Hudson Durango

[Swampy Meadows]

If you ever wondered what happens when you cross a Hudson with a Dodge Durango, here is your answer:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___1949-Hudson-Commodore-Hot-Rod-Rat-Custom-2006-Durango_W0QQitemZ280294987462QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20Tr ucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?ha sh=item280294987462&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[Hugh's_Hornet]

Somebody went to a lot of effort to completely hose up a decent Hudson. I can see putting the Durango drivetrain in it (not that I would do it), but why go to all that trouble to wind up with a very poorly fitting frame under the car? :confused:

[hudsontech]

As the man says "Only in Texas..................!!!!

Altho I did see once a 1947 Buick on an International 4x4 chassis and drive train - pretty neat deal.

And there was Pat & Terry Meirs 1937 Terraplane, also, as I recall, a 4x4 International chassis (they bought it that way)

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

[hudsoncustom]

wow. That's got to be the ugliest Hudson I've ever seen. wow.

[51hornetA]

Take a look at how much of the drivers windshield is blocked by that dash.

[Aaron D. IL]

The whole body design was meant to look low and sleek. That was the point. Doesn't quite work as a 4X4 truck.. Looks like the Hudson fell from 80 stories onto the Durango.

[denverslim]

Wow!
Now I wonder what the result would be of a buffalo matin' a giraffe.:p

[Ron P]

Wow!
Now I wonder what the result would be of a buffalo matin' a giraffe.:p

A Neckuffalo ?

[46HudsonPU]

Sort of answers the question about how to put 2lbs of s... in a 1lb sack.

[nhp1127]

Yet another reason HET does not allow judging....

[Dave53-7C]

Can you say Derange-O? How about Hudrango or Durangson? He could have taken it a step (down) further and added Super Electric Hand Hydra-Matic Vacuumotive Drivemaster with Overdrive.

[stateline]

I cant believe the Mad Max road warrior front bumper . a guy around here did a simular deal - put a 55 Dodge PU cab on a Durango chassis using the Durango fire wall and dash . At least the guy here didnt butcher a Hudson !

[Jimalberta]

what a friggin abortion

[66patrick66]

That dash actually looks like it fits pretty well in that Hudson! Think outside the box, guys! Who knows what that Hudson looked like underneath - it may have been a rusty, crusty unibody hell under there! It is in Harlingen, Texas - just a couple miles from Mexico and on the sunny Gulf Coast!

First off, the guy used a four-door, and one more Hudson rolls down the road under its own power and not on a hauler, right? Second, it's on a 4x2 chassis, not a 4x4, so it's not a "monster" Hudson. Third, it has a modern drivetrain that you really CAN drive anywhere and not have to carry a trunk full of spares with!

One thing I'm not sure about is the height of the front seats. The dash? How many chopped cars have a similar problem? All of them, I'd guess. This guy has a similar problem with the Dakota/Durango dash and an un-chopped Hudson...big deal!

Now, the front bumper, OTOH...icky.

Such negativity...'tis the season, gang! Whatever happened to individuality? I think it's a pretty unique and workable way of modding a Hudson that might not hit the road, otherwise.

No, it's not mine. Would I own it? Why not! If I did not have my Plymouth wagon project going right now, I'd bid on this and drive it to Detroit for the 100-year Hudson meet, just to watch the jaws drop!:D

It's another Hudson that is running and rolling down the highway. Think that way about it.

[Browniepetersen]

:DLet me see, I once cut a VW Bus and put it on a beattle frame. I also took a hatchback and tagged it onto a 64 junkyard Mustang and had a station wagon and there was that four door 56 Chevy that we cut in half and welded back in a telephone booth style car. Ya got to be brave every now and then or you are not a player. Example: The late 50's Cad four door that is now a car hawler or the 57 Chev station wagon that is now an el camino. It all works. Down Provo way (south of me) the man who runs the local college body/paint program, and a master with a welder placed a fat fender Willis four door on a duramax frame and has a four door pick up. Have to admit that now it is finished is is a nice ride. By the way, if you have been to Jay Leno's collection you can see some of the projects he has built. I love the roadster with a train engine in it. There is a lot to be said for the rusty old Junk Yard dog that finds new life after some one figured out how to weld it back into a driver. Think Jonnie Cash: One piece at a time and it didn't cost me a dime.... You should be happy you cannot hear me sing...:D:D

[Dave53-7C]

I thought I saw something like this swirling around in the bowl the other day.

[arnie53]

Yae, but look at all the work he put into making the firewall look nice!!

[RL Chilton]

Hey Brownie!

Like your new avatar!

