1911 Hudson Model 33 news, pictures, and information

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Roadster

This 1911 Hudson 33 speedster was originally used to promote Hudson sales in Puerto Rico. It was driven for several days at 60 miles per hour in Puerto Rico to prove its reliability.

The Hudson speedster is custom built on a race car chassis. A 33 horsepower, four-cylinder Buda engine powers the speedster-Hudson began producing their own engines just a couple years after this 1911 Hudson was built. It features a cork-faced clutch that is enclosed in oil bath.

While playing golf in Puerto Rico in 1987, a Pennsylvania doctor found out his golf partner owned a few automobiles, including this 1911 Hudson speedster. Shortly after, the doctor bought this Hudson, a Pierce-Arrow and a Lincoln from his golf-friend and had them shipped to the United States. The current owner became interested in the Hudson at the Hershey show and bought it from the doctor about 20 years ago.

The 1912 Hudson 'Mile-a-Minute' Roadster was faster than its '60-mph' name implied. It was a very advanced vehicle though minimalist in design. It had a 100-mph Warner Auto-meter, Demountable rims with an extra rim in the back, lamps, Prest-O-Lite tank, and luggage carriers. It had a thirty gallon fuel tank and an additional tank for 10 gallons of oil. It was very well balanced and could travel the roads and raceways in better form than most other vehicles.

It was a dual-purpose vehicle with both road and racing in mind. It had quick-fill oil and gas filler caps. For intense racing situations, the fenders could be removed to reduce weight even further.

The Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan began producing vehicles in 1910 and would remain in production until 1954. Their first vehicles had a 20-horsepower, four-cylinder engine that promised speeds of 50 MPH. During their first year, around 4,000 examples were sold. The four-cylinder engine would remain in the Hudson line-up until 1916 when it was dropped in favor of a one-model policy. Their sole offering had a 4730cc Super-Six engine.

The company was started by Roy D. Chapin with financial backing by J.L. Hudson, head of Detroit's famous department store that bore the same name.

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