1941 Hudson Six Traveler 10T 4 Door Club Sedan
The name "Hudson" came from Joseph L. Hudson, a Detroit department store entrepreneur and founder of Hudson's department store who provided the necessary capital and gave permission for the company to be named after him. A total of eight Detroit businessmen formed the company on February 20, 1909, to produce an automobile which would sell for less than US$1,000, equivalent to approximately $28,456 in 2019 funds. In the 1941 magazine ad, Hudson claims to "offer fine automobiles in every popular price class, at new prices starting among America's lowest" and the Hudson Six was included in that selection.
For consignment, a 1941 Hudson Six Traveler 10T 4 door club sedan with a title verified 43,531 actual miles. The car is not only a fantastic car show, but as our consignor, the fourth owner of the car reveals, an excellent addition to any Big Band, Swing Dance, and WWII reenactment events you might have in your area.
Exterior
Tan over Brown creates a dramatic presence on this big car with the long name, second only to its pointed, tall nose which drops sharply to meet the chrome strakes of the horizontal grille. Stately fenders are topped with marker lights and body trim from a Hudson Commodore, and they connect to the headlight rings that split wide on the car. In profile, the car is wonderfully proportioned with full wheel openings front and rear, and nearly equal sized fenders serving as bookends to the fiberglass running boards. The shoulder line is accentuated by more body trim which intersects the slim door handles and does a good job at hiding them and creating streamlined sides. Coker white wall tires wrap around 16-inch wheels, painted to match and topped with proper Hudson hubcaps. A wonderful greenhouse starts with a V-style windshield and includes a sizable rear quarter window. Some of the metal is slightly pitted and we note two imperfections in the paint including a scuff on the front fender, but overall, this is a spectacular example.
Interior
Striped, tan cloth shows nicely on the door panel surrounded by a wool upper panel and brown vinyl base, and it looks good on all four doors. This striped material covers the front bench cleanly, the top edge of which is undulating, a point of detail that veers from the typical straight bench back. The same configuration is found in the luxurious back seat which are entered via suicide doors and affords occupants with couch like armrests and ample leg room. A two spoke steering wheel has a nice patina and bakelite steering wheel spinner along with a Hudson logo in the center. The faux wood dash is like a fine piece of furniture housing a horizontal speedometer along with gauges behind glass while the concave center continues the ribbon with the Hudson name above speaker grates and an embedded radio. Our gauge stripe continues in front of the passenger who can relay oil pressure numbers, time, and generator information to the driver, all while glancing at a polished faux wood glove box. A rubberized mat covers the floor, a cloth headliner is firmly in place, and a fitted carpeted mat is covered with plastic in the large trunk.
Drivetrain
A very presentable 212ci inline six is behind the engine covers and is rated at 102 horsepower. It is fueled by a 2-barrel carburetor and backed by a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive, sending power to the rear axle and 4.59 gears. Drum brakes are onboard to slow the Hudson down.
Undercarriage
Driver quality underneath with scattered oil, a bit of caked grease, oil on the rear differential, and surface rust abounds. No invasive rust is noted. The single exhaust meets a stock style muffler before heading out back through a straight pipe. Coil spring suspension is utilized up front, and leaf springs are in the back.
Drive-Ability
We take a seat in this beautiful interior and crank the inline six to life, then roll this handsome car onto the blacktop to test its functionality. Wonderful visibility is provided, and Hudson actually promoted the percentage of glass included on the car in their brochure. The car tracks straight and runs well but the brakes do not inspire confidence and will need attention. Reverse gear requires the shifter has to be held or it will pop out of gear. The heater, clock, and wipers are not functioning. All other workable operations are in good order. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
This 1941 Hudson is a real looker, inside and out. Smack dab in the middle of World War II, this car must have provided a welcome cocoon from the outside world and perhaps was there to welcome our boys home in 1945. Wonderfully two toned, amazingly uncommon, and uniquely American, we suspect this fine automobile will not be with us very long.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