[Swasp76063]

You have to give the guy something for effort, even though the results leave a lot to desire. He did go to an extreme amount of effort to build something "different". I have a feeling that carpet dash cover is there to cover up some hideous hacking that he had to do to get that dashboard in there. It amazes me how that Dodge motor fills that cavernous engine bay without an inch to spare. Although, if you took off all the smog, EFI, and other junk, it wouldn't look near so full.
It doesn't really matter what my opinion is about the car, but I will say that I wouldn't be caught dead in it. Someone, somewhere, sometime, will buy it though.
Bob

[Browniepetersen]

Thanks Russ. The 39 looks good resting/rusting on the mountain side near the Black Hills of Wyoming.:):)

Hey Brownie!

Like your new avatar!

[mrsbojigger]

Hey Mr. Meadows (real name here),
By posting this in the "stock" section rather than the "Street Rod" section you were guaranteed to get less than positive feedback. The guy was at least doing something to keep another Hudson on the road rather than being an armchair critic.
To do a positive critique of the design, the most glaring negative thing about the car is actually very simple to correct. It is showing TOO MUCH WHEEL. The wheels are the first thing you see and your eyes keep going back to them. Also get rid of that funky front (bumper) cow catcher. It needs to be replaced with a car bumper of some kind. Change those two things and it could probably sit in most of our Hudnut garages. Simple fixes.
Just venting!
Peace,
Chaz

[bent metal]

Thanks Russ. The 39 looks good resting/rusting on the mountain side near the Black Hills of Wyoming.:):)

I like to stay positive if I can, so lets talk about this 39' that Brownie has.:D What's the story on her? It looks like one of those cut down jobs they used to do in the fifties and sixties, like the old Hot Rod magazine article that I'm sure most of us have seen.

[Sarah Young]

I'm wondering if the guy who built this is into racing. Looks like it's set up to push smashed cars off the racetrack.

[Dave53-7C]

I'm wondering if the guy who built this is into racing. Looks like it's set up to push smashed cars off the racetrack.

Or cows off the railroad tracks. :D

[Swampy Meadows]

Chaz:

I just posted it without editorial comment because I thought folks here would find it interesting. You truly don't see one of these every day, do ya?

[46HudsonPU]

Hey Mr. Meadows (real name here),
By posting this in the "stock" section rather than the "Street Rod" section you were guaranteed to get less than positive feedback. The guy was at least doing something to keep another Hudson on the road rather than being an armchair critic.
To do a positive critique of the design, the most glaring negative thing about the car is actually very simple to correct. It is showing TOO MUCH WHEEL. The wheels are the first thing you see and your eyes keep going back to them. Also get rid of that funky front (bumper) cow catcher. It needs to be replaced with a car bumper of some kind. Change those two things and it could probably sit in most of our Hudnut garages. Simple fixes.
Just venting!
Peace,
Chazagree entirely - if it were a bit lower (at least in the front) and that thing on the front of it replaced with a decent bumper, it would be a bit more acceptable looking.

[Browniepetersen]

My 39 was modified in the mid 50's and the inspiration for the work was an article in the 1952 Motor Trend Magazine. The article was written by Charles Martz. I have been able to retrace the history of this car and would be happy to send you a copy. There are seven of these Martz roadsters that are still around. Some would be a tough rebuild. Each one is different. This is the only one that used a 39 model 92 convertible for the doner car. This was also the subject of an article in the WTN November/December 2007 back inside page. Don't worry about being positive, this rusty car would be happy to be back on the road in any condition. For me it is an effort to return it to the condition that the owner had in mind when he cut 12" out of the body and welded everything into one body pannel. Watch for it in the spring of 2011. I'll post some photo's along the way. :)

I like to stay positive if I can, so lets talk about this 39' that Brownie has.:D What's the story on her? It looks like one of those cut down jobs they used to do in the fifties and sixties, like the old Hot Rod magazine article that I'm sure most of us have seen.

[bent metal]

I'd love to see what information you have on your 39'. I remembered the article as being in Hot Rod and the car was red. Must of been in Motor Trend like you said. I'd be very interested in seeing whatever you could show me. :)

[Browniepetersen]

The car that was in Hot Rod was a Buick. I loved the article and I was impressed that they were able to take a photo on the golf course when it was first built in the mid 50's and then position the car in the same place and same golf course for the second photo after it was restored. The car you saw in Hot Rod most likely started it's life from the inspiration of the article that Charles Martz wrote. In my research I have found one other Buick that appears to have the same design elements as the Martz car. I have also found one Nash. all the rest have been Hudsons. I have found on 1940 doner car and the others have been 46/47's. There are no records only guesses and Martz only built one car. Therein is the fun...

[Sgnl50]

Just because you can........doesn't mean you should.