1913 Hudson Model 54 Speedster

In 1909, the Hudson Motor Car Company was formed by Detroit department store magnates, J.L. Hudson, and Roy D. Chapin. Their goal was to build a low-priced car for under $1,000. The resulting new Hudson 'Twenty' was one of the first low-priced cars on the American market and very successful, with more than 4,000 sales in the first year. This was the best first-year production in the history of the automobile industry up to that time. At its peak in 1929, 300,962 cars were produced by Hudson and its lower-priced companion car, Essex, allowing Hudson to finish third in sales among American nameplates, just behind Ford and Chevrolet.

This is a Hudson 6-54 serial number 52003, it was the first year Hudson built a 6-cylinder engine. It is 1 of 5 built to show what a six-cylinder could do. The engine is a 421 cubic-inch unit with a 4 1/8 inch x 5 1/8 inch bore and stroke. The car has a 128-inch wheelbase. This was the first year with electric start and lights for Hudson.

Morris Paley of Sharon, CT, owned and raced this car from 1953 thru 1993. He raced against Henry Austin Clarks 1916 Pierce Arrow 66 and won in 1955.

This car is the earliest 6-cylinder Hudson in existence. This vehicle may have raced at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. At one time, it held the track record of 110 mph at the Sheepshead bay track. It was then modified for farm use with a low windshield and passed through a series of owners after World War II. it was restored in the 1950s.