1954 Hudson super jet, Hudson’s compact car!
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- čas přidán 23. 08. 2024
- Today, on what it’s like 1954 Hudson jet. Lots of period ads in this one comparisons and Be sure to stick around for the end for the would you rather as well as name that tune.
Special thanks to old spokes Hudson museum, if your ever out in kutztown be sure to stop by. The museum Is by appointment only for more information click the link below after the show
 oldspokes.com
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JET by PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS
Yeah buddy congratulations you got it did you like my little Easter egg =) haha
The name Jet is interesting and uncommon, even though I have heard it used as a girls name or a boys name. In Paul McCartney's song I believe it's the name of a female major in the army.
Not just the taillights, Jay, but side profile also resembles the '52 thru '54 Ford.
Thank you so much for pointing that out =) 💯% agree
I was kind of thinking '54 Ford, too.
Totally agree
I believe it was Roy Chapin who admired the appearance of the '52 Ford line and insisted that the Jet adopt those styling cues.
Taillight lenses resemble the '51 Olds, but yeah, the president of Hudson was quite taken with the all-new '52 Ford.
The Jet was our family car for 20 + years. Excellent quality and reliability - had a great deal to do with my present obsession with the particularly high grade offerings of the American independants - Studebaker & Hudson with Hudson's legendary quality being the holy grail.
That’s awesome what happened to your jet?
I grew up in Southern California near LA. I remember seeing a Jet around town but most often it was parked in the parking lot at our local hospital. It was single color red.
Someone around my town drove a Crosley but that’s a different story….
Reminds me of a 1954 Oldsmobile 88 and I’d definitely take the jet liner !👍
The tail end does resemble a cross between the 54 Olds and the 52-54 Ford.
I was thinking about the Olds as well as the Ford.
My brother bought a used Jet in 1955. Cool little car.
Awesome I like these there’s one for sale local he doesn’t want a whole Lotta money for it but I kind of sort of wanna Metropolitan and instead. I’ve been keeping my eyes open for a metropolitan, I just found a 58 Rambler cheap but I don’t have the money for it I mean it’s cheap but I’m broke lol
1:32 "... we could be hash ..."
Classic line. It reminds me it's time for a little Mary Kitchen this weekend!
The Nash-bodied '55-'57 Hudsons have come to be known as HASH in the hobby (not to be confused with the '57-'58 Packardbakers).
My voice was just about gone yesterday you couldn’t tell it in the video but I was really struggling it’s really cut spliced together that episode was.. lol but you never know it
The Hudson Jet reminds me of a Ford of the era!!! I love the Rambler!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
That is the car that I was thinking of it’s like a miniature Ford =) glad you enjoyed this episode
I was thinking the same.
You forgot about the Willys Aero in your compacts for 1954. I'd almost consider the Henry J a subcompact when compared to the other three.
Oh man you’re right I totally missed that opportunity
I would take the Willys. Their run in South America proved they were tough cars.
@@edwardpearce1138 Someone had a '63 at the AACA meet in Charlotte last year.
From that period, I would choose the Aero-Willys, preferably with the Continental Super-Hurricane 226 engine and overdrive.
Nice one again and a thumbs up liked for you.
I would choose the Hudson and the Studebaker. The Hudson Jet looks very much like the '54 Ford. I love your work!
Thank you glad you dig the channel =) great choices
This car is very Ford-like from the same timeframe. I did like the chrome layout. I wish that was an actual hood scoop up front...that would have been cool.
At any rate, I would choose
1. The '54 Hudson
2. The '57 Studebaker.
Great choices =) Ford was the car that I was thinking of as well it looks like a miniature version of it what amazes me about this car is it’s not very big I don’t know how to really describe it I guess it be about the same size as a Kia Kona roughly about that size but it’s more low slug than the Kia size is roughly the same at any rate I think there’s more space in the Hudson there’s a lot of space in the backseat there’s a lot more space in the backseat of that car it seemed I couldn’t get in this car unfortunately just from looking than a Chevy from this era
Great video as always!
