1952 Hudson Hornet NASCAR

In the early days of NASCAR, to say Hudson's were dominant would be a huge understatement. Their domination of the series was truly unbelievable. What made it even more impressive is that they did it with an inline-six-cylinder engine. The 308 cubic-inch Hornets won 27 of 34 races in 1952 and 22 of 37 races in 1953.

The popularity of these cars came to light when the 'star' of the movie 'Cars' was chosen to represent these famous racers. Through Doc Hudson, the legend of the Fabulous Hudson Hornets has been carried forward to the up-and-coming generation of enthusiasts.

The National Association of Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) was founded in 1948 by Bill France Sr. It quickly grew in popularity and became the most popular motorsport body in America. The cars were true 'stock' production-based vehicles with strictly limited modifications and factory-available heavy-duty parts. The 'Fabulous Hudson Hornet' toed the line as the underdog against far better-funded teams. Defying the odds, the Hudsons immediately captured the hearts of racing fans everywhere. The best Hudson result came in June of 1949 when Bob Block put a Hudson Six on pole at Charlotte. Then the new-for-1951 models made their debut in December of 1950. In this highly competitive stock form, the Milford Brothers decided to enter a Hornet at the 160-lap 1951 Beach Race to be held on the sands of Daytona Beach. Their driver was a local named Marshall Teague, who qualified a solid 6th at 96.48 mph and ran with the leaders until Lap 28, when he overtook everyone for the win, finishing over a minute ahead of Tim Flock's Lincoln.

After his astonishing accomplishment, he walked unannounced into the Detroit offices of Hudson Motor Car Company and left with sponsorship, the first such deal in NASCAR. For 1951 and 1952, he was a member of the Hudson factory team, piloting the 'Fabulous Hudson Hornet' stock cars to impressive finishes. Although the competition was powered by V-8 engines, the Hudson Hornet was powered by a 308 cubic-inch 'flathead' straight-6 engine tuned by Henry 'Smokey' Yunick, proprietor of Daytona's 'Best Damn Garage in Town.' The engine was combined with the car's low center of gravity, low weight, and good aerodynamics. Teague won seven of his 23 NASCAR entries (1949-1952) before moving to AAA-sanctioned events in 1953 following a dispute with Bill France Sr.

Coupe
Chassis number: 7B-185596

The Hudson Hornet dominated stock car racing and won over 80 NASCAR races between 1951 and 1955. The Hudson's low center of gravity, 'mono-built body', and center point steering contributed to the car's outstanding cornering and handling characteristics. The 308 cubic-inch, six-cylinder engine developed great torque at low engine RPM. This engine, combined with overall road-ability, plus the fact these cars were over-engineered and overbuilt, made them unbeatable in competition on the dirt and the very few paved tracks of the 1950s. Hudson was the first automobile manufacturer to get involved in sports car racing. By NASCAR rules, Hudson dealers made 'Severe Usage' parts available to the public as they were used in NASCAR competition. In response to driver requests, Hudson engineers developed dual carburetors systems (Twin H-Power), dual exhaust manifolds for racing only, several optional camshafts, heavy-duty suspension parts, and engine mounting kits. There were 132,000 Hudson Hornet models produced from 1951 to 1954; the Club Coupe amounted to only 7% of production.

This is the former Herb Thomas NASCAR stock car. It was given to Herb Thomas by the Hudson Motor Car Company and raced in 1952 and 1953. Hudson was the first automobile company to realize the value of racing for improving the performance and durability of their products. The program was administered by Hudson engineer V.W. 'Vince' Piggins. He would leave Hudson after American Motors was formed and head up Chevrolet's performance division when the 'small block' Chevrolet V8 models were introduced in 1955.

Coupe
Chassis number: 7B-139000

This 1952 Hudson is based on an original and well-preserved, low-mileage Hornet 6 Coupe. It is a 'Fabulous Hudson Hornet' recreation finished in period-correct paint colors plus race lettering in vinyl celebrating Marshall Teague. The interior is mostly original, with the rear seat removed, consistent with the original early-1950s racing practice. The undercarriage, chassis, and engine bay remain mostly original, with the engine mounting a legendary 'Twin H-Power' intake setup.

by Dan Vaughan

The Hudson Motor Car Company came into existence in 1909 and produced vehicles until 1957. It was created by Howard Coffin, George W. Dunham, and Roy E. Chapin. Based in Detroit, Michigan, the company had its most successful year in 1929, when it produced and sold over 300,000 vehicles. From 1942 through 1945, the Hudson Corporation did its patriotic part by manufacturing war materials, such as naval engines and aircraft parts, during the Second World War. After the war, the Company had its share of ups and downs before it merged with Nash Motors in January of 1954, when it became known as American Motors. The Hudson plant closed while the production of Nash vehicles bearing Hudson badges continued. The brand name ceased to exist after 1957.

In 1951 Hudson introduced the Hornet. The Hornet sat atop a modified version of the Super Six chassis and was outfitted with a 262 and 308 cubic-inch inline six-cylinder power plant. It dominated the NASCAR circuit in the early fifties. In 1952, it won 27 NASCAR Grand National races, 22 in 1953, and 17 in 1954.

The car sat low, giving it an excellent center of gravity. Its flowing, curvy lines and enclosed rear wheels gave it aerodynamic features. The car sold well for the company when first introduced but slowly faded into the history books. The Big Three auto manufacturers were able to change the faces of their model line-up every year, but the Independent Auto Manufacturer, Hudson, was not. So by the time the Hudson was discontinued, it was feeling and looking its age.

A wonderful car with seating for six and featuring an L-head straight-six coupled with Twin-H Power carburetors was enough to breathe life into the Hudson Company for only a few years. The company had lasted through two World Wars and the Great Depression, but it would ultimately find its demise at the hand of low-cost, mass-produced automotive giants.

by Dan Vaughan