Hudson: Capsule history of an American classic

April 8, 3:48 PMClassic Autos ExaminerJim Cherry

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               Hudson's innovative postwar "stepdown" models drove straight into American history

Though over 3000 companies have built cars in America, few can boast the staying power of  mighty Hudson Motor Car Company.

Founded in 1909 by a group of former Oldsmobile executives, Hudson’s start-up funds were provided by department store tycoon Joseph L. Hudson.

Advances like smooth-runnng balanced engines, affordable six cylinder motivation, and cozy closed cabins brought Hudson rapid sales success; by 1925 it was nipping at Ford’s and Chevrolet’s heels in third place. The depression hit Hudson hard but the company’s lower priced Essex/Terraplane streamliners helped it survive until WWII when, like all U.S. car makers, the company turned to armament production.

Hudson was one of the first all new cars after the war. The low-slung 1948 models took the automotive world by storm with their sensational “step-down” design; so called because their innovative design meant you actually stepped into a lowered floor and sat between the frame rails, rather than on top of them as in other cars. This gave Hudsons a ground-hugging stance that, along with their special “Twin-H” dual carburetor engines, made them the terror of the stock car circuit. "Fabulous Hudson Hornets" totally dominated the stock car scene from 1951-54, often beating powerful V-8 powered cars with their six cylinder motors. Hudson’s record number of consecutive wins still stands today.

Popular Hudson race car driver Tim Flock adopted a pet monkey he named “Jocko Flocko” as a promotional stunt. The rhesus monkey was fitted with a tiny racing uniform and heltmet. One day in Raleigh, North Carolina, Flock decided to let the monkey accompany him as he raced. Stock car racers of the early fifties had a trap door that drivers could pull open to check the condition of their front tires. Jocko watched Flock pull the chain, then, crouching on the floorboard, the monkey opened the tiny door himself. A rock flew up and struck the simian squarely between the eyes. Jocko freaked and went on a rampage, nearly causing Flock to lose control at over a hundred miles per hour. Ride-along  mascots have yet to reappear in Nascar.

Hudson management had the bright idea to introduce a boxy-looking compact called the Jet in 1954. It was several years before Americans had much interest in compacts. Besides, the Jet looked awkward and cost as much as a full-size Ford or Chevy. The compact’s huge development costs made it even tougher for the company to compete against Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Hudson was forced to merge with Nash in 1954, forming American Motors Corporation, or AMC. The company soldiered on until 1957, producing modified Nash models--a sad end to a proud American original. Given the car's scorching performance and rock-solid durability, it's no surprise that Neal Cassady drove Jack Kerouac across the country in a stepdown, a journey chronicled in the classic, On The Road.

Thanks to my brother Mike, president of The Hudson-Essex-Terraplane club and Sarah Young of The Jet Set for their contributions to this article.

Hudson's daring last gasp, the limited production Italia was handmade by Italian coachbuilders.

The boxy Hudson Jet compact, introduced in 1953, was a sales disaster

Interested in orphan car brands? Check out my capsule histories of Packard, Studebaker, and Nash.