37' Hudson terraplane

We have a 37' Hudson terraplane that would like to turn into a daily driver. It currently has no engine or drivetrain. We can go two ways, either go for a matching Hudson complete engine and drivetrain or adapt a complete more modern, other make/model engine/drivetrain. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, just want to turn this beautiful hull back on the road again with not a lot of expense added to it.

Thanks

Comments

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Give it some careful thought.  Either way (restore to original, or upgrade to modern drive train) you are going to spend a good deal of time and / or money.

    Ask: is your goal a modern car?  Because, even with the original body sitting on a modern chassis, you won't have air bags, crush zones, good visibility and a host of other things that even the cheapest modern cars will give you.  And even without these things, you will have modified the original car so much that it's just a shell masquerading as a '37.  And you still might feel uncomfortable driving it, if your standard of comparison is a new car.

    If you go completely the other way, you'll end up with a pristine trophy-winning antique that behaves like an authentic '37.  You'll then be afraid to drive it lest you dent the $5,000 paint job, and it still  won't perform like the modern cars you're used to.

    With either extreme you will indeed have "a lot of expense added to it".

    You said it has no drive train.  Is the body, interior and chassis in good condition?  If it's presentable now and it literally needs only the engine and transmission then you're most of the way there.  You can find an original drive train, or go for a modified one, and you'll have a good looking ride that gets you around.   But you are still going to be surrounded by 1937 "issues":  no air conditioning, vintage brakes, a primitive suspension, few safety items (though you could easily add belts). windshield wipers and headlights that leave a lot to be desired.  Would you be able to live with that?

    One variation of "the whole nine yards" is that you could bring the car up to its 1937 level with an original drive train, and just basically get everything working fairly well (with tattered upholstery, some dents in the fenders, and a crack or two in the glass). You'd then have something that you could drive around town, so long as you don't have to depend upon it as an everyday car that you put 15,000 miles a year on.  After all, these cars were driven daily back in 1937 (and '47, and '67, and so forth) and gave good service.   The catch is, that it will require a bit more maintenance than a modern car and it just won't drive as pleasantly as one.   But we who have been driving these cars for years in their original configuration (I've driven mine since 1973) are used to the quirks, and have a certain appreciation for old technology.  We know never to drive too fast, we know not to "push" the braking system, and we don't mind that the car doesn't have a silky smooth ride or corner like a sports car.  We've even found some subtle "work-arounds" to give ourselves halfway-decent headlights, turn signals, wipers, and the ability to drive safely at reasonably high speeds.

    If you want to keep the car, I suggest you join the H-E-T Club (if you haven't done so already) where you'll be able to get to know some other '37 owners, and get their ideas on what to change, and what to leave alone.  The Club's homepage is at http://www.hetclub.org/    And if you tell us your general location, you might find that one of our forum people with a similar car to yours, might live near you.

    But, please do give this thing some pretty careful thinking before you embark on any restoration or modification, lest you spend a lot of time and money only to discover that you wish you hadn't done so!


  • Your definition of daily driver can vary from person to situation. my suggestion is to ask around and find a person with a 1930's car and have a day trip with them to a club event or even better be allowed to drive a bit of the way. It will make up your mind in a few seconds of driving or traveling in it (cold weather and hot) either way.. Personally I'd say it would be like thinking of dressing in a 1930's mens suit every day and expecting to do your normal routine- it can work for you if you are prepared for the limitations wearing that suit all day involves - you just need to know what they are - and really the only way is to borrow that car or hitch a ride - visit any car club with 1930's cars in your area and do some research before spending any money either way - modern or original - kick a few tires so to speak cheers Ken
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