1948 Hudson Promo Cars

[rambos_ride]

Since buying my stepdown last year and doing research I've kept my eyes open for 1 of these plastic promo models that Hudson put out in 48.

I've seen them go as high as 700.00 + on ebay - heres another one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6020749051&fromMakeTrack=true

http://www.49c8.com/images/fp/Promo481.jpg

So what's the scoop on these cool little toys? Are they really all that rare? What is a reasonable price for one?

My dream would be hunting through some antique store or garage sale and get one of these for 20.00! :D

[Nevada Hudson]

Try and contact Ken Poynter, or Paul Schuster. They are both experts on Hudson toys and memorabiilia.

[nhp1127]

I may keep an eye on this. Be nice to go with the car... Niels

[Hudzilla]

Dan, The promo models Hudson produced in 1948 were actually made by Hudson! They had a small assembly line set up for making these car models available to dealers for use as promotional items to help sell the new stepdown Hudson. Many were half colored down the middle and the other half clear so the prospective customer could see all the features and benefits from owning a new stepdown. Subsequent to using these models in 48-9, Hudson sold all the tooling for these promo cars to the Louis Marx toy company. Marx subsequently came out with two toy Hudson wind-up cars made from these dies. One was a fire chief's car in red plastic and the other was a police chief's car in green plastic.All models are highly desirable to Hudson collectors be they factory or Marx produced. Prices are not uncommon to see these go for prices of $800-$1000. Recently the late Kelly Hinegardner tried to sell some from his collection on ebay and I'm not sure if he had any bids but the asking price was somewhere around $900.. The late Jim Fortin of Mass had a few really nice ones as well. These are tough to find now.

[hudsonjeff]

Bought a nice half clear half red one a year ago for $450.00

[rambos_ride]

I've seen the Hudson magazine or trade article that pictures Hudson workers putting together the models.

I think they are pretty darn cool - but it will be a long while before I'd be wanting to fork out that kinda $$ for a model when the real one isn't running yet!

[nhp1127]

Bought a nice half clear half red one a year ago for $450.00

Jeff,
Curious, where did you get yours from, e-bay aswell? Niels

[51hornetA]

On ebay now one of the Marx firecar's http://cgi.ebay.com/Marx-Hudson-Hornet-Fire-Chief-toy-car-vintage-truck_W0QQitemZ6022038443QQcategoryZ74986QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem

[Park W]

I still have a MasterCaster cast metal sedan I bought from our local Hudson dealer in '48 or '49.

[46HudsonPU]

I still have a MasterCaster cast metal sedan I bought from our local Hudson dealer in '48 or '49.Pictures? Oh, forgot my manners... - Please! :D

[susie]

Wow, timing is, as they say, everything! I have one of these cool models and have been trying on and off for years to find some info on it. I just stumbled upon your website last night and onto this thread! As you can see, it is the half clear model. I picked it up at an auction a couple years ago. I would appreciate any additional info or comments on it. Thanks, Susie
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/3439/hudson17kp.th.jpg (http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hudson17kp.jpg)
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5229/hudson24jd.th.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hudson24jd.jpg)

[Aaron D. IL]

Wow, timing is, as they say, everything! I have one of these cool models and have been trying on and off for years to find some info on it. I just stumbled upon your website last night and onto this thread! As you can see, it is the half clear model. I picked it up at an auction a couple years ago. I would appreciate any additional info or comments on it. Thanks, Susie



Susie Don't believe anything anyone else said it's only worth $20. Wanna sell it to me?! LOL (just kidding) Seriously though the others are right it is clear so the dealers could show customers the car's advanced "step-down" frame. Just looking at the actual car a customer might not know what this engeering was that they were talking about so it helped illustrate it.

[susie]

Ha! thanks for your humor and info! I learn something new everyday, and today it's the whole "step-down" thing. Never knew what that meant before. Oooops, pardon me, is my ignorance showing? :) Susie

[rambos_ride]

Wow, timing is, as they say, everything! I have one of these cool models and have been trying on and off for years to find some info on it. I just stumbled upon your website last night and onto this thread! As you can see, it is the half clear model. I picked it up at an auction a couple years ago. I would appreciate any additional info or comments on it. Thanks, Susie
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/3439/hudson17kp.th.jpg (http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hudson17kp.jpg)
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5229/hudson24jd.th.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hudson24jd.jpg)Now - I haven't seen a picture of this clear style of model - again pretty darn cool! I'm going to have to find one someday...

So what's up the Susie - You have the cool model but no big one in the garage?

OBTW - I found this link where there is 1 wheel and tire for these models if someone has one with a missing wheel

http://www.carhobby.com/page1948.htm#Things

[hudsonjeff]

Got mine from a local HET club member along with a porcelain neon sign for 300.00 that had been hanging in his barn since the late 60s. The sign hangs in the show room of my body shop. It was a hudson dealer from 1948 thru 57 then sold ramblers into the early 60s. Ecorse Hudson sales/ Kromrei Motors. Still looks like a 1950s dealer show room 2 Hudsons on display original show cases 2 small sales offices. Alot of hudson and automobilia on display. You never know what might turn up next it pays to be an HET member both local and national.

