Hudson was the first automobile manufacturer to get involved in stock car racing and dominated the track for many years, which was quite the accomplishment. The competition was formidable, and Hudsons were known for being heavyset and relatively luxurious for the price point. But, thanks to some exceptional chassis engineering, which included a low center of gravity, durable and powerful engines and some very talented drivers, the Hudson Hornets wowed America and gave the competition something to beat. This Hornet Club Coupe is finished in Cream and is really well dressed with a sun visor, fender skirts, amber fog lamps, tinted glass and bumper guards. The paint is rich, deep, reflective and shiny; likewise, the brightwork makes mirrors jealous. The interior is fitted with dark green carpeting, steering wheel, dashboard, cloth upholstery and door panels, and it offers passengers the optional pushbutton radio, split-back bench seat and Weather Control heater and defroster. The gauge cluster is a unique affair with the speedometer on the left and a clock on the right, with auxiliary information relayed in between. Rolling on wide whitewall tires with chrome wire wheels, the Hornet is very well appointed and powered by the famed 308/210 HP inline 6-cylinder engine with Twin H-Power carburetors and accompanying barrel-style air filters, backed by a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive. Truly a remarkable car, the Hudson Hornet was advertised in a two-page magazine spread as, “… beauty, style and luxury for the National Stock Car Champion” in 1953, showing black and white images, one depicting a woman comfortably seated in the back, a flurry of information explaining why the Hornet was such a great option for motorists. Thrifty motorists appreciated the fine build quality and engineering behind Hudson, and performance motorists appreciated the track reputation, handling characteristics and powerful engine; comfort-minded motorists adored the easy ingress-egress, supportive but soft seating, respectable number of standard features and available options, and styling aficionados were smitten with the aerodynamic teardrop styling. All things told, the Hornets were just cool and offered a lot overall—in fact, Steve McQueen, known as the King of Cool, owned two of them.
