Orphan brands make for fascinating studies in automotive history. Names like Studebaker, Hudson, Nash, and even Packard all prove that the Big Three (or Big Four, depending on when you start counting) weren’t always the only game in town. Often an innovator, Hudsons in particular were famous for offering a lot of car for the money, packing Buick-sized luxury and comfort into a Pontiac-priced window sticker. Following the war, the “step-down” Hudsons were the most modern cars on the road with unibody construction that made them lower and sleeker than almost anything else you could buy. And almost everyone is familiar with the famous Hudson Hornet, which dominated race tracks in the early 1950s before the arrival of the Chevrolet V8. Today, Hudson owners are among the most enthusiastic in the hobby, treasuring their orphans in a way that Chevy and Ford guys just can’t understand.

One look at this long, low, sleek 1949 Hudson Commodore Custom Eight convertible may convince you that maybe these Hudson guys are on to something. We have several late-40s cars in our showroom, and this Hudson is anywhere from four to six inches lower than any of them, yet it offers big car comfort on par with big luxury brands like Cadillac and Lincoln. Only 595 eight-cylinder Hudson convertibles were built in 1949, making them quite rare and seeing one is always a treat. Benefitting from a frame-on restoration several years ago, this handsome ragtop is bigger than it might appear in photos, offering full-sized comfort that’s truly spacious inside, especially with the unique “step-down” floors. The Matador Maroon paint has a period-correct shine that still looks quite good several years after being refinished, although it’s no longer a show car. There’s no evidence that this was ever a rusty car and the doors, hood, and trunk lid all fit well. That wide strip of stainless trim along the rockers and which also incorporates the rear fender skirts, enhances the already long, low profile and the sweeping body lines would preview styling that would arrive in the 1950s. The chrome appears to be a combination of original pieces and restored items, with all of them having a consistent look so nothing look out of place. There are built-in fog lamps up front, a wonderful light-up Hudson insignia on the hood, and handsome bumper guards that make it look substantial. You’ll also note a driver’s side spotlight that’s fully operational and beautiful taillights that echo the shape of the Hudson chevron logo, a nice touch. There’s simply no angle from which this car doesn’t look great.

The burgundy leather interior was surely restored at the same time as the bodywork and offers comfortable seating for up to six adults. As I said, this is a big car so nobody will feel slighted by the accommodations, and befitting its near-luxury status, there are power options and wonderful wood trim on the dash and doors. We believe the door panels are original, while the seating surfaces are replacements, but the overall look is appealing with no major demerits aside from the usual signs of age and use. The steering wheel remains in excellent condition with no cracks or splits and the unique horn button and ring once again echo the Hudson chevron theme. Gauges are arrayed in the center of the dash, with the speedometer on the driver’s side and a big clock in front of the passenger, with fuel level and temperature gauges in-between; monitoring of the electrical system and oil pressure are handled by warning lights with jeweled lenses. The Hudson AM radio in the center of the dash is fully operational, as are the power windows, which use hydraulic power from a central pump. This car is also equipped with an accessory tissue dispenser in front of the passenger, and both sides of the dash get glove compartments, which is actually more useful than you’d imagine. The three-speed manual transmission features a Borg-Warner overdrive, so this car will cruise effortlessly at modern highway speeds and the power convertible top folds itself into a neat stack under a matching black boot. The sizeable trunk has been protected with a spray-on undercoating that has probably been there since it was new, and carries a correct rubber mat and full-sized spare tire with jack assembly.

There wasn’t much performance difference between the base six-cylinder Hudsons and the upmarket eight-cylinder Commodores, but when you bought the eight, you were paying for smoothness and torque. It’s specifications are modest at 254 cubic inches and 128 horsepower, but the torquey straight-8 moves the big convertible with effortless ease and it’s buttery smooth at any speed. Hudson seems to be one of the first auto makers to understand that the engine bay is as important as the exterior when it comes to brand identity, so the corporate silver engine block is joined by a large oil bath air cleaner with the Hudson logo prominently displayed. Nicely finished and detailed, it offers correct details like tower hose clamps, a factory downdraft carburetor, and a recent cloth wiring harness. It’s not detailed for show anymore, but it’s quite clean and orderly under the hood and all the original equipment is operational. A turn of the key and it starts quickly and easily complements of an electric fuel pump down on the chassis, and it settles into an even idle almost immediately, so someone invested considerable time in getting it tuned properly. There’s a nice 8-cylinder burble from the single tailpipe, and while it’s probably a little more aggressive than stock, we kind of like it and it fits Hudson’s sporty image.

The three-speed manual transmission shifts easily and clutch action is light, so the car is quite easy to handle around town. On the highway, the overdrive takes care of itself, shifting into overdrive at about 30 MPH with a brief lift off the accelerator, and when you come to a stop, it automatically disengages at about the same speed. We’re not terribly fond of the free-wheeling feature that comes with the overdrive, but it’s how the system was built and is part of the experience. A glance underneath reveals a mostly original chassis that shows off the unique unibody construction, with beefy front and rear subframes attached to the central tub, which is reinforced by square tubing. The engineering is rather clever and we find the Hudson to be just as robust as the full-frame Buick and Cadillac convertibles to which it will undoubtedly be compared. There is the usual grease and grime and some surface scale on a few of the heavy metal parts, but nothing to be afraid of—structurally this car is excellent. The brakes have been recently serviced and we just installed a new master cylinder, so it feels smooth and confident on the street. It tracks straight, rides smoothly, and simply goes about its business as you’d expect from a top-of-the-line convertible. It’s sitting on older 7.10-15 Goodyear wide whitewall bias-ply tires, but a set of modern wide whitewall radials would make this one heck of a cruiser!

This Hudson includes a large binder full of information, restoration receipts, brochures, and other useful information, all of which suggests that it has always been a beloved car. Also included with the sale is an color-matched accessory windshield visor, which was a popular accessory among Hudson owners.

You don’t see many of these and this Commodore Custom Eight offers a fantastic combination of usability and glamour. It’s sorted, handsome, and striking, and although few people have seen such a car in person, they all know what a Hudson is, and that’s a rather impressive feat all by itself. A fantastic (and relatively affordable) alternative to a 1949 Cadillac or Buick Roadmaster convertible, this Hudson has a lot to offer. Call today!