Thank you glad you dig =)
As a kid I remember reading comics about Hudson Hornets in a stunt driving team. The hero would send his car onto its side via a ramp and then drive it back to to the pit lane before driving another Hudson through a fire ring over a bridge. My heart would pump and I could almost smell the burning rubber. Thank you for reminding me of this childhood memory. Great car, could almost be British. I guess the tale lights were meant to be reminiscent of rocket flames. I love the none functioning scoop and the bright work around the windscreen. Not sure about the interior. Beautiful paint job. I just don’t like the guppy front grill. I get that it is aggressive but too much chrome. I prefer the more muted 40’s.
Glad to bring those memories back =) thank you for sharing those memories with us
Another masterpiece, an instant classic.
=)
The inspiration for the Jet model was supposedly the Fiat 1400, but it lost something in translation.
Hudson Motor Cars president Roy D. Chapin was said to have insisted that styling cues from the all-new '52 Ford overall styling, as seen in the wraparound rear glass, but the rear quarters remind me of the '51 Olds Super 88.
Thank you for sharing this video.
Thank you so much for watching =)
The Dual Ghia is in a whole `nother class! The Hawks are terrific and the Rambler wagons were a big part of my childhood.
Very true a lot never even knew the dual Ghia was a thing =)
Henry J fastback is a good looking car ...
Happy motoring 🤠✌️
What about the Allstate version of the Henry J?
@@5610winston I like the rear quarter panels 👍 but not the grill ✌️
It would be cool to do a series version a.k.a. Allstate
My mother had a two-tone green Jet. It was her favorite car until she got an emerald green and white '75 AMC Pacer X, white-letter tires, mag wheels, white buckets, the whole nine yards. The Jet rusted ferociously and had the most unreliable door latches in manufacturing history, but she mourned it like a family member when it went. I still have the owner's manual that Mother stubbornly held onto. WYR: #1 The Jet, of course. Filial piety is a thing. #2: Dual Ghia!!! Be still, my heart.
Awesome story thank you so much for sharing that memory with us =)
I want to cover a dual Ghia on here one day =) they are pretty rare tho get choices
I appreciate the effort you go through for these videos. Well done.
Thank you it means a lot =)
I try to make each episode is if you’re looking at buying these cars just like how the new cars are being featured some people aren’t into the new car some people wanna buy old cars but the information is really hard to find. =)
I'd choose a Hudson over the Nash. Rear end reminds me a little of the Olds. Cool old car.
The Jet was a well trimmed and fitted out little car, but it was expensive. It cost more than a comparable full size Ford, Chevrolet or Plymouth. I'll have the two Ramblers please. Thank you.
Nice comparison! The "Would you rather" Segment 1 - I'd take the Henry J in an instant (They were cool looking and made nice street rod/ drag cars! Segment 2 - I'd take the Golden Hawk. They were a nice looking car and despite some quality issues, they were ahead of their time in many ways. My friend has a 59 Silver Hawk with a 327 Corvette drive train.
Goldenhawk is always a car that strike my fancy super underrated car I always wanted to drive one Henry J is another one that is super underrated very rarely seen all of the ones that I’ve ever saw were highly modified
@@What.its.like. The Henry J is not under rated. It was a cheaply made car and not very good.
1. Nash Rambler 2. Dial Ghia! They are stinking gorgeous!
Still think the Jet should have been named Mosquito to go with Wasp and Hornet.
Awesome choices =)
The second group of choices were underrated fast cars of 1957
Rambler rebel is said to be the fastest car of the 50s followed by the goldenhawk. Corvette owners will say the vettes were the fastest one day I’d love to Challenge that, I would love to see a race between a 57 Rambler rebel get a 57 Goldenhawk, in a golden hawk versus a Corvette because of the Corvette can’t beat the Goldenhawk there’s no sense in racing the Rambler
9:15 Twin-H-Power dual carb intake was optional, boosting horsepower to 114.
