1948 Hudson, Five Facelifts Later: A Softer Look

The Hudson Motor Car Company, Wikipedia entry here, was in business for 55 years (1909-1954).   In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator to form American Motors.  The final Hudson-branded cars were marketed for the 1957 model year, but were based on Nash bodies.

Hudsons were completely redesigned for model year 1948.  That basic body was continued with minor face-lifting through 1953.  As I wrote here, 1954 Hudsons received a major facelift -- '55 models being redecorated Nashes.  Today's post compares the 1948-vintage design with 1953, the final model before the big, pre-Nash facelift.

The post- World War 2 Hudson design had a streamlined appearance, heavily influenced by prewar thinking regarding future shapes cars might take.  As it happened, by around 1950, American car styling fashion changed from visual streamlining to more squared-off, "bustle-back" shapes.  So Hudsons were becoming seen by potential buyers as being out-of touch, almost old-fashioned.

Interestingly, in light of that fashion change, Hudson facelifts became increasingly softer, less angular, in defiance of that fashion trend, as is apparent in the images below.  The 1954 facelift mentioned above was a sad attempt to bring the 1948-vintage body into line with what other American carmakers were selling.

(If Hudson styling during that era interests you, I also wrote about Hudson grille designs over 1948-1954 here.)

Gallery

1948 Hudson Commodore - for-sale car photo
The original postwar redesign's grille was simple and rather geometric aside from its upper frame.

1953 Hudson Hornet - photos via RM Sotheby's
This grille shape first appeared in 1951. The major detail change was subordinating the central inverted-V element for '53.  The faux hood air scoop was added for '53.

1949 Hudson Commodore - Barrett-Jackson photos
1949 Hudsons were identical in appearance to 1948 Hudsons.  Side trim was in the form of a wide chrome strip along the lower edge of the car, probably intended to draw viewers' eyes downwards, thus making an already-low car seem even lower.

The middle side chrome strip mounted along the sheetmetal character crease appeared on 1952 Hudsons.

This shows the initial backlight window.

The backlight window's size was increased in 1950 and again in 1952 to what is seen here.

The other change evident by 1953 is the heavy chroming around all the windows on top-of-the-line Hudson Hornets.