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It Almost Looks Original – Almost By Mike, 2008 A few years ago I purchased a 1938 Hudson Terraplane Businessman’s Coupe. It was a beautiful car but, a bit frustrating as it just wasn’t built for highway speeds.
Some of the neat things we did:
When it came to the interior, it started out
with an interior that looked original. The new
interior was done in leather and mohair. Seat
upholstery follows the original design but it is now all leather. In the door panels, we recreated, in embroidery,
the Hudson Terraplane logo that is ion the grille. Behind
the seat, below the window we have an art deco impression of the Hudson logo. The steering wheel is a 1937 banjo wheel, with a
‘36’ center piece, restored by an outfit in Arizona. We found a kit that allows us to use the
original window crank handles with electric windows. Again,
that let us retain the appearance of originality while using some modern technology. The original car ha a plate over the glove box
opening which could house the optional clock. A
fun moment occurred as I searched and searched for an original Hudson wind-up clock. I was about to give up when, on the internet, I
found a clock dealer in Atlanta, Georgia who was disposing of a deceased man’s clock
collection. Keep in mind I was told, by
several Hudson folks, I would never find the clock, which was only manufactured one year. On the internet, I was able to look at the over 100
automobile clocks this man had collected. And,
there it was, for $85. Of course I bought it
and think that the man who now definitely resides in car collector’s heaven had a big
smile as I installed it in the Hudson Terraplane. It
keeps perfect time – as long as you remember to wind it. We eliminated the wing windows and the air vent
that was right in front of the windshield. Most
people won’t know the difference and it gives the car a cleaner look. Wing windows and air vents were a wonderful feature
on cars until the advent of auto air conditioning. Both
devices directed fresh air into the vehicle but both significantly reduced the
aerodynamics of the vehicle. With the advent
of factory installed air conditioning systems people tended to drive with their windows
up. Now that air conditioning is pretty much
standard in modern cars designers have been able to dispense with both wing windows and
mechanical vents. Today’s cars actually
get better fuel economy with the window closed even when running the air conditioner. The trunk is huge, since it was designed to
carry a salesman’s samples. Since the
trunk is so big and the engine compartment is full with the crate engine, the battery is
in the rear. The battery and spare tire are in
the trunk, next to the cab wall. To hide them
we installed a box, with a door. Of course on
the door we put a Hudson name in the period correct ‘38’ script. We then installed terminals for the battery in the
front of the trunk, so that in the event we would need to jump the car, one would not have
to crawl in the trunk. Next, it was time for the body work. Fortunately in our market we have a master body man
who loves to work on older cars, especially those with really classic lines. John Cottrell of Cottrell’s Customs and
Classic Restorations, Brigham City, Utah, took on the job.
When we began the process of taking the body down to bare metal we uncovered
some issues – like over two pounds of lead below the trunk opening. When the lead was removed there was almost nothing
left of that piece. After trying to find a
replacement piece, to no avail, John Cottrell was able to manufacture the entire piece
that runs below the trunk. It is beautiful
work, looks original and is stronger than what came on the car when it was new. In keeping with the goal of having the car
appear stock, we cut the top, but only 1 1 / 4”.
It smoothed the top out but did not give it a radical chopped look. As such, the line looks stock and to those who know
Hudsons and recognize the chop it appears to be what Hudson should have done for a roof
line in the first place. We shaved the filler tube and cap from the
fender and installed a modern gas cap cover. Just
tap it, it opens and you fill the car without having to remove the gas cap! This set up was an after market set up from Hagen
Street Rods. For body color we chose a General Motors 1998,
dark blue. It was actually a truck color, with
no metallic. The blue is very close to a 1938
Hudson color called Midnight Blue. The fenders
are black. The color scheme again was selected
to be period correct. As I write this we are about a month from finishing the car. There are many additions, cosmetic and mechanical that I did not mention…
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