1929 Hudson Model L Sport Phaeton

The Hudson automobile was not named for any of the company's founders but for the man who put up the money: Joseph L. Hudson, owner of Hudson department stores and a prosperous Detroit merchant. Hudson's niece was married to Roscoe Jackson, treasurer of the new company. Hudson had its best year ever in 1929, producing 71,179 cars, propelling the company to #3 in sales among U.S. manufacturers. Its most expensive offering was this sport phaeton with coachwork by Biddle & Smart designed in collaboration with Walter Murphy & Co. This car is one of just 17 produced and, according to the owner, one of 7 remaining. It is presented in the same color combination as the car featured in a March 1929 Saturday Evening Post advertisement.

The 1929 Hudson Series L rested on a 139-inch wheelbase while the company's other model, the Series R, had a 122.5-inch platform. Both came equipped with Hudson's inline six, a 288.5 cubic-inch F-head unit with overhead intake valves developing 92 rated brake horsepower at 3,200 engine revolutions. The engine's crankshaft was carefully balanced by a patented series of precision-engineered counterweights, offering smooth power delivery. With the addition of lightweight bodywork, they were among the fastest cars available at the time.

This particular example is a Hudson Series L Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton with a base price of $2,200. Its 'semi-custom' coachwork was crafted by Biddle and Smart with a design influenced by Hudson's collaboration with the Murphy coachbuilding company of Pasadena, California.

It is believed that this is one of as few as 17 examples produced, and just seven remain today with this body style. It was acquired by the Hostetler collection in late October 1992 via Jack Miller, the last active Hudson dealer. It remained in the collection for several years before Pat and Jan Appenzeller of Milford, Indiana, were commissioned to give it a restoration. The work was completed in 2002.

This car is finished in yellow and orange paintwork. Period accessories include Pilot-Ray pivoting driving lights, a grille stone guard, a stanchion-mounted spotlight affixed to the driver's side, dual side-mounted spares with canvas covers and side view mirrors, cowl lamps, a tan canvas folding top and side curtains and, of course, dual folding windscreens and flip-up rear cowl. Additional extras include twin folding tray tables in the rear passenger compartment and a jeweler's quality instrument panel.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2019