Perhaps one reason for all that facelifting was that the 1936 bodies were of all-steel construction -- not wood structuring with steel cladding, less expensive because of less need for metal-shaping tooling.
That might explain why Hudson was able to market the redesigned 1934 line and then move on to the 1936 redesign with the '34 bodies in production for only two years. This post presents Hudsons for the period 1933-1936, covering the three body designs produced during those four years.
The last pre-1934 redesign style.
Aside from the slightly slanted windshield and grille, and some modest body rounding, the design was not far removed from 1920s practice.
"Streamlining" was in the automobile styling air in 1934, the year the famous aerodynamic Chrysler Airflow appeared. Redesigned Hudsons were pretty much in line with mainstream Detroit styling.
Features included skirted fenders and a distinctly sloping grille. Hudson side windows were slightly larger than the norm for those times.
A distinctive feature was the numerous horizontal air exhaust panels on the sides of the hood.
The coupe's top was more rounded than usual.
The grille on this car puzzles me. As can be seen below, '35 Hudson grilles featured strong vertical chrome bars, whereas the grille seen here is more of a mesh. It's possible that this was a pre-production car photographed for publicity purposes before the 1935 grille design was finalized. Or more likely, the image's Internet label was incorrect and this car is a Hudson Big Six, and not an Eight.
A Hudson with the production Eight grille. Note the more conventional hood venting.
A fashionably dressed model in a top-down car on a winter day in Detroit. I hope she was paid well.
Showing the Eight grille design more clearly. This is a four-window style, comparatively rare for '35 Hudsons.
An example of the all-steel bodied redesigned 1936 models. More rounded, and sporting an elaborate "fencer's mask" grille.
A two-door 1936 Hudson.
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