.,hydro trans,127.,the list goes on and on.This card was very helpful and cool!:D

[russmaas]

Bill A states there is anywhere from 12-18 left
I know there are 4-5 owners in my head that owned one: Bill A, Chris Davis, myself, a Nevada museum? and maybe Larry Kenndy

[russmaas]

Was power steering or power brakes a late option in 53?

Russ

[glens46golden]

Russ, to put power steering on your 53 Hornet, you will need to drill one hole. Glen

[Heart_Of_Texas]

I will attempt to find and post a picture of a 39 Hudson panel that Gus Souza sold to a couple of fellas in the 1980s, formerly a Funeral Home vehicle the new owners stopped in OK City at a Big Country meet. The vehicle more recently was located in the Albany NY area. In additon to this vehicle ... a former member of the HET who was an Air Force Buddy owned two S8 Sedans, one a 48 and other 49. Topping that he stored a 51C8 Hollywood in my garage for a while. Same fella bought Loren Hansen's C6 Hollywood after Loren passed on. One of the more rare vehicles I have seen is a 52 Wasp Convertible.

BTW - Got to ride in the Hemmings 37 Panel Bill A restored, while on a visit to thier Headquarters. Super nice vehicle.

[bill a]

I ALSO OWNED A 52 WASP CONV, AS A MATTER OF FACT IT WAS MY FIRST CONV. I USED IT IN THE LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY SHOW AND LATER SOLD IT TO STEVE MCQUEEN.dsd I GUESS MOST OF MY HUDSONS ARE RARE. AT LEAST WHEN I GET RID OF THEM OR SHOULD SAY, FIND A NEW OWNER LOL BILL A.

[dynolou2]

ClutchGuy, or is it Dr. Doug, where could one obtain one of those salesmans order sheets? ,current owner of car begining his restoration would be very interested in one. Thanks again Lou Cote PS car was purchased from Bill Albright.

[mars55]

This web site will give lots of information on '53 options.

http://www.hudsonterraplane.com/tech/1953/1953DistDeptBulletins.pdf

[Ray]

While visiting local Las Vegas museum a couple of years ago I took a picture standing next to magnificent '53 Hornet convertible; see picture.

Ray

[hudsonkid]

Ray, is that two hudsons behind, as well? (black one, and yellow one behind 53?)

[Ray]

Ray, is that two hudsons behind, as well? (black one, and yellow one behind 53?)

Good Morning Kid,

No Hudson's directly behind '53 Blue Convertible, however museum had black 47 Hudson truck & '51 Commodore respectively. Check following web-site
http://www.sunbeltcars.com for increditable collection of Amercian History classic cars, you can also see better picture's (w/o me) of '53 blue Horrnet. Yesterday I removed front clip from my '51 Horent (see my post in street rods w/pictures) and '51 Commodore & '51 Hornet's (not mine in picture) look identical. Just for your information, the museum entrance is free, however you have to call earlier in the week and have five people go in at one time; I've set up two groups with some friends twice alrerady and probably will visit again this year.

Ray

Correction: After revisiting web-site I see black Commodore year is listed as 1949, however to me it should did like a 1951?

[broyer]

The cover of the January - February Pa. Dutch Chapter's Newsletter is featuring Keith Kerchner's 1953 Hornet convertible.

[hudsonkid]

The cover of the January - February Pa. Dutch Chapter's Newsletter is featuring Keith Kerchner's 1953 Hornet convertible.

you mean this one?

http://www.chiltonpens.com/docsmeet06/docsmeet012.jpg

[broyer]

Yes, Hudsonkid, the picture is Keith's 53 Hornet convertible. It looks as if the picture was taken at Doc's meet. I think your picture is from an earlier year, though. Keith's dad had his 48 Commodore 6 convertible there this year, but I do not remember Keith having his there.

[Clutch guy]

you mean this one?

http://www.chiltonpens.com/docsmeet06/docsmeet012.jpg

I wonder if this car was at a HET meet in Huntington,In.around 1968?.I have a picture in my "Good book"of a '53 and it has no description.It looks to be this color??

[hudsonkid]

I wonder if this car was at a HET meet in Huntington,In.around 1968?.I have a picture in my "Good book"of a '53 and it has no description.It looks to be this color??