Thank you so much for that added information I saw it in the advertisement but I wasn’t sure if it was misleading information I wasn’t able to find a horse figure
I never knew this car even existed until last week during your Hornet review. What a sharp looking car! It's too bad that "different" gets the axe sometimes. "I" think, had they left this in the lineup after the merger, it would've outsold the Ramblers. Also, not sure if that is an original color, but that is a beautiful color paint! In answer to your question, those tail lights could have been lifted off the Oldsmobile's of the same years. Truly an all around beauty! Scenario 1) Gotta go with the Hudson (make mine a Hollywood hardtop in that teal-ish paint!) Scenario 2) I think I'd have to go with the Rebel. The other 2 just don't float my boat...
I wish I was able to get in this car the backseat looked very interesting as far as space goes it looks like there was way more space in the back and there was the front but I’m sure that you could move the seat plan on doing it again I just didn’t wanna miss the opportunity to do this car because I never saw one in person.
I’m going back to Classic Automall next Wednesday I might make an announcement if anybody wants to meet me out there I’m not opposed to meeting people. I think it’s cool =)
Great choice =)
7:35 I read somewhere that the Jet used an advanced Pinin Farina design from Fiat, the 1000, if I remember correctly, as a starting point for its design, and the original clay models bore significant resemblance to the Fiat that was eventually produced. The problem was, members of Hudson management insisted that the car be made taller, resulting in an ungainly tall appearance from every angle.
Said managers had also seen the all-new 1952 models from Ford and insisted that styling cues from the Ford be plagiari--- uh, adapted to the Jet design, hence the high-mount round taillights and the wrapped rear window. These also bear some resemblance to the contemporary Oldsmobile styling, and to a lesser degree, the '53-'54 Buicks. Packard's '54-'55 Clipper line "sore thumb" taillights also come to mind.
I read that that’s where Hudson drew inspiration from, ironically I think the Nash was designed by pinin farina that’s why I left that ad up because it said that they did..
Yeah Hudson president A.E. Barit had a rather old fashioned notion there should be enough room to be able to wear a hat while in the car, with that thinking it's amazing the sleek Step-Down was ever approved, I love Hudson I own a Hornet myself, but I think Barit should have retired after the Step-Down and let some new blood take over.
Ouch, but the Nash,
Stude, all day long!
Always loved the Rambler Rebel.
Super underrated car
It was a sharp take on the standard 1958-59 "Ralph Kramden" lines of the Super and Ambassador models
Back end looks a lot like the 1952-54 Fords. I can also see some of the Oldsmobile's at that time looking similar too.
Totally agree =)
The Hudson Jet is easily the best looking of the three
The Jet and Rambler seem to have class leading headroom for their class. I like both cars.
Enter another vote for the Henry J and the Studebaker Golden Hawk both awesome cars.
It would be impossible to top the 1957 Rambler Rebel.
57 rambler rebel was the fastest car of the 50s
Reminds me of my old friend's '53 Ford mainline. He had 2 of them, one cherry red the other two tone green. Both had the flathead V8 & 3 in the tree.
10:17 That Dual Ghia (sp?) is a cool looking car.
In any other scenario, I would have said "Golden Hawk," but that Ghia is intriguing!
The Nash-Healy was gorgeous too, but don't forget about the KFD161 Darrin from Kaiser, or Hudson's own Italia coupe.
The '57 Rebel was a really cool sleeper; fast like a fuelie 'Vette or any of the faster MOPAR offerings, or even the supercharged Hawk.
I’ve read the 57 Rambler rebel was the fastest car of the 50s followed by the Studebaker Goldenhawk Corvette fans will tell you that the Corvette is the fastest but it’s really isn’t it you had to get a few injected Rambler rebel lotta people didn’t realize the AMC also offered feel injection and 57 they were vastly overshadowed company in the media auto critics didn’t write about them but if I was around back then I would’ve wrote about them they would’ve been the top I think history would’ve you done differently if they would have got the press coverage they deserved
That Dual Ghia was based on the Dodge Firearrow dream car (that's what concept cars were called then). Only a few were built and they cost a fortune. I believe Frank Sinatra was a buyer. He didn't "take" it - he sold a few bazillion records to buy one.
