1928 Hudson Model O Convertible Sedan

The Model O was Hudson's top-of-the-line model for 1928. It had an ample 127.4-inch wheelbase and was offered in an array of factory-built sedan body styles, along with six Custom body styles built for Hudson by Biddle and Smart in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Additionally, Hudson commissioned a set of prototypes during 1927 from Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California. Six cars were delivered to Hudson in Detroit, including a Landau Sedan, Convertible Coupe, Convertible Sedan, Coupe, Victoria, and Seven-Passenger sedan. A handful of 1928 Model O Hudson chassis was sent to Murphy Body Works to receive custom coachwork. It is believed that four of these Model O Chassis were coach-built by Murphy in aluminum panel work over wood framing as Convertible Sedans. These Murphy-bodied Convertible Sedans were for the use of Hudson Motor Car Company executives, who drove them for several years before they were sold to Hudson customers as used cars. Each of the four examples was given unique styling traits not seen in the other examples.

The Murphy-bodied cars were given the company's trademark 'Clear Vision' design utilizing thin window frames and roof pillars.

This particular 1928 Hudson Model O wears Murphy aluminum Convertible Sedan coachwork. It was owned by a gentleman during the 1950s and 1960s who was reportedly the grandson of the founder of the Ruppert Beer Company of New York. While in his care, it is believed that he performed an amateur cosmetic restoration and some repairs after a rear-end collision. It was part of the Harrah Collection in Reno beginning in 1966 and remained in their care until September 1985, when the bulk of the collection was sold at auction. Its next owner was Mark Smith of Skipjack, Pennsylvania, who in turn sold the Murphy Convertible Sedan to Eldon Hostetler in the fall of 1998.

When the car entered the care of the Hostetlers, it was a solid example with well-aligned doors and no signs of past damage. Mr. Hostetler had the incorrect black vinyl upholstery (installed decades prior) replaced with the correct leather and returned it to running order by the Appenzeller Brothers.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2019