My Dad had a 1948 Hudson Commodore 8. He always said that it was by far the best vehicle he ever had or drove. I noticed your speedometer was at 380,000 miles or so. My dad drove his for some 10 years as a traveling salesman in the 1950s. Then he drove it as the family car for his young family. By the time he parked it it has some 400,000 miles, all without an engine rebuild! (But, with very religious oil changes every 3000 miles.) Then, a neighbor, bought the engine and ran that engine for some 20 years powering farm equipment. In the 80's my brother got the engine back and opened it up. There was absolutely minimal wear on the cylinder walls of that engine! Yes, engineering has improved but.....by all I heard from my father that was one magnificent automobile!
My Parents were Hudson, Chevy and International Truck Dealers. In 55 Hudson and Nash/Kalvanator merged that became American Motors Corp, leaving Packard behind!
I had a very nice 48 Commodore 6 Coupe as a High School Student, that I took in trade on my 52 Hornet. The Hornet & Commodore were the same Car except the 262 Six was hosted and stroked to a 308, and The Hornet didn't offer the 8 Cylinder Splashed as you could opt for in The Commodore.
The hydramatic is a four-speed not a 3-speed. It featured a fluid coupling instead of a torque converter and it featured two planetary gear sets back to back. Fourth gear was not overdrive but was instead direct drive. First gear had a ratio of around 3.5 to 1. There was no multiplication from the fluid coupling.
The 1951 Hudson Hydra-Matic transmissions (first year of the GM transmission for Hudson) had the positions of N-Neutral and starting, DR- Driving Range, LO- Low Range and R- Reverse. Later starting in 1952, Hudson Hydra-Matics had the positions of N-Neutral and Starting , DR- Driving Range (has two positions indicated by the letters "DR" and the figures 4 and 3 on the indicator dial), R - Reverse. Perhaps it's this later "DR" Driving Range with the 4 and 3 that has created some confusion amongst Hudson owners over the years regarding a three speed versus four speed Hydra-Matic. But yes, you're correct in that the 1951 Hydra-Matic as discussed here is indeed a four speed automatic transmission.
Funny how your tastes change over time. I was born in 1954 and was a car nut at an early age. Hated the looks of the Hudson’s and Nash’s at that time because they were so big and bulbous while other makes had become sharper and sleeker. The ‘49 Ford was a trendsetter because it had chiseled, straighter lines. The tri-five Chevys were gorgeous. Plus, by the time I really got into cars around age 5 (in 1959) cars like the early’50 Hudson’s and Nash’s were just SO out of date. But now as a 70 year old, I’ve grown to really appreciate these chrome laden, rolling works of art deco. I especially hated the late ‘40’s early ‘50’s Buick grilles as being toothy chrome monster mouths. Now I see them and like them!! Ironically, I recently bought a new Lexus ES350. Nice looking car except for the ugly front end! Kinda reminds me of those old Buicks!! 😂
If you put your car in reverse and shut off the engine the Hydramatics of this era will go into a PARK position .My old man junked a wrecked 51 Hornet to get a Hydramatic to replace the lousy Studebaker style Borg-Warnerthat came in his 54 Hornet. They used these because of the Hydramatic plant burnt to the ground in Aug 1953. The Hydramatics just don't have a P position for park before the redesingn of1956. I have looked at various shop manuals for automatics for Willys,Kaiser ,Nash, Hudson , Cadillac,Oldsmobile,Pontiac and GMC as well as Lincoln that used early Hydramatics and they all have this feature but at car shows and on the internet I see all these old vehicles mostly left in N because folks don't seem to know this.
Beautifull, beautifull. I hope to make a hudson commodore my last projectcar. Love the explanation of the switches. One question about the electric fuel pump: is seems noisy al the time. Is this normal?
lovely just lovely! perfect for a Sunday drive in the country, wicker picnic basket in the trunk
That's a beautiful car. I'm still working on my 51 Commodore, I bought quite a few parts from you guys.
What website do you use to buy parts? bought me one at 16 years old and I have no clue what I'm doing but I already but it so I'm in it now
Very nice. I rememeber the Hudson's. Great automobiles...
thanks and God Bless (us all)
My Dad had a 1948 Hudson Commodore 8. He always said that it was by far the best vehicle he ever had or drove. I noticed your speedometer was at 380,000 miles or so. My dad drove his for some 10 years as a traveling salesman in the 1950s. Then he drove it as the family car for his young family. By the time he parked it it has some 400,000 miles, all without an engine rebuild! (But, with very religious oil changes every 3000 miles.) Then, a neighbor, bought the engine and ran that engine for some 20 years powering farm equipment. In the 80's my brother got the engine back and opened it up. There was absolutely minimal wear on the cylinder walls of that engine! Yes, engineering has improved but.....by all I heard from my father that was one magnificent automobile!
BEAUTIFUL!
Excellent video
Just amazing, This here is my Dream car
Beautiful car
Nice and quiet straight 8.
Enjoyed this! I am building a model of this to enter in a contest next month, so I got ideas for detailing. Nice video. Thanks!
