HUDSON COMMODORE full history details

founded in 1909, was among the last of the American “independents” carmakers who struggled and ultimately failed in the face of the mighty Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. Although its cars during the 1920–30s were mostly unremarkable, Hudson shocked the burghers of Detroit in 1948 with its range of “Step Down” cars.  They were so-nicknamed because driver and passengers stepped down into their seats due to a unitary-construction method Hudson called “Monobilt”: instead of the body being bolted on top of the chassis, the floorpan was suspended from the bottom of it.

founded in 1909,

was among the last of the

American “independents”

carmakers who struggled and ultimately failed in the face of the mighty Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. Although its cars during the 1920–30s were mostly unremarkable, Hudson shocked the burghers of Detroit in 1948 with its range of “Step Down” cars.  They were so-nicknamed because driver and passengers stepped down into their seats due to a unitary-construction method Hudson called “Monobilt”: instead of the body being bolted on top of the chassis, the floorpan was suspended from the bottom of it.

All the occupants sat within the chassis side members, which acted as a strong, encircling perimeter frame. As part of the design, the chassis extended around the outside of the rear wheels.

Hudson’s stylists then came up with sleek and handsome

bodywork that made a 1948 Hudson the “car to own.” The range went from the budget-priced Pacemaker to the Commodore.  Yet the firm’s sales and fortunes were on the slide under ferocious pressure from the Detroit majors.  In 1954, Hudson was forced to merge with Nash to survive.

SPECIFICATION

YEAR REVEALED 1948

PLACE OF ORIGIN Detroit,

Michigan

HISTORICAL STATUS production car

ENGINE six-cylinder, 262ci (4,295cc) & eight-cylinder, 254ci (4,164cc)

MAXIMUM POWER 121bhp (six-cylinder) & 128bhp (eight-cylinder)

LAYOUT front-mounted engine driving the front wheels

BODYWORK six-seater saloon

TOP SPEED 93mph (150kph)

NUMBER BUILT 529,590