Thank you. I really enjoy your videos. 👍😊
*I did not know that Hudson produced a small car. It is certainly more attractive than the Nash.* My aunt and uncle had a dark blue
Hudson Hornet, it was a lovely car! (With enough room in the back seat for six little kids -- the shelf behind the back seat was big
enough for one of us to climb up there and ride too --- No seatbelts or safety laws back then! 😁
Another relative had a Metropolitan and complained all of the time about the lack of quality (Was that a real issue with the Nash's
or were her and her husband just unhappy because it was not like their former, larger car?) He was a salesman and always drove
one of those Fords without a back seat) She had trouble parking their other car (4-door chevy) --- But at 4 foot 11 inches tall, I can
see how that was an issue. They lived in one of those new tract houses in Levittown, Long Island and purchased the car for her
to drive to the grocery store, etc. (since there were no longer grocery stores on every corner as in the city).
Awesome happy you found this channel and welcome to the community =)
Rear end styling is reminiscent of the Oldsmobiles of that era.
I definitely see that now I was thinking of the 52 to 54 Ford
Golden Hawk every day of the week!!
Awesome hard to go wrong with the golden hawk
The Stude Golden Hawk was
a beautiful car!
I think it's a very nice looking automobile, it looks really nice in that print ad of the two door Hollywood hard top. The rear tail light design makes me think Ford. In the first scenario, I'd pick the Jet if I could have different options and color, in the second scenario, I'd pick the Dual Ghia. 😄
Great choices yeah I definitely see the 52 to 53 Ford in this design =)
Hudson did not offer a two door Hollywood hardtop in the Jet. Sedans only.
The car looks like a small version of the 54' oldsmobile, especialy the tail lights section
When looking at the Hudson Jet it reminds me of the Fords from 1952-54. I quite like the Jet and Rambler but couldn't say which one I like best. As for the other cars shown I would choose the Studebaker Hawk.
=) Great choices I should’ve elaborated that Second choice was all of the underrated cars they’re actually faster than anything else in the 50s the Rambler rebel is the fastest car of the 50s followed by the Golden hawk in the dual Ghia is up there with it them but they didn’t make that many dual Ghia s and they were expensive when new
That was the car that I was thinking of 1952 to 1954 Ford Hudson jet actually looks like a miniature Ford
1953 Kaiser Henry J, because grandpa had one, and for an old German farmer to be driving a Kaiser vs. the other way around, now that was an improvement! AMC was down in Kenosha, the factory was so small that one worker said they had to bank the curve on the assembly line for the cars to make it around..
Awesome choice I’ve been looking for one of those the cover every single one I find is all customized for some reason.. which is a downer
@@What.its.like. I hope you find one! Iola, our old car town, might have a clue..
I think the Jet was a great car … but nothing could compare to the Rambler. It was way ahead of its time and has aged well. But I love the Hudsons. My uncle had an Allstate - which was Henry J that Sears Department Stores sold under their brand.
I’ve been looking for a Henry Jay or an Allstate those are cars that are really hard to find now that haven’t been totally molested..
The photo of the instrument panels was incorrect. The one shown for the Rambler is, actually, the panel for the large Nashes.
The Jet (we had one when I was a kid - bought used) was powered by an antediluvian L head engine - 2/3 rds of the Commodore 8 - that made good power. New, they were too expensive for their position in the market. Solid and nice to drive, it looked British - high and narrow.
History informs us that the styling took on some Ford like styling details because Hudson's largest dealer suggested such. Probably true.
Hudson lost a lot of money on this experiment and was moribund when it merged with Nash.
The Italia sure looked interesting.
If I ever come across one I will definitely feature it with only 25 made they’re hard to come by but we’ve done a Chrysler turbine car and there’s only nine of those
I would choose the Dual Ghia and the Hudson Jet. One very experienced collector said that his most reliable collector's car was his Hudson Jet. The rear seems reminiscent of Oldsmobile to me. A real problem for the independents at the time was the Ford-Chevy price war (started by Henry Ford II)--you could buy a full-sized Ford or Chevy for less money than the Hudson Jet. The U.S. government under Truman had restricted car production during the Korean War based on the figures for 1949, which favored the Big Three, as they had restyled that year, and the independents had retrenched, so got screwed. Then they got hit with the Ford-Chevy price war. Fair or not, I would have bought a Chevy or Ford at the time in preference to the independents' offerings.