Thank You for this video
My Parents were Hudson, Chevy and International Truck Dealers. In 55 Hudson and Nash/Kalvanator merged that became American Motors Corp, leaving Packard behind!
thank you for this video
I had a very nice 48 Commodore 6 Coupe as a High School Student, that I took in trade on my 52 Hornet. The Hornet & Commodore were the same Car except the 262 Six was hosted and stroked to a 308, and The Hornet didn't offer the 8 Cylinder Splashed as you could opt for in The Commodore.
The hydramatic is a four-speed not a 3-speed. It featured a fluid coupling instead of a torque converter and it featured two planetary gear sets back to back. Fourth gear was not overdrive but was instead direct drive. First gear had a ratio of around 3.5 to 1. There was no multiplication from the fluid coupling.
The 1951 Hudson Hydra-Matic transmissions (first year of the GM transmission for Hudson) had the positions of N-Neutral and starting, DR- Driving Range, LO- Low Range and R- Reverse. Later starting in 1952, Hudson Hydra-Matics had the positions of N-Neutral and Starting , DR- Driving Range (has two positions indicated by the letters "DR" and the figures 4 and 3 on the indicator dial), R - Reverse. Perhaps it's this later "DR" Driving Range with the 4 and 3 that has created some confusion amongst Hudson owners over the years regarding a three speed versus four speed Hydra-Matic. But yes, you're correct in that the 1951 Hydra-Matic as discussed here is indeed a four speed automatic transmission.
Hey I love that thing man
Funny how your tastes change over time. I was born in 1954 and was a car nut at an early age. Hated the looks of the Hudson’s and Nash’s at that time because they were so big and bulbous while other makes had become sharper and sleeker. The ‘49 Ford was a trendsetter because it had chiseled, straighter lines. The tri-five Chevys were gorgeous. Plus, by the time I really got into cars around age 5 (in 1959) cars like the early’50 Hudson’s and Nash’s were just SO out of date.
But now as a 70 year old, I’ve grown to really appreciate these chrome laden, rolling works of art deco. I especially hated the late ‘40’s early ‘50’s Buick grilles as being toothy chrome monster mouths. Now I see them and like them!!
Ironically, I recently bought a new Lexus ES350. Nice looking car except for the ugly front end! Kinda reminds me of those old Buicks!! 😂
The Reverse is the Parking Brake in the early GM Hydrodmatic.
If you put your car in reverse and shut off the engine the Hydramatics of this era will go into a PARK position .My old man junked a wrecked 51 Hornet to get a Hydramatic to replace the lousy Studebaker style Borg-Warnerthat came in his 54 Hornet. They used these because of the Hydramatic plant burnt to the ground in Aug 1953. The Hydramatics just don't have a P position for park before the redesingn of1956. I have looked at various shop manuals for automatics for Willys,Kaiser ,Nash, Hudson , Cadillac,Oldsmobile,Pontiac and GMC as well as Lincoln that used early Hydramatics and they all have this feature but at car shows and on the internet I see all these old vehicles mostly left in N because folks don't seem to know this.
Have owned Two 52 Hornets two 52 Super Wasps, one 48 Commodore, a 54 Hornet and a 54 Super Jet.
gordon McKenney I have owned two 51s.
Is this car for sale? What a beauty!
Verry nice video I enjoy your tour . This is one of my dream cars are you considering to sell it and if so for how much?
Beautifull, beautifull. I hope to make a hudson commodore my last projectcar. Love the explanation of the switches. One question about the electric fuel pump: is seems noisy al the time. Is this normal?
On a down grade parking: shift into Reverse. Engage parking. Stop engine
Leaving lever in Reverse.
The Real Gearheads in The Fifties Drive a Hudson. The Wanabees & Straight Road Drivers drove Oldsmobiles!
Center Point Steering!
My dream car! I want one on airbags with a 2 or 3 inch roof chop.
The early Hydromatics parked in reverse, FYI from an old Hudson/Kaiser owner.
That thing is hot
What did he say the little grey button would do in the trunk?
It parked in reverse when motor is shut off. Most people don't know this.
Those Sanders were an After Market Item installed by The Dealership is my guess.
Sanders!
The GM Early Automatic Transmissions Hudson's vs parked in reverse! FYI
What is your asking price? It seems you’ve done a nice job.
I have a commodore 8 coupe 1950 for sale
It's a Fresh Air Heater, The Coal vent has to be open for the air to flow over the heater code just like our modern cars FYI.
Hi Denny 👋
My good
The Parking Gear is Reverse on The Early TH Hydra Matic. F YI
A fresh Air Heater, you ran the Cowell vent for the heater in The winter heat. Read The Manuel.
Same for as The Hornet except The Motor..
8??
Straight 8 cylinder engine. No, I don't know what the displacement or horsepower was but Dad always said it was very powerful.
@@r.blakehole932 4162 cc - oddly , smaller than the Hornet 6 and around 128 HP .
@@r.blakehole932 The Hudson eight cylinder had 254 cubic inches.