Nice 1953 Convertible

Comments

  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Ron-



    Why? Are you buying? Are you also asking "what is it worth?"



    I don't know anything about this particular car and there is no Dr. Scott in the Roster. This car looks to be a #2 car, maybe a high #3. It's also rare. Keep in mind there are only about 20 1953 Hornet Convertibles left. Perhaps Bill A. knows something about this car because it is located in CA. I would certainly run it by him if he doesn't check in before the auction ends.



    I could certainly be wrong, but maybe the seller has been watching too much BJ? Reason I say this, is he is also selling a '58 Cad. Seville hardtop, also on E-Bay. That, and his comment about auctions in his description, along with something about, " . . . you can imagine how rare {and expensive} the convertibles are."



    Several items are missing or are incorrect on the interior. How come there's no picture of the car with the top up? Or the trunk lid up? Who did the restoration in the '80's? What is the history of the car? Also, for only 10k miles on this car, the engine sure looks kinda cruddy. Was this car really restored . . . or just freshened up? Big difference there.



    Those are definately some answers I would look for before considering to buy.



    BUT , if you are looking for a range, my opinion is:



    LOW: $35K

    High: $65K
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Take look at the engine got some head leakage going on there.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    This Hudson Convertible was sold in Florida several years back. The orginal owner died and his Hudson Collection was sold off. Take a look at the Wheels in one of the top up pictures. The car has Chrysler wheels with the Chrysler caps ... the cap is painted red. I can not find the pictures yet, but I believe the car went from Florida to upstate NY and resold on eBay. Could be a coincidence. But the pictures of the car with the top up are not in Ca... I belive were taken late last summer in NY.

    I do not know the car personnally... nor the previous owners... but I remember the cars and this appears to be a car a long time HET member owned.

    Cheers
  • ArkieJazz
    ArkieJazz Member
    I can never figure out why people want to de-sporterize a convertible with a sunvisor? Also, this car has had crank up windows installed. It's an awfully rare car, but certainly not pristine. It's a shame that cars like this go for $35-$50K and need a total restoration.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    ArkieJazz wrote:
    I can never figure out why people want to de-sporterize a convertible with a sunvisor? Also, this car has had crank up windows installed. It's an awfully rare car, but certainly not pristine. It's a shame that cars like this go for $35-$50K and need a total restoration.



    "De-sporterize", huh? That's a new one. Have to disagree with you on this one. My convertible is getting a sunvisor. I think they are just too cool NOT to have one. Besides, they look even better than on the closed car models, to me. Mine's getting a continental kit, to boot. Guess if you're going to de-sporterize it, might as well go all the way!:eek:
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    yeah, I'll never own one like this as long as people have this got to have it at any cost attitude. That being said every thing about that car looks sloppy to me. Is it just me or does nothing seem to fit quite right, including the top. I'm not sure why I see that but that's the way it appears to me.



    Harry
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I think the worst thing you can do to a stepdown convertible is put a sunvisor on one. I understand they are neat, and hard to find, but honestly, they break the lines on the car. It's like putting door handle guards on a 48-51, they just dont go, they look out of place. Probably the only hudsons that look right with suunvisors are 52-53 broughams and sedans, hornets at that, something that has the heavy pillar/window trim, same with door handle guards. Might be able to pull off the visor on a 48-51 brougham or 4 door, as well, but I just think something looks off, otherwise.



    As far as this 53, anyone look at the right door panel? is there a problem with the alignment of the materials? looks like there is flap of material hanging over too....



    The lack of power windows, to me would be a plus....



    Panel fit in general is bad on this car. It looks decent otherwise, but at the current price, $48K, it is plenty for the degree of detail and restoration. Still, it's a 53 hornet convertible....
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    I kinda thought Step-down Converts look like over-sized sports cars. Something like taking a Muntz Jet or a early Porsche Roadster and running it through a space age enlargment ray gun like in the comic books. LOL



    I like the sunvisors too but look a little off when the top is down on the converts. Still, the big windshield header on the converts does allow for it, unlike almost any other make of convertible.