Thank you so much for sharing all of that added information as well as insight I really appreciate it =)
Dual Ghia would be an awesome car to cover one day
I would have more likely purchased from an independent as I favour the underdog and like rare cars.
@@ernielaw Each to his own. Forty years from then, you would have a classic.
I don’t know which I’d buy, the Rambler or the Jet-but I do know that I’d happily take either over a 2023 Turd-ota.
Amen to that =)
Both Ramblers. My grandfather had late 60's Rambler and a Marlin. Inline 6 engines. Both novel and reliable. You did a video of a 65' Marlin, my grandfather's was red and white.
I plan on hitting the Marlin again they are cool cars and the format changed since then =)
Hi Jay. The back end closely resembles a "53 Ford to me.
That’s the car I saw =)
I would want the Henry J, and the 1957 Studebaker Hawk.
Sweet choices =)
Reminds me of an aero Willy's.
Jet for sure. Nash has enclosed wheel wells which really restrict turning radius.
Awesome choice
Reminds me of checker cabs..
Seeing the Dual Ghia is worth a small country estate on a couple of acres ...I'll take the Dual ...if I have a choice the one Sammy Davis jr. owned thanx in advance.
I wanna cover the dual Ghia a one day they’re just really expensive and rare I’ve never seen one in person I don’t think
I think the Jet looked more “normal” for that time. The rear reminds me of a 1954 Oldsmobile. The Nash Rambler looks kind of weird like an overgrown Metropolitan.
The Hudson looked proportion better too, I think they made the Rambler bigger and 53 and 54 they didn’t offer a four-door and 51 or 52 but they were smaller or at least they look smaller.
I've always wanted a hawk.... Closest I ever got was a 63 lark regal 259 with the hi comp heads, rustled out bucket of bolts...sold the engine for twice what I paid for the car....I find all the American "economy cars" of the 1950s fascinating. And I would have the Hudson. If only because I'll always associate Nash with my mom's uncle who was a coward and a cheapskate. When His wife's brother died all he cared about was long distance charges to Indiana or something... He drove a Nash.
Thank you so much for sharing those memories with us =)
Hello, Jay. I'll take the 57 Golden Hawk with a side of 'hash'! I haven't seen any good 'hash' since the early 70's. Odd how Hudson stole the 52-53 Ford rear & stuck it on that car, eh? Toodles
I know right it looks like a miniature ford some also said olds as well which I definitely see
Great choices =)
HI Jay, this will be fun. I remember the first episode of yours which I saw. It was a 40s era ute, which you also drove, which you were able to do with many of the models you tested. It would be nice if you could do some road test comparisons as well, and I do understand that you have a vast stock of cars at your immediate disposal at the mall, which is very beneficial for your time, perhaps testing some friends or relatives vehicles, very occasionally would be a nice mix?
I definitely plan on driving more cars in the summertime if it all possible because I could go to shows and stuff hopefully.
I worked at the Classic Car dealership last year which gave me the opportunity to drive cars unfortunately I don’t work there anymore so I can’t drive the cars anymore from that particular location
@@What.its.like. Oh, that's great, I will appreciate it.
Hudson jet , Hudson hawk !
Sweet choices =)
The Jet was an interesting car! Unfortunately for it, and the other early compacts such as the Willys Aero, Henry J, Rambler, and the Crosley, they just came along TOO SOON. Compact cars became THE THING starting in the late 1950's and pretty much are still somewhat popular now. The only bad thing about the Jet is the styling, especially the roof (gave LOTS of headroom but made the car look a little stodgy) which hurt it's sales, I think.
I have a lot time behind the wheel of a `54 Jet Liner. It was to compete in the developing compact car segment. While the car was well built I hated it. It damn sure didn't have the ride, handling or power of the Hornet. Also, it was Willys Aeros that were the likely impetus for the development as well as Rambler, Henry J, and Allstate. The Pacemaker and its replacement Wasp were close in price to the Jet and still offered the step down ride and handling. The rear styling is clearly `53 Ford Mainline. The Jet, in my opinion, was the final financial straw that broke Hudson.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the car =) I wondered how these rode and drove, I wonder why Hudson didn’t spend the money on the development of a V8
I'd use both the Hudson Jet and Nash Rambler, depending on what I feel like driving that day.
