Hudson Hornet Twin H-Power, 1953 Hornet Twin H-Power | Conceptcarz.com - Pictures, Pricing, Information, Wallpaper, History

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Chassis Num: 70245006

This 1953 Hudson Hornet Twin H-Power Sedan is very special and has a very distinguished racing career. It was known affectionately as the 'Satan of Morimar'.

The Hudson marque had a proud racing heritage most notable in the post-war era when it finished first in 47 AAA and NASCAR events, amassing 36 victories in 42 starts. In a time when stock car racing was exactly that - stock cars racing on an oval track – the Hudson was king. The cars were purchased from the showroom and taken to the track and no manufacturer could boast a better record than the Hudson Company. Powered by their potent L-Head side-valve inline-six cylinder engines, they were virtually unbeatable. It must have been embarrassing for the other manufacturers who showed up with engines that had two-extra cylinders and were nearly 100 cubic-inches larger in size only to finish behind the Hudsons.

The stock Hudson six-cylinder engine produced 145 horsepower. After Marshall Teague and Hudson engineer Vince Piggins were done with it, the engine had been modified to include a bigger bore, valves, modified combustion chambers, split dual exhausts, high performance cam, high compression head, and 'Twin H-Power' carburetors and manifold. The result was an increase in horsepower by 75 and over 275 foot-pounds of torque. To accommodate this increase in power, the suspension, brakes and axle where beefed up and reinforced. The low center of gravity, superb handling, and potent engine left the competition in the dust.

As mentioned before, the story of the Satan of Morimar is classic. In 1955 there was an accident that left a 1952 Commodore beyond repair and its owner without a car. The owner surveyed what his money could buy and was disappointed with the selection. Most of the cars were too heavy, too big, and too flamboyant. He wanted another Hudson but that was too much for his pocket-book to spare. So he turned his focus across the pond to what Europe was offering. A suitable car was found with the Jaguar marque and an order was placed. Over a period of time the Jaguar was still not delivered and the owner was becoming anxious, annoyed, and frustrated. Until one day he found a Hudson Hornet sitting in a used car lot. A spur-of-the-moment decision left the used car dealer a little richer but short one car. The new owner then set out to purchase a commuter car, leaving the Hudson Hornet for competition.

The color was repainted with a dark metal-flake blue which took 27 coats before it finally matched the interior. Metallic gold was painted on the lower portion of the car. Next was the 7X engine which received some beauty-modifications in the form of chrome. To allow more air into the engine compartment, louvers were cut into the hood. A driver's side spotlight and new hubcaps completed the cosmetic modifications.

Jack Clifford of Hudson Performance Products was commissioned to modify the engine which consisted of many upgrades and performance products. A floor mounted Dragfast Shifter could now be found in the interior. The shifter was not suitable for this car so it was made to work. The problem was that it needed extra room so the solution was to cut out a portion of the front seat to accommodate its space requirements.

This machine was both beautiful and beastly. It was given the name 'Satan of Morimar' and the owner turned to competition. It was raced in many hill-climbs where its power and torque were complimented by its superb handling and responsive steering. The body was aerodynamic with its enclosed wheels and curvy and sloping body. Its Achilles' heal was its weight and its size. It looked out of place when matched up against other vehicles in its class which often included Triumph Spitfires, MGB's, Mustangs, and even Firebirds. It quickly amassed many victories, proving its superior engineering and the skill of its driver. Those who knew of the car respected it; those who did not often mocked the car and its owner. After the race when they had been thoroughly beaten and embarrassed they would angrily ask the owner what kind of engine was powering the Hudson. When it was revealed that its was just a six-cylinder engine their embarrassment and anger grew even greater but a new found respect was created.

On March of 2006 it was offered for sale without reserve by RM Auction. All proceeds were graciously donated to the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance charities, a very noble and admirable offering. When the gavel struck the podium closing the sale, a new owner had been found and this car that was once sitting in a used car parking lot fetched a price of $110,000 - all going to a very worthy cause. It had been estimated to have been worth between $30,000-$40,000 but very generous bidding drove the price to more than double this amount.

The Hudson Motor Car Company came into existence in 1909 and produced vehicles until 1957. It was created by Howard Coffin, George W. Dunham, and Roy E. Chapin. Based in Detroit, Michigan, the company had it most successful year in 1929 when it produced and sold over 300,000 vehicles. From 1942 through 1945, the Hudson Corporation did its patriotic part by manufacturing war materials such as naval engines and aircraft parts, during the Second World War. After the war, the Company had its share of ups and downs before it merged with Nash Motors in January of 1954, when it became known as American Motors. The Hudson plant closed while the production of Nash vehicles bearing Hudson badges continued. The brand name ceased to exist after 1957.
In 1951 Hudson introduced the Hornet. The Hornet sat atop a modified version of the Super Six chassis and outfitted with a 262 and 308 cubic-inch inline six-cylinder power-plant. It dominated the NASCAR circuit in the early fifties. In 1952, it won 27 NASCAR Grand National races, 22 in 1953, and 17 in 1954.

The car sat low, giving it an excellent center of gravity. Its flowing, curvy lines and enclosed rear wheels gave it aerodynamic features. The car sold well for the company when first introduced but slowly faded into the history books. The Big Three auto manufacturers were able to change the faces of their model line-up every year, the Independent Auto Manufacturer, Hudson was not. So by the time the Hudson was discontinued, it was feeling and looking its age.

A wonderful car with seating for six and featuring an L-head straight six coupled with Twin-H Power carburetors was enough to breathe life into the Hudson Company for only a few years. The company had lasted through two World Wars and the Great Depression but it would ultimately find its demise at the hand of low-cost, mass-produced automotive giants.

1953 Hudson Hornet Twin H-Power
Year	1953
Make	Hudson
Model	Hornet Twin H-Power
Body Style	Sedan
Engine Location	Front
Drive Type	Rear Wheel
Production Years for Series	1951 - 1954
Combined MPG	0.00

Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown
Chassis Number	70245006

Engine
Engine Configuration	I
	L-Head
Cylinders	6
	Solid valve lifters
Aspiration/Induction	Normal
Displacement	308.00 CU IN. \| 5048.1 cc. \| 5 L.
Horsepower	240.00 HP (176.6 KW)
HP / Liter	48.0 BHP / Liter
Compression Ratio	7.2:1
Main Bearings	4
Fuel Type	Gasoline - Petrol
Block	Light Alloy

Standard Transmission
Gears	3
Transmission	Manual
	with Overdrive Dragfast shifter

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