author
Hudson Motor Car Company
A once-powerful Detroit automaker, it built a reputation for smart engineering, stylish cars, and the high-performance Hornet before disappearing into a merger that helped create American Motors.
1 Audiobook
Essex Terraplane Six 1933 Owner's Manual of Information
by Hudson Motor Car Company
About the author
Founded in Detroit in 1909, Hudson Motor Car Company took its name from department-store founder Joseph L. Hudson, the company's main financial backer. Early on, Hudson stood out for practical engineering and strong sales, and it later expanded with companion brands including Essex and Terraplane.
The company is especially remembered for the "step-down" design introduced in the late 1940s, which lowered the car's floor inside the frame for a sleeker look and better road handling. Hudson also made a big mark in American racing history with the Hudson Hornet, a model that became famous for its stock-car success in the early 1950s.
In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator to form American Motors Corporation. The Hudson name stayed in use for only a few more model years before being discontinued after 1957, but the brand remains a favorite among car historians and classic-car fans.