It would be awesome to own both of them they are two drastically different cars =) amid at the same buyer
@@What.its.like. Amen to that.
Rambler station wagon. A bigger one with V8 and overdrive.
I had an Oldsmobile that the jet much resembles.
Sweet what year was the olds?
OUR NEW 53 JET NEVER LOST A TRAFFIC LIGHT RACE...AND GOT 26 MPG..
That’s awesome thank you so much for sharing that
I vote for the Henry J and the Rambler Rebel
Sweet =)
Jay, forgot to mention…after your pun about “Hash”, you shoulda featured “Hash Pipe” by Weezer. 😆
Hahaha missed opportunity
Nash Rambler and the 57 golden hawk
Awesome =) one day I’d like to compare those two and fine out which one is faster both are faster than the super over rated corvette.. don’t get me wrong they are cool. But if given the chance in 57 I’d hand down take the golden hawk. It’s the best personal luxury 50s car I’ve been in.. thunderbird and corvette are hard to get into when the top is up the floor to seat ratio isn’t good in the thunderbird, the corvette was bad too. (I haven’t been in a Nash Healy or Kaiser darrin yet) golden hawk seating position is perfect and you feel like a million bucks behind the wheel, makes me really want one
I'm partial to Hudson
1957 Rambler Rebel.
Sweet choice =)
Just so you know the dash you showed is the big Nash ambassador not the rambler.
Catch up time👍
How’s things been missed seeing you in the comments =)
@@What.its.like. crazy, for sure. Thxs!
I think it looks like a sedan version of the 1954 ford ranch wagon rear end
Yeah I was thinking 52-54 ford
Hudson and then the Stude.
Awesome choices =)
I'd pick the Hudson Jet by far above the Nash or Henry J. I'll bet somebody did it, but drop a Hornet Twin-H 6 in the Jet and you'd really have something. With it's lighter weight as a handling advantage, I'd think that it would be a draw between the Jet and the "step-down" Senior Hudsons.
Hey how’s it been I’ve been missing you in the comment section, hope all is well
I was reading an article where somebody did put a 308 in.³ displacement from Hudson hornet in the jet but they had to modify the firewall to make it fit
@@What.its.like. I had thought about that. I believed that the 308 had larger exterior dimensions. Nothing is ever easy.
Back in 1970, we had a 1950 Willys Jeep CJ, which a few years earlier, my father had put a 265 Chevy V8 in. In 1970, we rebuilt the Jeep from the ground up and installed a Ford 351W V8. The Ford V8 was a little longer so we had to modify the firewall. Everything turned out great and with the new 4-speed manual truck transmission, also with new 4.27:1 differential gearing, in 1st gear, low range, at 7,000 rpm, the Jeep moved at walking speed!
@@What.its.like. The guy who did it was on one of Jay Leno's video, still the Twin-H 202 made pretty good power for the price well matching if not slightly surpassing the Ford's Chevrolet's and Plymouth's it was made to compete with, and with the Plymouth was the better built of them.
@@willgeary6086 The power was sufficient so that is the engine which was used in the 55 Wasp - a much bigger car.
Rear end looks like a '53 Corvette. Kinda.
3/4's of a 52 Ford and ill proportioned. Looks top heavy. $16 better spent elsewhere and that's why it was a failure - ate capital at a time Hudson could ill afford it. Plus it cost too much when you could buy a real Ford with a V-8 for less money - especially with the 53-54 sales blitz. "54 for $54" - a Ford dealer pitch that year. One thing the Jet did have is that in Super Jet and especially Jet Liner lines, they were nicely trimmed out. Better than the competition. Generally true of all the Hudsons. At the end of the day though, writing was on the wall for all of the Independents, and they should have listened to Mason, when he started talking merger years before (Studebaker with its 'craftsmen' workforce might have been too far gone despite its excellent 50 sales year and strong 51) WTR - 54 Nash, and, for the 57's - a Rebel, because I'd be afraid to drive the Dual anywhere but a show field. On the other hand, if I can sell the Dual for 400k, I could buy a fleet of cool 60's sedans plus garage space to store them. Hmmm.