[susie]

Hi Dan, I know! How lame is that that all I have is this little model!:) BTW-You car guys rock! I think someday I'd like to get myself an older vehicle and sweeten it up in my own way. I've always been kind of a bike girl (street bikes/crotch rockets), but my son's booster seat doesn't fit so well on the back. HA! Actually, I just sold my bike to a friend, who turned around and crashed it within a month :( But you know... a nice old car going by or just parked never fails to turn my head, they're beautiful!
Susie

[George T.]

Greetings from Colorado!

Two of these models have "grown up" with me. I have the blue one on top of the bookcase in the living room and the toro red one is "packed" somewhere along with the History of Hudson that I gave my dad before he passed away. Lots of memories...

George T.

[nhp1127]

Well.... I won the car....29 bids and $679.99 dollars later. It matches the year, make and model of my car so I'm going to enjoy the X-mas present to myself. Niels

[rambos_ride]

Well.... I won the car....29 bids and $679.99 dollars later. It matches the year, make and model of my car so I'm going to enjoy the X-mas present to myself. Niels
X-Mas is no fun without buying something cool for yourself!

The one with the most toys wins!

[susie]

Congrats Niels! gotta love that last minute bidding! I think I've decided ebay may be the best way to go with mine. I'm thinking of offering free overnight shipping so that if the auction ends next Thursday (during the day) and it's paypal'd right away, the winner could have it on Friday.
Do you guys have any opinions as to whether it's worth it to end an auction early in the day, or just go ahead and wait for evening?
Oh Gosh, it's just about time to go out and SHOVEL a couple more INCHES of SNOW here in Minnesota... what fun :)! Susie

[46HudsonPU]

Congrats Niels! gotta love that last minute bidding! I think I've decided ebay may be the best way to go with mine. I'm thinking of offering free overnight shipping so that if the auction ends next Thursday (during the day) and it's paypal'd right away, the winner could have it on Friday.
Do you guys have any opinions as to whether it's worth it to end an auction early in the day, or just go ahead and wait for evening?
Oh Gosh, it's just about time to go out and SHOVEL a couple more INCHES of SNOW here in Minnesota... what fun :)! SusieI'll be honest with you - From a buyer's standpoint, I LOVE early auctions - Half of the country hasn't woke up yet - so my competition could well have 'missed the boat'...

That having been said -
If I were you, I would try to time it so that the 'auction' closes on the west coast around 6:00 PM - which would make it about 9:00 PM on the east coast - early enough so that some of us 'old folks' will still be awake...

[susie]

thanks for your input 46HudsonPU (if that IS your real name! LOL). But seriously, thanks. That's what I was thinking, but then again I had this overwhelming sense to get it on (on ebay that is :)) right away.

If I wasn't such a lazy slug I would have started it last night soon after that blue one ended, but oh well.

NICE Pickup by the way! Susie

[rambos_ride]

thanks for your input 46HudsonPU (if that IS your real name! LOL). But seriously, thanks. That's what I was thinking, but then again I had this overwhelming sense to get it on (on ebay that is :)) right away.

If I wasn't such a lazy slug I would have started it last night soon after that blue one ended, but oh well.

NICE Pickup by the way! Susie
Offer it up for sale here on the forum for your asking price and save yourself some ebay commissions!

I can't buy it right now - but someone else might - and save you some $$!

[susie]

Hi Dan, there's the rub... I don't know what to ask for it. ya, ya I know, $20 sounds good :), but you should see my son's x-mas list. An iPod Nano?! He's 6 years old! I should just give him my iPod Shuffle (it's got paint all over it anyway), and get myself the Nano! "Oh the warm spirit of giving" she says with a sly smile.

Susie

[susie]

Hey everyone, thanks so much for all your input over the last couple days. I did decide to go the ebay route. I'm not trying to advertise it here, so I'm sure you'll find it if you are interested.

Anyway, thanks again, you're an awesome group! I think I'll hang around and learn a thing or two even though I don't have a life-size one in my garage :).

Susie

[yvon52]

Hello,

I have just the same 1948 Hudson promo in dark and light blue. I'm in Luxemburg, Europe and I think it's one of the surviving Hudsons sended to Europe. It's a fabulous promo and I go to try to make some pictures to add to this site.

Yvon

[georgereuter]

I have a two tone blue hudson promo car that I received from my dad in 1948. It is still in great condition, and we bought it at a Hudson dealer in Maspeth NY. It is something to treasure. I'll pass it down to my grandsonwhen he is old enough to apprecite it.

[mrsbojigger]

Master Caster? So thats what I have.
My brother gave this to me right after I got my "Real" one.
Peace,
Chaz

[oldhudsons]

I have a pristine 2 tone green one I bought at a toy show at least 20 years ago - biggest enemy would be heat as the old plastic can sag/melt.
Have one of the red fire chief models too + 1 or 2 of the metal Dinky toy models made in England.
From years of seeing these on/off I'd say the model with the clear side is the most rare ergo most valuable, of course all that depends so much on condition!

[53jetman]

I've seen the Hudson magazine or trade article that pictures Hudson workers putting together the models.

I think they are pretty darn cool - but it will be a long while before I'd be wanting to fork out that kinda $$ for a model when the real one isn't running yet!

I'll try to post two pictures of the model assembly line at the factory. I've not done this for a while, so will see if this flys.

Jerry
53jetmanln

4504

4505