    Continental Kits look great on em....my 2 cents. Not that two cents will buy anything.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Aaron D. IL wrote:
    I kinda thought Step-down Converts look like over-sized sports cars. Something like taking a Muntz Jet or a early Porsche Roadster and running it through a space age enlargment ray gun like in the comic books. LOL



    I like the sunvisors too but look a little off when the top is down on the converts. Still, the big windshield header on the converts does allow for it, unlike almost any other make of convertible.



    Continental Kits look great on em....my 2 cents. Not that two cents will buy anything.



    You bought my vote!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Yeah these things are horrible, alright! I wouldn't have one if it was given to me. I don't know why anyone would want one of these junkheaps. They are just an old pile of trash.



    Man, you guys play rough! :)



    ARE YOU GUYS KIDDIN'?:confused::):confused::):eek:
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    We all have different levels of intolerance for unoriginalness, cleanliness, leaklessness, sloppiness and power windowlessness. I think this car looks like it would be lot of fun to cruise around in. And if there are really only 20 of these 53's left (which I'm not sure I believe) then maybe it is worth the big bucks, which I happen to be fresh out of.



    The auction says it was restored in the 80's. I think this Hudson looks pretty good for a 28 year old restoration. You gotta remember, this car wasn't worth the big bucks when it was originally restored.



    I hope a club member ends up with it.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    royer wrote:
    We all have different levels of intolerance for unoriginalness, cleanliness, leaklessness, sloppiness and power windowlessness. I think this car looks like it would be lot of fun to cruise around in. And if there are really only 20 of these 53's left (which I'm not sure I believe) then maybe it is worth the big bucks, which I happen to be fresh out of.



    The auction says it was restored in the 80's. I think this Hudson looks pretty good for a 28 year old restoration. You gotta remember, this car wasn't worth the big bucks when it was originally restored.



    I hope a club member ends up with it.



    You said it Royer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not all are museum pieces and never should be. Ron
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I guess I'm old fashioned but a cruise around car shouldn't cost $50,000. By the time you're done restoring it you will probably spend at least that much. I think an investor will probably buy it and let it sit around in a display somewhere. Too bad as it would really look good cruisinig around Yucaipa.



    Harry
  • dave s
    dave s Senior Contributor, Moderator
    Our 1951 with continental and visor got a lot of attention! To each his own!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Dave S, I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't like the looks of that car. There isn't any way in the world one could call it a sports car so why not a visor. I guess they could say it looks sport but then again so does a 61 caddy convertible, they just aren't sports cars. I like the lake pipes also, the wire wheels are way to much work for my lazy tail though, I can't hardly keep up with the hub caps.



    Harry
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    This thing is up to $87K and reserve not met? One can buy alot nicer one for much less that that. Something stinks.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Hello Everyone,



    I forgot that I was a member of this forum. I was the one who sold the 1953 Hudson Today on ebay and I was also the same person who sold the yellow Martz roadster a few months back. I just read all of your comments and I am so sad to see so many of you have nothing to do but to pick on my little convertible. As you can see, I did sell the car and it is leaving the country as none of you stepped up and bought the car. I know that all of you know how rare and desirable this car is, so please, why pick on it? And thank you to the 2 of you who actually had something nice to say!



    Dr. Everett Scott
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Everett, I guess the question is would you pay $100,000 for the car today? Was it worth that because it was a 53? I don't know, in my mind a $100,000 car should be finished to a T. I guess in this case it's good to be the seller, and if the buyer got what he wanted then it's good to be the buyer also. I guess a car is worth whatever someone will pay for it.



    Harry
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    Harry Hill wrote:
    Everett, I guess the question is would you pay $100,000 for the car today? Was it worth that because it was a 53? I don't know, in my mind a $100,000 car should be finished to a T. I guess in this case it's good to be the seller, and if the buyer got what he wanted then it's good to be the buyer also. I guess a car is worth whatever someone will pay for it.

    Harry

    Harry,

    Everett first has to get his money - sometimes tough with an ebay sale.

    Remember anything over 10k transaction and the feds get involced. With a 100k transaction you can figure the Government cut to be somewhere between 25-30%, ebay fees, fees marketing the car and any recent repairs made to put the car up for sale, Everett ended up pocketing far less than the sale price listed - but a decent price anyway.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    True enough Dan but with a !00K reserve you are guaranteed you will be dealing with the government. I think though that if he had listed the car in WTN he would have gotten a lot less but still cleared almost as much. That and the car probably would have stayed state side.