Great choices =) yeah the dual Ghia is a pretty good expensive car you’ll always have that in the back of your head. The Jet looks like a miniature ford 52-54 =)
I'd have gone for the jet. It looks like a 52 - 54 Ford.
Sweet =) that’s the car I was thinking about as well
I would choose the Hudson Jet over the others and the Studebaker over the others. I think the Hudson Jet was a MUCH better looking car than any Rambler in the day. I like the looks of everything about the Hudson Jet better than the Rambler, even the dash, door panels the outside lines of the car, the wheel wells, the outside door handles, everything about the Hudson Jet is better looking then anything Rambler, Kaiser, or Willys had to offer back then.
It is a shame that Hudson couldn't have stayed independent for just a few more years. By the late 1950's I believe the Hudson Jet might have took off, pun intended. I think by the late 1950's the American people were starting to look at smaller cars. By 1960 we had the Corvair, Falcon, Comet,and VW, and by 1962, the Tempest, F85, Chevy II, a Smaller Fairlane, Meteor, Lancer, Valient, and probably others I didn't remember when writing this.
Awesome thank you so much for sharing the reasons why you would choose the Hudson jet over the rest of them =)
The Jet was a full fledged disaster for Hudson, the approval of which was largely responsible for the demise of the once proud auto company. That little Nash Rambler was a far better designed car and was also quite profitable for their company. It was by far the best of the early 50's compact cars. Lois Lane drove one on the TV series!
Had Hudson never gotten involved with the Jet they would have survived at least another year with an updated design and new a Packard V-8 engine. But the company began to bleed so much red ink that they were forced to merge with Nash to avoid fallling into bankruptcy and then use a modified Nash design for their new models in '55. ☹
What blew my mind is why they didn’t use the money to develop a V-8 instead they had a killer car in the Hudson hornet...
The rear of the Jet reminds me of the '55 through '57 Oldsmobiles. I would take the Nash over the Jet or the Henry J. I have a soft spot for Nashes, and the Henry J is not my cup of tea. I would take the Hawk, but would rather have the Packard Hawk (which is a badge-engineered Studebaker) because it's rarer and I like the front-end styling better. Lotsa luck finding a Dual Ghia.
Challenge accepted I will totally find a dual Ghia to feature one day =)
Great choices, I can’t wait to find some bathtub nashes I got a spot in my heart for those =)
Good pick up on the Oldsmobile I didn’t see the Oldsmobile I was thinking 52 to 54 Ford
Oldsmobile 53, 54
I wasn’t thinking the Oldsmobile but I can definitely see that I was thinking maybe a miniature Ford
Rear end looks like a Ford, front end looks like a Chevy. Prettier than both, but a dog,. Stude Hark.
The Hudson Jet WAS a financial wrong step for Hudson at the worst possible time. The explosion of consumer demand for compacts came in 1959 so this was premature marketing. But make NO mistake, the Jets were superior Hudson engineering. We had three in my extended neighborhood. One had Twin H Power and with a little mild modification: milled heads bigger carbs
And early tube exhausts one of the Jets could get to over a hundred. Flip you installed continental radials the handling was far superior to any other compact.
Awesome memory thank you so much for sharing that story =)
Well said. The Jet was too expensive when finally priced out. Too, they did not have a station wagon. Young families were a prime market for new, small cars and Rambler found that wagons really boosted sales reaching 50% of production at one point. Rambler sales arced upward through many years while other offerings such as the Willys Aero and this Jet did not.
Did Nash offering a cabriolet, a station wagon, a hardtop as well as sedans make a difference. I think so. these smaller cars were very price sensitive, as well.
It looks like a shrunkin Ford... that style of hood....used to be called a domed hood.....
Agree
I found a complete fair condition one in a junkyard years ago. Kicking my own ass for not buying it...
I wonder what happened to it? If someone bought it and fixed it up?
Always felt bad for the Jet, engineering and feature wise it was one of the best on the market hands down, more than earning it's right to bear the Hudson name.
