1915 Hudson Model Six-40 Phaeton

Detroit department store magnate Joseph L. Hudson bankrolled the formation of the Hudson car company. The first model was introduced in June 1909 and was called the Hudson Model 20. It was an open roadster resting on a 100-inch wheelbase, and powered by a 199 cubic-inch engine from Continental and backed by a three-speed sliding-gear transmission. Three new models followed over the next four years, the most ambitious of which was the six-cylinder Model Six-54 of 1913. The company's most popular model was the new Six-40 which had a smaller 123-inch wheelbase platform and was powered by a 288 cubic-inch, 40-horsepower six.

This particular Hudson Six-40 Seven-Passenger Phaeton was purchased by the Merrick Auto Museum from the Kruse Antique Transportation Collection in June 2004. It has a blue exterior with black fenders and black diamond-pattern buttoned leather upholstery. There are side curtains, a rear-seat blanket bar, folding jump seats, and a new black canvas-lined top. Other accessories include the Delco electric starting and lighting, a three-speed sliding-gear transmission with central control, a left-hand drive, and a natural wood-finished steering wheel. Dashboard instrumentation includes a Stewart 60 mph speedometer and an oil-flow gauge for the splash lubrication system. The white sidewall tires measure 34x4.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2020