Well now, I wish I could remember things like the first auto commercials from my preschool years.
(Un?)fortunately that wild Studebaker ride (Remember the Chevrolet to Cadillac fire run?) took place about the time this beauty was built.
Pictured below is a 1951 Hudson Custom Club Coupe. She's from the second line of Hudsons to be built in Michigan.
The Hudson was created by Roy D. Chapin, and financed by J. L. Hudson, head of Detroit's famous department store of that name.
Hudsons were manufactured in Detroit from 1909-1954.
Other Hudson models included the Essex, Terraplane, Hornet. Jet, and the only one I ever owned, a 1939 Hudson 112 Sedan.
A Hudson Super Six made the first two-way transcontinental trip- New York to San Francisco and back in 1916, a trip I've since made, towing my sailboat.
In 1954, Hudson amalgamated with Nash to form the American Motors Corporation. The Hudson name was carried, on Kenosha, Wisconsin-produced cars until 1957.
I can remember the Hudson, Nash and Metropolitan commercials from this automaker.
Some of my earliest memories were of riding up north in the back window of my father's Hudson, similar to the one below.
Now you wouldn't want to try that today, but, Dad's first car with seatbelts was a 1962 Rambler Classic.
And what was the first Hudson Line?
The Bean-Chamberlain Manufacturing Co. of Hudson, Michigan built a light steamer with a vertical 2-cylinder engine, single chain drive and tiller steering in 1901 and 1902.
These Hudsons bore no relationship to the later Hudsons.
So Larry and I were right twice on the Hudson being a Michigan ride. I hope that makes up for missing the Tucker by 2 states.
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