    I never said I didn't like the car, I said the car looked loose and tired and for the money you were buying a lot less than you could elsewhere. The car sure wasn't a turkey but it wasn't a number 1 car either.



    Harry
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I say good for Dr. Scott. I hope the transaction goes smoothly for him. With the value of the dollar so low, foreigners are snapping up all sorts of things here in the USA.

    Maybe the $100K sale of this '53 Toro Red Hudson will raise the value of my '53 Toro Red Hudson (Jet)......nah, probably not. But if this transaction get completed, all your Hornets just became a little more valuable.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Matt, the problem I see is in another generation all the Hudsons will be in Europe and we'll all be driving Nashes, as it is I'm halfway there being bi-branded as I am. Either that or the only Hornets on the road will be lime green or purple and made in the 70's by AMC.



    Harry
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Harry Hill wrote:
    Either that or the only Hornets on the road will be lime green or purple and made in the 70's by AMC.

    They're probably buying those up too!

    I agree, it's no fun having such expensive taste! Especially when we remember when they weren't so expensive. Just think what your '55 Hornet will be worth in a few years.....
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Here's an example of how things change. I have a WTN from 1977. This is listed in the classifieds...

    54 Hornet Cv, 308 engine, Twin H power, std. trans & overdrive,
    fog lights, spot light, back up lights, almost new tires. This car
    runs nicely. It needs a paint job and some work on the inside.
    Another 54Cv is in the deal. It's a parts car. Both $850

    Rudy, you still have this available? I'll wire you the money today!!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I really believe that ebay car is the same one as this one, that I drove to the HET National meet in Wisconsin in 2000, "top down in Mad town" I drove it there for Ron Kishpaugh, who was 91 at that time and really wanted to go there in style. A dream come true for me! Unfortunetly, the Hydramatic gave up outside of Chicago, and we had to be rollbacked the rest of the way! We were a shoe in for the hard luck award, which tickled Ron to no end! Luckily we found and purchased a newly rebuilt Hydramatic at the swap meet, and after a 5 day layover for installation and adjustment we were on our way back to New York! I remember it being a fantastic road car, 12 volt, electric fuel pump, twin H, Halogens, pointless ignition, radials, it drove and handled flawlessly. Even after 10 hours of driving, I felt totally comfortable and relaxed at the end of the day.It was an adventure I'll never forget. After Ron passed away later that year, I helped settle the estate and remember a fellow in Buffalo purchased the 53 Convertible. 2 of Rons other cars were donated to the Hudson Museum. I ended up with Ron's '54 Hornet.

    P1010176.jpg
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    In the late '60s I sold a running '53 H conv., a little tired with poor paint job, but running OK, etc., for $500 so I could buy what Jack Miller later told me was "the best original stepdown convertible I've seen", a '50 C8, which had about 35,000 miles and a factory 7X complete engine the orig. owner bought & had installed in '53 when he blew a heater hose & cracked the block. It had been his h.s. graduation present & had every accessory offered inc. dual spotlights, foglights, backup lights, sunvisor, etc. I drove it from Calif. to a National at Huntington, Ind., not sure of the year; what a wonderful road car!

    I later decided to make the '50 original, pulling the 7X & installing a '50 8 engine & put the 7X into a '51 HH which had stick & o.d. I restored the '51 & it eventually was bought by Bill A. who "turned it" - I've tried unsuccessfully to find it on several occasions.

    Oh well, that was only about 20 years ago, LOL.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Lhi Pete Your 50 Comm 8 Conv Belongs To Robt Zeillmer Of Costa Mesa, Who Own The Goathill Tavern, He Brought It To The Twin H Ranch For A Major Tuneup And Many Broken Topp Bow Pieces, We Got It On The Road Again And He Has Recently Had It Repainted The Original Cornish Cream, Your 51 Hollywood Belongs To Jim Davidson Of Sunland Who Is Getting Ready To Restore It, I Have A Neww Y And Z Wireing Loom Here For The Car After Paint, Our Old Cars Will Be Here Long After We Are Dead And Gone, I Try To Prserve And Keep Them Going, Which Helps Me Keep Going. Lol, Bill Albright
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I agree that the Hudson Convertible was at one time in NY.
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