RR of the Day: What's up, Doc?
Though I and my generation weren't raised during Hudson's heyday, we can thank Pixar and Disney for picking up and dusting off the automaker's most famous model – the Hornet. The Hudson Hornet is experiencing a revival right now thanks to the animated film CARS that featured a Hornet named Doc who has all the answers.
A man who wears his affection for Hornets on his sleeve owns this gorgeous 1951 model; he goes by the Flickr handle Proud Hornet Owner. The car has been in his family since 1968, ever since his father bought the green machine from the original owner for $500. As a matter of fact, Proud Hornet Owner's first car ride ever was a trip home from the hospital on a cold winter's day in his father's Hornet. Nowadays, the Hornet only sees sunny weather. Proud Hornet Owner also tells us that the car is quite a celebrity now thanks to CARS, as little kids want to get their picture taken with the one and only Doc.
If you'd like to see your own ride featured here, simply upload photos of your ride into our Flickr group. We select one image to highlight each week day, and on the weekend let you vote for the RR of the Week. Detailed instructions can be found after the jump.
How to submit to RR of the Day:
Create a Flickr account if you don't already have one. Search for and join the group called 'Autoblog RR of the Day'. Upload up to three photos of your ride to your own account at a size no larger than 450 pixels wide if possible and include as much information about it and yourself as possible. Even if your ride is sweet, it will not be chosen if there's not a lot of info accompanying it. Click on each photo and just above the picture it will say "Send to group". Click that and select the Autoblog group. You're done, that's it!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
smitty 10:41AM (9/20/2006)
Cue up "Flight of the Bumblebee!" Cool!
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Richard Warren 11:50AM (9/20/2006)
That's one nice Hudson.
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Proud Hudson Owner 11:03AM (9/20/2006)
Hehehe. Thanks, guys :)
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gkz 11:22AM (9/20/2006)
great looking car
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Ryan H 11:31AM (9/20/2006)
Proud Hudson Owner:
How many miles does this great looking Hornet have on the clock? Have you had to do any major resoration work to keep it looking so good or is it all original?
Thank you once more for sharing this beautiful piece of automotive history.
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Vinny 11:39AM (9/20/2006)
I'm voting for this one at the end of the week.
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chuck goolsbee 11:56AM (9/20/2006)
That is a very sweet car. I've always liked Hudsons. I hate to go to car shows and see no judging category for "orphans" such as Hudson, because the "50's stock" class always ends up being awarded to YET ANOTHER '57 Chevy instead of something truly unique like a Hudson Hornet, or a Packard Caribe.
Please don't pick my car for showing this week, because I don't want to compete with this classic!
--chuck
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Hamud 12:12PM (9/20/2006)
All can be said in one word: AMAZING.
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Proud Hudson Owner 1:29PM (9/20/2006)
To Ryan H. and the rest,
Thank you, first of all. Your responses are flattering and humbling.
The Hornet has almost 110,000 miles on it. The pans for the engine and Hydomatic transmission (single range) have never been off. The only major maintenance that has been done to the car are a couple of valve jobs, and I did have hardened valve seats put into the motor so that the car could "get along" with unleaded gasoline without valve recession. The motor runs like a champ and still runs 40 pounds of oil pressure hot.
The Hudson is mostly original. It was painted 32 years ago, but was done in the original color for the car, Jefferson Green (the color was named after the street on which the main Hudson factory was located, Jefferson Avenue in Detroit.) The chrome and interior have never been touched. The car was bought by the Hudson dealer in my town as a show car for a state fair in the fall of 1950 , so the car was "gussied up" with all the available options at the time. This includes the windshield visor (with accompanying prism so you can still see traffic lights if you're first in line), turn signals, and day/night rearview mirror. And, yes, the swan hood ornament was an available Hudson option in 1951.
Again, thanks for your kind comments.
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Andy 3:39PM (9/20/2006)
Terrific car. That is a beauty. So what is your daily driver?
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Proud Hudson Owner 6:37PM (9/20/2006)
LOL, Andy, here's a disappointment. My daily driver is a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan.
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Pam 3:39PM (10/12/2007)
What a beauty!
I just picked up a Hudson Hornet. Doesn't look anything like this. I am inspired to get mine up and running and maybe a few more frills.
Yours is awesome!
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