Sadly the styling was ruined by executive meddling with Hudson President A E Barit. The reason it's tall in proportions is because of him, because he had the pre war notion of needing enough room to wear a hat while driving which was going completely out of style, and the Ford -esqe styling was him too, he was real buddy buddy with Hudson's biggest Detroit dealer who loved the look of the 52 Ford so that influenced him. Needless to say Hudson's Chief of Styling Frank Spring was not pleased with the end result, evidence is he wanted more Euro design cues, FIAT particularly, as well as his own design flares that went into the Italia.
I don't think it's bad looking it just could have been abit more than what it ended up as.
I kind of like the jet it’s one of the early compact cars that actually looks good in my opinion. I wish I could’ve gotten in the car to see how a full size adult from the year 2023 fits in it
Hudson each time
Awesome =)
You didn't offer the Willies Arrow. Wasn't in in the same category with these? To bad they would not let you inside the car.
I think It has a British look to it Don't you?
Yeah that was an overlook on my part I even put the willys in the beginning and that was completely random lol
WYR - 53 Kaiser Henry J # 2 57 Golden Hawk.
Awesome choices =)
Should have compared it to buying a 2023 Jetta instead of a Corolla........Get it, Jet & Jetta. By the way very few car model names starting with "J" were introduced. The only ones that come to mind are Jet, Jetta, Juke & Justy. Of course there is Jeep & Jaguar but those are makes. Did I miss any??
Hahaha great point missed opportunity. Jordan but that was long ago lol
Jensen
Journey (dodge)
Javelin (amc)
Jalpa (Lamborghini)
Jimny (Suzuki)
Jimmy (GMC)
A couple more I’m sure there are more =)
@@What.its.like. Forgot about those ones though the only one you mentioned I hadn't heard of would be the Jalpa. Just thought of another, Jetstar 88.
Jet by Mc Cartney and Wings. And the Jet meets my druthers. I would take MY land craft compact in red and white; either the Super or Jet Liner, Flash-O-Matic. I'd do it today. Personally, I don't subscribe to the views of the automotive fraternity when the majority of the aforementioned dismiss this car as murky, and good only for Aunt Cecilia. It handles much better than the concurrent Nash Rambler product, was a size standout before Lark and Valiant were there, and again, the size of, and as easy to handle as any '65 Mustang. Of course, I'm not oblivious to Mustang and the Jet coming from two different worlds in regards to excitement; if I did, I'd make so many Jet detractors get violently ill. And on the face of it, there seems a plain Jane image. To me, though, it's more of a Georgy Girl one needing only love, and the old saw "Beauty Is In the Eye Of the Beholder"; the lesson can be learned with this, the Hudson Jet.
Jet
Rear similar to 1951-1953 Oldsmobile.
That isn’t the car that I was thinking of but I could totally see that I was thinking of 52 to 54 Ford so this car looks like two different cars which is even cooler
Like is similar to 1952-54 Ford.
Jet
Rebel
Great choices that’s exactly the same car I thought of it looks like a miniature Ford
I never noticed before, the jet from the rear is very ford looking, isn't it?
Looks like a miniature Ford
1954 nash Rambler.
Sweet
I think Buick or Oldsmobile had the same tail light design. Maybe even Ford.
Definitely see Oldsmobile and Ford like 52 to 54 Ford the Hudson actually looks like a miniature Ford
This cars' styling reminds of the by-product of an illicit relationship between a '52 Chevy and a '54 Ford. The interior seems pretty basic and straightforward. I can see where it could be mistaken for a GM product. Definitely not exactly the most stylish car I've seen.
Yeah I definitely see miniature 52 to 54 Ford others mentioned Oldsmobile which I didn’t see but I totally see it now. This car had a lot of aspects of acquired taste but it looks better in person than it did on camera.
I do not know where I got the idea the Jet had a hornet engine.🦇
They look very similar I’ve heard people taking hornet engines and stuffing them into jets.. =)
If you dig Hudson there’s going to be a 57 Hudson hornet tomorrow not just any Hudson hornet the very last Hudson hornet ever made
Henry j and studabaker
Sweet =)