Uhhh... what's in the good book? :eek:

[Clutch guy]

Pictures of Hudsons from all over the U.S..My cousin,now deceased,in the 60's used to send to anyone who had a cool Hudson for sale and ask for pictures.He put all these pictures in this book,and then he labeled this book"The Good Book"It has some cool pictures of cars and the asking price of the car.Needless to say,if we only could buy them for that now!!!!!:D

[hudsonkid]

Pictures of Hudsons from all over the U.S..My cousin,now deceased,in the 60's used to send to anyone who had a cool Hudson for sale and ask for pictures.He put all these pictures in this book,and then he labeled this book"The Good Book"It has some cool pictures of cars and the asking price of the car.Needless to say,if we only could buy them for that now!!!!!:D

that would be a great coffee table book to reproduce, in color, just as it is.

[Clutch guy]

I've shown this book to many.Larry Kennedy found 3 of his convertibles in it.Some of the pictures have captions below them.Larry got his 51 Hornet cvt.and called me,asking me to bring the book over,sure enough,picture of his car wearing the same Va.license plate from 1963,and was for sale for $250.xx.Pix of Wayne Wehrle's 54 cv.at the Indy 500 track.I was showing it to Nick Sollon,he was kinda looking thru it and took a double take of a 54 H hdtp.,looked real close at the picture to find it had the same hubcaps as his did when he purchased it,then he spotted the antenna location-THAT'S My Car!!! There are other Hudson pictures in the book from Hudson meets,mostly all middle to late 60's.A picture of Ed Souers,probably from 1966?who hasn't changed much-other than hair,weight,height-still enjoying his Hudsons!!Pix of Jack Miller,Meredith Souers,Laurel Hanson,Gene Davis,Carl Horton,Me,my Dad,my Uncle Bert,and so many others!!:D

[Hanson Motor Co.]

Doug's "good book" included a picture of my 50P brghm taken on the track at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway in the mid 70's. There is a whole lot of Hudson history on those pages.
Between Doug and Larry Kennedy these two can tell you a story about every car in there.
The stories get better the more beer you add too.
Tim

[nick s]

Doug's "good book" included a picture of my 50P brghm taken on the track at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway in the mid 70's. There is a whole lot of Hudson history on those pages.
Between Doug and Larry Kennedy these two can tell you a story about every car in there.
The stories get better the more beer you add too.
Tim
here is a copy of one of the pics from "The Good Book". My 54 in 1965, and I believe parked next to it is the 53 convertible that doug referenced. sometimes it takes 40 years and a couple beers to find those stories.:D

[EssexAdv]

By The Way, PS and PB were not available until 1954

[dynolou2]

Care Taker, had to go back 9 pages, for someone that is not familuar with search methods on this site, I thought this might be easier. Lou Cote

[dave s]

By The Way, PS and PB were not available until 1954

FWIW, I own a 1953 Hornet sedan that has factory power steering that I was told dealer installed when it was new. by the looks of all the grease and road crud on entire frame and p/s, I would guess it to be true.:)

[Dave53-7C]

FWIW, I own a 1953 Hornet sedan that has factory power steering that I was told dealer installed when it was new. by the looks of all the grease and road crud on entire frame and p/s, I would guess it to be true.:)

Small world, so do I. :)

[hudsonkid]

Dave and Dave, perhaps these were left over cars, that had the option put on by the dealers? I got to think that would be an attractive way to sell a 53, when the facelifted 54's came out, add a few new options, I would venture that there are a lot more out there that received the same treatment.

[Browniepetersen]

Nice collection. I'll be down that way in two weeks, where is the collection? Imperial Palace or somewhere else?

[royer]

Nice collection. I'll be down that way in two weeks, where is the collection? Imperial Palace or somewhere else?
http://www.sunbeltcars.com/

It's a private collection owned by the company that owns the local NBC affiliate. From what I understand they will give you a private tour if you can arrange for a group of six to go. I've never been to it, if you want me to try to arrange for us to go when you're here, PM me. I'm sure I could get a few more people here to go.

[Heart_Of_Texas]

There are numerous letters from Hudson to thier dealers that Encourage them to add sales to thier bottom line through customer satisfaction. Some of the suggestions include, providing paint updates, tutone schemes unavailable from the factory, accessory sales, updating the trim and adding options to earlier cars... twin H, wire wheels, power steering etc... the parts book will not list these dealer upgrades to previousl year models. Bill Albright has a dealer owned and updated convertible that boasts trim from several years including a continental kit. So what the two Daves have ... are Hudson at it's best ... customer driven cars.