1937 Hudson Deluxe Eight

History

The Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit produced the Terraplane automobile from 1932 through 1939. In 1932, it was known as the Essex Terraplane since the vehicle it was replacing was known as the Essex. The Essex brand of vehicles had been with Hudson for a long time, first appearing in 1919. The Essex vehicles were a low-priced alternative to mass-produced vehicles such as those by Ford and Chevrolet. The Terraplane continued this tradition by offering lots of internal room for its occupants and their luggage. The vehicle was inexpensive and offered in a variety of body styles, such as convertible, utility coupe, and truck. The vehicles were powered by a 212 cubic-inch L-head six-cylinder engine that was mated to a three-speed manual gearbox. Hydraulic brakes provided the stopping power for the 122-inch wheelbase. From 1935 through 1938, the Terraplane was offered with an optional steering column-mounted electric gear pre-selector and electro-mechanical automatic shifting system. It was manufactured by the Bendix Corporation.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2006