Seriously Rounded 1936-38 Hudsons and Terraplanes

In America, the 1930s saw the transformation to all-steel car bodies.  Sheet metal stamping technology limitations and perhaps a desirability to compactly stack stamped parts led to car designs featuring large-radius curved surfaces.

This styling variation reached its peak around 1935 or 1936 with new designs in the form of cars such as '35 Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles, along with '36 Buicks and Hudsons.  The latter is the subject of this post because I judge Hudson's styling ever-so-slightly more rounded than the General Motors variety.  That's mostly due to the shape of Hudson's grille.

Note that Terraplane offered what amounted to re-branded, less-expensive, shorter Hudsons.  For model year 1938, the formerly separately-branded Terraplanes became Hudson-Terraplanes, and for 1939 the name Terraplane was abandoned.

Examples of Hudson and Terrplane body types are presented below.  Unless noted, images are of cars listed for sale.

Gallery

1936 Hudson Sedan
This viewing angle shows the roundedness of the sedan body.  Items such as fenders and catwalk fronts  might be expected to be rounded in the mid-1930s.  The front fender seen here are quite wide, typical of that era in the USA.  What is less expected is how rounded the passenger compartment greenhouse is -- the curved roof shape and the window profiles.  Also note how the body sides tuck under towards the running board.  This appears light, contrasting with the body above the beltline that seems heavy by comparison.

1936 Terraplane Deluxe Touring Sedan - Burns & Co. Auctions photo
The rounded window profiles are seen better here.  The profile of the hood's front / fencer's mask grille is hinted.  Note the rounded rear wheel opening.  This was found on 1936 models and replaced by a smaller opening for 1937.

1936 Terraplane Touring Brougham
More rounding: after roof line, backlight window profiles, bulged trunk lid.

1937 Terraplane Utility Coupe
Terraplanes, had shorter wheelbases that accentuated rounding when seen in side views.  The smaller wheel openings at the rear result in more rounded fender sheet metal, creating a heavier appearance.

1937 Terraplane Super Convertible Brougham - Broad Arrow Auctions photo
Rear wheel openings are skirted.  The fender-mounted spare tire adds to the rounded theme.

1938 Hudson Terraplane Touring Sedan
This model year saw the first of Hudson's facelifts that kept its designs somewhat competitive through the 1947 model year.  For '38, the main change was the abandonment of the fencer's mask grille -- though the central chrome sweep theme was carried over.