How many 1952 Wasp Convertibles Made?

[nhp1127]

Anyone have any idea of approx. how many 1952 Wasp convertibles were made?

[dave s]

I have never seen a production by series and body style, but Park Waldrop found the following: acording to Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, Kraus Publications, numbers are 220 Wasp , 20 Commodore 6, 30 Commodore 8 and 360 Hornet Convertibles were made in 1952.

[harry54]

How many Wasp Conv'ts out of the 220 could still be out there ?

[Sarah Young]

I don't know about the Wasps, but rumor has it the one-of-a-kind Hudson Jet Convertible prototype has been removed from storage and is heading towards eBay in the not so distant future!

http://www.hudsonjet.net/1954_Hudson_prototype_right_side.jpg

[dave s]

Acording to HET roster and purchased computer check of known 1952 Hudson Hornet convertibles,10 survivors are known

[hornet53]

That Jet looks like it was stored in someone's backyard sticker-bush garage. Pretty sad condition, but it would be fun to restore.

[nhp1127]

Looks like the frame may be broke on that rust bucket. I certainly maybe wrong but chances are that this was someone's custom attempt at a convertible not a factory prototype. If it is a "factory" prototype then I hope they have the documentation to back it up.

[Heart Of Texas]

The Jet in the picture is indeed a Factory prototype. The car sat outside for many years and deteriorated because the owner would not sell the car. There is a ample information available within the hands of Hudson club members which validate the existence of and production of the car. The unique status of this car should make it valuable enough to be restored... but that is one person's opinion. The task would be monumental at the least and potentially impossible at the worst. Recent resurrections of Hudson cars which have deteriorated to iron oxide status gives me faith that someone will take this orphan home and nurse it back to operational status.

Good Luck to that person

[royer]

Acording to HET roster and purchased computer check of known 1952 Hudson Hornet convertibles,10 survivors are known
Wouldn't that make 1952 Hornet convertibles rarer than Italias? I find that low number hard to believe.

[hudsondad]

I would also think that 10 is quite low for 52 hornet convertibles. I'm curious about the wasp convertibles, as I've seen them already, but not often.

[bill a]

i HAVE OWNED A 52 WASP CONV IN THE EARLY 70S, USED IN ON THE LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY SHOW. IT IS NOW IS WISC. CHARLY HARRIS HAD ONE FOR YEARS, STILL IN KANSAS, AND HAVE SEEN THREE OTHERS IN 35 YEARS. BILL ALBRIGHT

[harry54]

So I guess that makes 5 Wasp Convt's .

[hudsonkid]

I think Hudsondad would like one, if he could sneak it past hudsonmom....

but I think he might end up in hudsondivorcecourt....

if that were the case.....

Still would be a nice addition to the collection...

one that I would enjoy seeing brought home....

[dave s]

Wouldn't that make 1952 Hornet convertibles rarer than Italias? I find that low number hard to believe.

I didn't make that number up! That 10 are listed in HET convertible roster and 8 nationally was number on purchased cumputer check of 1952 Hudson convertibles by Automotive Information Clearinghouse that was given to me by previous owner. :)

[Heart Of Texas]

I have been a Hudson owner for over 40 years and in that time I like Bill A have seen three of these elusive convertibles. The two that Bill listed and another nice original driver that is owned by a non club member. BTW the car Charlie Harris used to own was one of the nicest original Hudson Convertibles I ever saw.

[nhp1127]

I have been a Hudson owner for over 40 years and in that time I like Bill A have seen three of these elusive convertibles. The two that Bill listed and another nice original driver that is owned by a non club member. BTW the car Charlie Harris used to own was one of the nicest original Hudson Convertibles I ever saw.

Looks like another has probably been found. Harry54 has located one forsale and it looks to be a very strong #3 car. Asking price is $35,000.

[RL Chilton]

As far as the '52 Hornet Convertibles, I was recently in a debate with Bill A. and he advised me to count them up in the latest roster (2005-2007 issue). So I did just that. Results: 16 ea. 1952 Hornet Convertibles, 16 ea. 1953 Hornet Convertibles. In addition, if anyone else wishes to count them up as I have, there are actually 17 '53's in the Roster, but one listed in PA is a typo (it is actually a '51, as I have pics of it).

I was also counting up the '51 Hornet Convertibles, but stopped counting at 35 or so and never finished.

My personal opinion is that if there are 16 '52's in the Roster, my best guess is that there are probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 or so left, as I have seen several myself that are not listed. Same goes for the '53's. I believe there are probably about the same number of '53's, maybe a little less. According to the prod. #'s listed above about the Wasp converts., and the Comm. 'verts, my feeling is that are probably not more than 2 handfuls of each, if that many.

Russell

[bill a]

Hudson Built Approx Ten Thousand Hudson Converts In All Stepdown Years 48 To 54. Chevy Produced Ten Thousand 57 Chevy Converts In Less T .han One Month In 57, So I Guess That Makes All Hudson Converts Rare

[LarryB]

According to an article in the WTN a couple of years ago, there were 225 1952 Wasp convertibles. I know of three still in existence. There is the one that Bill Albright owned which I believe is in Wisconsin. My Dad bought the one from Charlie Harris in about 1974. It had 99,000 miles at that time. I now have that one in Michigan. It now has 164,000 miles. I had it to the Orphan Car show yesterday in Ypsilant, MI. The third one is also in Michigan. I was talking to the owner yesterday. Its in a barn and hasn't been driven in years. I don't know its condition.

Larry Bowerman

[harry54]

So Does that mean the the number of 52 Wasp Conv'ts out the today is 4 ?

[tombpa]

Don't bet on it. Some more will turn up someday. They always do.

[LarryB]

No. three.

[harry54]

So in the Wasp Registry,,,,, There are 3 Wasp conv'ts ?????

[Nevada Hudson]

Charlie Ackel has one sitting in his back yard in San Jose for the last 20 years !

[nhp1127]

Is it one of those "Gunner" cars? LOL

[Heart Of Texas]

Charlie Ackel has one sitting in his back yard in San Jose for the last 20 years !
Really, will have to give brother Charlie a call. I knew Carl M was a pack rat, but Charlie was usually more in tune with making a buck... interesting... but then again... have not been to Campbell in over 25 years... Will be good to catch up.
Thanks