1951 Other Makes Hudson

Commodore 8 Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Manual

8A45624

Gasoline

* * * 1951 Hudson Commodore Eight Coupe * * * Rare body style West Coast car from new Clean, solid driver Up for bids is this rare Hudson, a 1951 Commodore Eight Coupe.  This car was sold new at Olson Motors in Mt. Vernon, Washington on February 23rd, 1951 and has stayed in the Pacific Northwest ever since.  The car is primarily original, having been restored as needed over the years.  Being a West Coast car it is extremely solid top to bottom, with no history of rust repair and no filler anywhere on the car.  This car occupies the space between a show car and a project car.  It's a good honest old car that's reliable enough to tour around in but not so perfect that you'd be hesistant to do so.  I just took the car on a 400 mile business trip and it performed great.  Bias ply tires meant that I was keeping both hands on the wheel but as I got acclimated to it I started travelling with left lane traffic at 75mph for most of the way.  While keeping my eyes on the road I noticed a lot of thumbs up in my peripheral vision! As you may know, these Step-Down Hudsons dominated NASCAR from '51-53.  Other cars were faster, but Hudson's superior "Monobilt" chassis and low center of gravity made it the best handling car on the sand at Daytona. The car has been repainted in its original color combination, it's an older repaint but is still presentable.  This is the proverbial 20 footer paint job, up close you're going to see some touched up chips, a few light scrapes, that type of thing.  The paint has good gloss and depth but it does show some flaws from use.  The body panels on this big barge are straight and flat, with no excessive rippling or waviness. All of the car's glass is original, even the windshield.  It's all still in great shape with no delaminating or fogging.  Front and rear bumpers have never been off the car, for being 49 years old they're remarkably straight but do show some hazing and tarnishing.  There's no pitting of the chrome anywhere on the car, although the nameplate surround on the trunk shows some surface flaking.  Hudsons have such a fantastic look, if you've noticed that this one looks unusually fantastic it's because it has been professionally lowered 2 inches.  Just enough to accentuate its sleek streamlined profile but not so much that you have to worry about driveways.  Chrome work is presentable, not perfect, but good for a driver.  The biggest flaw you'll find is shown in the 4th photo below, it's the tarnishing you seen on the turn signal surround.  This photo also shows the only area on the car with any bubbling.  The left front of the hood shows some, otherwise you aren't going to find signs of bubbling anywhere else.  I have also taken a magnet to the car and have not found a trace of filler anywhere on it - zip, zero, zilch. The interior is a strong point on this car, it's been restored in the original style and presents very well.  Seats, door panels and carpet have all been redone. The back seat features what may be the world's largest armrest.  The car has seatbelts for 5.  Windows all wind smoothly, interior lighting all works.  The hard trim in this car is a sort of blue-gray marbelized pattern, most of it is still in great shape, only the window surrounds show wear.  The car's weatherstripping appears to be original, it shows its age but is still serviceable.  The doors on these cars open to a full 90 degrees, allowing lots of room to get in and out. This car's steering wheel ranks in my Top 5 of best all time designs.  This particular example is in super condition with no splits or cracks, it's a good indicator that the car's miles are real.  The wheel has blue and grey iridescent swirls set in a charcoal base, what a change from the blob of plastic you get in today's cars.  The car has a "Weather-Control" heater and fan, which both work well. The dash top material shows no splits or areas of pull back, another clue to this car's low mileage.  All of the dash gauges work except for the clock.  The radio powers on but doesn't have sound.  Lights, horn, signals, and wiper all work correctly. The trunk is in untouched original condition with the factory jack and lug wrench.  I've pulled back this mat and what's underneath is absolutely rust free.  The car comes with a terrific assortment of original documents and brochures.  On February 23rd 1951 Olson Motors wrote up this Club Coupe for $3067... big money back then.  The Hudson 254 Straight Eight fires to life easily and runs out great with plenty of power and no smoke.  The car runs and drives well, with good handling, good brakes, plus a comfortable ride.  The shift linkage has a little slop but once you get the hang of it it becomes second nature.  The car pulls strongly in all gears and the overdrive really transforms the car, in effect giving you a 5 speed transmission.  The undercarriage shows this to be a no-hit, no rust car.  You'll find no patching, no sloppy undercoating, what you're looking at are 50 year old bare steel floorpans.   I have a stock, replacement muffler on order and it will be installed by auction end. Click here for a slideshow of all of the enlarged images. About the Reserve Price:   This car is being sold with a reserve that should be easy to meet.  Out of fairness to all bidders I won't reveal it, just bid at the level you are comfortable with.  This auction ends Monday, 7-5-10 at at 12 Noon Pacific Time , 2 PM Central , 3 PM Eastern, 7 PM GMT. About Payment: I will contact the winning bidder via email within 3 hours of auction completion.  I would like a $500 deposit (paypal, money order or bank check) within 2 days.  Balance is due (bank check or bank wire transfer only) within 7 calendar days of auction end. The car will be securely garaged until pickup. About this auction: This auction process is a legally binding contract into which you enter when you click "confirm" on your bid.   Please have finances in order before you decide to bid and please ask all questions before you decide to bid.   Basically, please only bid if you are ready to purchase this car.  Car is sold as-is with no warranties express or implied.  License plate is not incuded unless the winning bidder is an Oregon resident, although the Hudson dealer frame is included regardless.  Any disputes regarding the sale of this vehicle shall be resolved through binding arbitration exclusively in Multnomah County, Oregon under applicable state laws.  By bidding you agree to these terms. About me: Please check my feedback, I take customer satisfaction very seriously and am a licensed, bonded and insured dealer in the State of Oregon.  I own this car outright and the pictures were taken last week.  You and/or your representative are welcome and encouraged to inspect the car in person before the close of auction. I can be reached at 503-891-7702 between the hours of 9-5.  Previously sold inventory is available to view at www.cascadiaclassic.com Post Auction details: The transport cost is the responsiblity of the winning bidder, although I can certainly help with logistics.  I've had good experiences with the following: www.intercitylines.com www.exoticcartransport.com www.sundayautotransport.com Overseas bidders may contact any of these international shippers for a quote: Schumacher Cargo Horizon Auto Services California Shipping Or check out www.movecars.com for a unbiased market guide to transporters and tips on moving cars. Thanks for looking!