Have you ever heard of a car like the Hudson Hornet? Have you watched the Cartoon Cars? If you watched, then surely remember a character named Doc Hudson. So he is a copy of the same "Hornet", which has not been produced for more than half a century, but remains in the hearts of motorists, and especially fans of the classics. In this article, you will learn the history of the Hudson Hornet model and its main features.
A few words about the company
Surprisingly, Hudson is not named after the creators, but in honor of the investor. It all started with the fact that in 1909, four enterprising young men decided to create a car manufacturing company. Then one of them turned to his father-in-law with a request to borrow money. And it so happened that a man who was not at all versed in cars immortalized his name by investing $ 90,000 in his son-in-law's business. Soon this money paid off with interest. Well, today we will consider the most resonant model of the company - “Hudson Hornet” (“Hornet” - this is the name of the model).
General characteristics of the model
The model is a full-size passenger car, which was produced from 1951 to 1957. The first four years it was made by Hudson Motors, located in Detroit (Michigan), and then by American Motors from Kenosha (Wisconsin).
The first generation of cars received streamlined shapes and a lower center of gravity, which allowed them to quite successfully perform in races.
The second generation was a restyled version of the Nash model, which was produced under the Hudson brand until 1957. Now let’s take a closer look at all versions of the Hudson Hornet machine.
1951 Hudson Hornet
The first modification that came off the assembly line in 1951 was based on the Step-down design concept, which was first embodied in the Commodore model three years earlier. The essence of the concept was to combine the body and frame (into which the bottom was built) into a single structure. This solution, together with the center of gravity shifted downward, created a stylish, streamlined look of a car that could comfortably carry six passengers.
The 1951 Hudson Hornet was offered in three body styles: a 4-door sedan, a 2-door coupe, a convertible, and also a hardtop. At a price the cars were on par with the Commodore model - 2.5-3.1 thousand dollars.
All models were aggregated with a 6-cylinder, 5-liter engine with in-line cylinders. The motor was equipped with a two-chamber carburetor and developed 145 horsepower. The model could accelerate to a speed of 180 km / h. For such characteristics, she received the AAA certificate from NASCAR. Since November 1951, it became possible to purchase a Hornet with a Twin H-Power engine, paying $ 85.
For the debut year, 43.6 thousand cars of this model were produced.
1952-1953 years
In 1952, the Twin H-Power engine became standard on the car. Together with a dual intake manifold and two carburetors, the engine developed 170 liters. from. And in some trim levels, this figure could be increased to 210 liters. from. In 1952, 35 thousand copies of the Hudson Hornet model rolled off the assembly line. The following year, the car received small exterior changes, the main of which was the upgrade of the grille. This year, 27 thousand models were released.
1954 year
In 1954, the model suffered a significant restyling. It meant a curved windshield, new lights, as well as a modern interior and dashboard. But the changes were still a little late and did not affect sales volumes much. As before, the cars were equipped with in-line Sixes, while competitors had already switched to V-8 engines.
Before the merger of Hudson and Nash companies, production in 1954 amounted to almost 25 thousand cars.
Racing success
Cars of this model often participated in races and repeatedly won the championship among serial racing cars of those years.
In 1952, at the AAA races, a Hornet Pilot named Marshall Teague arrived first from 13 races at 12.
In NASCAR races on "Hornets" 5 drivers acted at once. Together they won 27 victories. In total, the model was in first place 40 times and won in 83% of races. The car, in which Marshall Teague showed his phenomenal result, was called Fabulous Hudson Hornet. For the years 1953-1954, the car received many more victories, which made it famous all over the world.
The original Fabulous Hudson Hornet is currently standing at the Ipsilanti Automobile Museum, Michigan.
Second generation
After Hudson and Nash merged into one in 1954, machine production in Detroit stopped. It was moved to Nash factories in Wisconsin. All subsequent models were built on the Nash platform, but had a distinctive Hudson logo.
1955 year
The new model entered the market in 1955. Compared to its competitors, the second generation Hudson Hornetov had a rather conservative design. From now on, the car was performed only in sedan and hardtop bodies. Under the hood of the model was a 5.2-liter V-8 engine, developing a capacity of 208 horsepower. The motor was named Packard. It is noteworthy that it was aggregated with automatic transmission. The rear suspension system was tubular and the front springs were elongated.
Like the Nash models, the new Hudson had an efficient air conditioning system and wide front seats. Floyd Clymer, an automobile expert, once said that Hudson Hornet cars are America’s safest cars due to their welded body, efficient braking system and excellent maneuverability.
1956 year
This year, it was decided to update the design of the Hornet line. Designer Richard Arbib came up with the V-line Stuling concept, which was based on the shape of the letter V. The interior and exterior of the car were redesigned. And the three-color coloring made it unique and noticeable from afar. But even this did not help prevent a significant drop in sales in 1956. Sales fell from 13 to 8 thousand units.
1957 year
In 1957, the car was still slightly modified: they installed an “egg-like” radiator grille and chrome side moldings. Also added 5 color options. The power of the car was increased to 255 horsepower, while the price was lowered. Nevertheless, sales of the model fell to 3 thousand copies per year.
As a result, production was stopped. The Hudson brand was discontinued, and the cars received a new name - Rambler.
Heritage
In 1951, the Hornet received Car of the Year status in the book of automobile journalist Henry Balls Lenta.
In 1970, the Hornet index was revived on one of the AMC models.
In 2006, they developed a concept car called the Dodge Hornet.
The machine, as already mentioned, is one of the characters in the cartoon "Cars". And also, if you like computer games, then you can meet the Hudson Hornet there. GTA 5 and Driver San-Francisco provide an opportunity to purchase a model in virtual space.
Conclusion
The fate of the revolutionary cars of the past is amazing. Some of them achieve phenomenal success and recognition, others become a collapse for entire automobile concerns. And some manage to combine the first and second, as, for example, in the case of the Hudson Hornet car. Photos, history, and authority have helped us find out what this model is.