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1942 Hudson Commodore

The 1942 Hudson models were extensively updated when compared to their 1941 siblings. These last of the prewar Hudson models were given a more flowing, graceful appearance and rested 1.5 inches lower. The lower bodywork was flared out at the bottom to conceal the running boards, and in the front was a new grille design wrapped around the front fenders. The rear fenders were now skirted. The overall length grew slightly due to the large front and rear bumpers and guards. There were also chrome strips running below the bottoms of the doors.

The Commodore Eight had distinctive fender-mounted parking lights and full chrome disc hubcaps. The Commodore Series 22 was powered by an L-head inline eight-cylinder engine displacing 254.4 cubic inches and offered 128 horsepower. The Series 22 had a six-cylinder engine displacing 212 cubic inches and produced just over 100 horsepower. Both engines were mated to a three-speed sliding gear transmission and fitted with Bendix hydraulic brakes on all four wheels.

by Dan Vaughan

Station Wagon
Chassis number: 24-2827

This Hudson Commodore Eight Station Wagon is the product of a total 10-year restoration. Mr. Eldon Hostetler first saw the Hudson Station Wagon at Al Safferin's shop in Arizona during 1989. It was determined that a 1942 Hudson Sedan could be used as the basis of the project. Using a 1942 Hudson Commodore Eight sedan - one that had been in storage for decades - was purchased in May of 1989. The Woody Wagon was acquired from Mr. Safferin soon after. As few items on the wagon could be saved, an entirely new car had to be built. Only the two rear fenders, door handles, and hinges from the original Station Wagon were salvaged. Mr. Hostetler commissioned the Appenzeller Brothers, Pat and Jan, of Milford, Indiana, to perform the restoration, and Steve Jedrysek of The Wooden Noga in La Porte, Indiana, was selected to remanufacture the Ash wooden body framing, using the original wooden components as patterns.

It took five years to recreate all the wooden pieces. Pat Appenzeller shaped and further perfected them. After many years, the car made its concours debut at Meadow Brook in May 1999. It was shown years later at the 2012 Eyes on Design.

by Dan Vaughan

Introduced in 1941, the Hudson Commodore was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company until 1952. The Hudson Motor Company was established in Detroit and had a long and lucrative history. The Commodore model was the lushest and exquisitely luxurious Hudson model ever produced, and the first generation introduced the 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, and the 2-door convertible. The largest Hudson model also, the Commodore model, rode on Hudson's 121-inch wheelbase, while the Commodore Custom's rode on the same for their coupes or 128-inch wheelbases for sedans. The Hudson Commodore's were powered by either Hudson's exclusive 202ci I6 that produced 102 bhp or Hudson's 254.4 I8 that produced 128 bhp.

The Commodore lineup consisted of coupes, convertibles, and sedans. A forward-hinged hood that opened from the rear was continued to be in use by Hudson's body styling, while at the same time, the hood slid downward over the grille.

1940 and '41 models received a snazzy new updo for the 1942 year that included new concealed running boards, external trim arrangements, and enlarged front grilles. The 1942 model year ended in January as Hudson promoted its economy over luxury in its all-new shortened model for U.S. war production.

The second generation of the Hudson Commodore began in 1946 and lasted until 1947. This new range included 4-door sedans as well as 2-door convertibles. On August 30, 1945, Hudson began its postwar automobile production, and the body styles were trimmed down to Sedan, Convertible, and Club Coupe. Keeping the models strongly based on the '42 model Hudson, these models only received small cosmetic updates. The biggest update did include the car's grille now sporting a concave center section.

In comparison to other similar model makes, Hudson automobiles were much more fully trimmed, and all Hudson models received flashy accouterments. They included ashtrays, twin air horns, armrests on the doors, windshield wipers, locking glove box, stop lights, sealed beam headlights, and deep pile carpeting. Both the Commodore and Commodore Customs received air-foam seat cushions; as Hudson is famous for being the original automaker to unveil foam seat cushions. Other new innovations were rear armrests in the sedans, door-step courtesy lights, and gold etched lettering on the dashboard panel.

Hudson's top-of-the-line series, the 1948-1949 Commodore Eight came in three body styles, including a convertible, and was a much more popular model than previous versions, due to its innovative 'Step-Down' design. For these two model years alone, nearly 60,000 units were sold.

The third generation of the Hudson Commodore was unveiled in 1948 and lasted until 1952. An all-new 'step-down' automobile body was released by Hudson for the 1948 model. The Frame vehicles placed the car's body onto the chassis, and then the two units were bolted to each other. Since the height of the vehicle was now much higher, passengers needed to step up into the car; and this was the major need behind the running boards. The passenger compartment was now placed inside the chassis, and the vehicle's perimeter frame now encircled the passenger compartment. This is how Hudson passengers 'stepped-down' into the vehicle. The step-down allowed Hudson to take advantage of serious weight-saving techniques through uni-body construction. The Hudson vehicles were now even safer since they were surrounded by the car's chassis; all of this combined to make a well-performing and all-around safe vehicle.

Only one series was available for the 1948 Commodores and in either I8 or I6-powered versions. The body styles offered for this year were a convertible coupe and two and four-door sedans. On the inside, the Commodore was upholstered in leather for convertibles and in broadcloth on sedans. A variety of standard features were also included on the Hudson line in the same fashion as the history of their line, for no additional up-charge options. A total of 35,215 units were produced of the Commodore Eight.

The Commodore lineup gave birth in 1949 and now included a much more luxurious Commodore Custom line. Only minor trim changes on the outside of the vehicles were made for the 1950 through 1952 model year for the Hudson Commodore.

For the last year of the Commodore, the model was split into an Eight series and a Six series. The outside of the vehicle received yet another trim change. Unfortunately, the design behind the Step-Down bodies began to look faded and outdated by the end of the 1951-1952 model years. Rather than redesign the older model, company President A.E. Barit chose instead to replace the Commodore with a compact Hudson. Starting in 1953, Hudson would only offer the Hudson Hornet and the Hudson Wasp line.

by Jessican Donaldson