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1937 Hudson Custom Eight

Touring Sedan

The Hudson Motor Car Company was founded in 1909 in Detroit, Michigan, with capital supplied by Joseph L. Hudson, who founded Hudson's Department Store in 1881. The main operational officer was Roy D. Chapin, who briefly served as United States Secretary of Commerce. Hudson was known for a number of firsts for the auto industry. This included dual brakes, the use of dashboard oil-pressure and generator warning lights, and the first balanced crankshaft.

The Touring sedan was the largest Hudson model produced in 1937, and it rides on a 129-inch wheelbase. The transmission is a preselector Select-Shift design. The driver moves a lever to the desired gear and then presses a foot pedal, not a clutch, to shift. It also features Hill Hold, which keeps the car from rolling backward on an incline.

This car was designed to be driven by either a chauffeur or the owner. The luxury appointments include a smoking set, rear footrests, and a rear seat folding tray table. The front vent windows open out for flow-through ventilation and rolling down. The rear quarter windows roll backward. Another unique feature is the Teleflash warning light system which informs of low oil pressure and the generator not charging by illuminating a 'NO' or 'NOT' light, respectively.

This is a prime example of one of the Hudson Motor Company's finest offerings.

The 1937 Hudson Custom Eight (Series 75 and Series 77) were identical to the Deluxe Eight models on the outside. The interiors, however, were different. The Custom Eight had knobby twist upholstery and several standard features, including an electric clock, cigarette lighter, and a radio. Two wheelbases were available, including a 122-inch platform and a longer 129-inch wheelbase. The larger wheelbase was reserved for the Close-Coupled Sedan and the Close-Coupled Touring Sedan.

The Series 75 and 77 were both powered by an L-head straight eight-cylinder engine which had a displacement size of 254.47 cubic inches and offered 122 horsepower. The engine was mated to a three-speed manual synchromesh transmission with hydraulic brakes on all four wheels.

by Dan Vaughan