Founded in 1908, Hudson Motor Car Company, more commonly referred to simply as Hudson, was one of America’s “Big Three” automakers. Throughout its history, Hudson produced a variety of vehicles ranging from coupes, sedans, and wagons, to larger full-sized vehicles. Hudson’s vehicles were renowned for their performance and engineering innovation, earning them the reputation of being one of the leading automotive manufactures of the pre-World War II era.
Hudson’s history as an automaker began in 1909, after entrepreneur Joseph L. Hudson purchased the Detroit Automobile Company. In this same year, the company was renamed the Hudson Motor Car Company, and Hudson began producing its first car – the Hudson Super Six. This car quickly earned praise from both critics and consumers alike for its innovative design and engineering. Equipped with an overhead-valve, six-cylinder engine, the car was seen as being ahead of its time. The success of thesuper six was soon followed by the introduction of the Essex, which was equipped with a four-cylinder engine, as well as a variety of other models. Throughout the 1910’s and 1920’s, the company continued its innovative spirit by introducing various models with unique features including a shock-absorbing front axle, 4-wheel brakes, and numerous body styles.
The success of the Hudson brand was well-recognized throughout the 1930’s, with the introduction of the Terraplane series – a low-priced lineup of vehicles which became wildly popular. In addition to the Terraplane series, the company continued to innovate and expand its lineup with the development of the streamlined Hudson Commodore in 1934. This vehicle was so groundbreaking that it was instantly considered a classic. Once again demonstrating its ability to stay ahead of the trends, Hudson debuted its new “Step Down” line of vehicles for the 1937 model year. Unlike traditional designs of the time, the step down body was built on a low frame, giving it the appearance of sitting “welded to the road”.
The success of the Hudson line of automobiles continued to grow throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s, largely due to the innovative features available. For example, in 1940 the company debuted a new Power Cube engine or Rocket 88, which featured a “high compression” design. Additionally, in 1952 the company introduced the Hornet – a performance standard which is still remembered today. The Hornet featured an advanced Twin-H Power Engine and a variety of suspension and handling modifications.
Despite its success, Hudson fell on hard times in the late 1950’s resulting in it merging with Nash in 1954 to form the American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1954. In this new venture, Hudson would continue to produce a number of vehicles, such as the Metropolitan and the Rambler. However, increasingly unfavorable market conditions ultimately forced AMC to discontinue the Hudson brand by 1957.
From its humble beginnings in 1909, until its eventual demise in 1957, Hudson Motor Car Company had established itself as one of the “Big Three” of American automakers. Its vehicles were the embodiment of innovation and engineering, with each model introducing advances that would define and shape the automotive industry for years to come. Although it is no longer in production, the legacy of Hudson automobiles still lives on in the hearts of automotive enthusiasts around the world.
