1952 Hudson Cars Described
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1952 HUDSON CARS DESCRIBED 1952 HUDSON - GENERAL: The Korean War recession had bolstered sales of less expensive, more fuel-efficient cars and the Pacemaker helped keep Hudson's head above water. Thus, in May 1952 Hudson announced that it was beginning to tool- up for production of a new compact-sized model for its 1953 line. This car would become the Hudson Jet. A new Series, the "Wasp", was introduced in 1952, built on the Pacemaker chassis and replacing the Super line. In styling, the Wasp, like the Commodore, and Hornet, featured "wrap-around" parking lamps in the front outer edge of the grille, whereas the Pacemaker did not. The side trim on the Wasp, Hornet and the Commodore now followed the body cut line rather than being some distance below it. All Hudsons went from vertical tail lights to horizontal units whose bezels wrapped slightly around the fenders. Hudson decided that the Commodore Six and Eight should be a distinct line, rather than appearing to be merely an engine choice over the Hornet. Thus, the Commodore Six had less standard features than the Eight, with the idea that this would add a level of exclusivity to the Commodore Eight line. The entire 1952 Commodore line featured new "Hudson-Aire" identification and appointments to make them appear more upscale from the Hornet, which it was too similar to - except for the engine choice. INNOVATIONS: The Hornet L-Head Six "Twin H Power" option was now available from the factory. The multiple carburation setup, that had been an over-the-counter racing addition, now became a factory installed option. Click HERE to learn about the Hornet L-Head six. Wraparound back windows were now available on all 2-door coupes, broughams, and 4-door sedans. 1952 HUDSON PACEMAKER CUSTOM SIX - SERIES 4B. Reacting to the recession, the Pacemaker was moved down in pricing for 1952 and was trimmed even less than 1951. The twin-strut grille arrangement was deleted and fender skirts were optional. The "spear tips" had a staggered look and a boomerang shaped fin became the hood ornament. The rear fascia was spartan, with small oval tail lamp lenses, and only outer bumper guards. Standard equipment included: Gray special-weave cord upholstery with red and brown stripes; ribbed rubber floor mats; dark brown painted dash; two-spoke, light tan steering wheel; friction, not cranked, front ventipanes; two assist straps in the sedans–one in the club coupe; a pop-out cigarette lighter; dash and seat back ash trays; windshield and window reveal moldings; twin horns; arm rests at front seat ends-plus at rear seat ends on sedan and club coupe; seat-back pockets; and woven trunk mat. The 232 CID engine was the only powerplant. Even with the changes designed to keep the price down, manufacturing costs pushed up the price about $165 over 1951. 1952 HUDSON WASP SIX - SERIES 5B. The new replacement for the Super, the Wasp Six, was built on the Pacemaker platform, though the overall length of the Wasp was longer by 1", due to the fitment of center rear bumper guards. In terms of market penetration, the Wasp was intended to replace the Super. In terms of market positioning, it was to the Pacemaker what the Hornet was to the Commodore Eight; a slightly more luxurious and more powerful version of the lower priced model. Standard 1952 Wasp equipment included: Tan special-weave cord upholstery with red and brown stripes; rear compartment carpeting; dark brown leather-grain dash; door courtesy lamps; windup clock; three-spoke steering wheel with half-circle horn ring; arm rests at seat ends, except convertible and Brougham; robe hanger and hand grips on front seat back; friction, not cranked, front ventipanes; windshield and window reveal moldings; rear center guard with license lamp; woven fabric trunk mat; fender skirts; pop-out lighter; dash ash tray and front seat back type in sedans; distinctive Hudson triangle hood ornament; front fender-top ornaments; seat back pockets; side body rub-rail moldings; and twin-strut front grille guard. 1952 HUDSON COMMODORE SIX - SERIES 6B. The "Hudson-Aire" trim found on the Six included: double rub-rail moldings that ran along the body contour line from the front fenders to the rear fenders, with a downward sweep towards the back bumper; twin-strut grille and arrangement; front and rear center bumper guards; front fender nameplates; rocker sill beauty panels; large DeLuxe hub caps; and taillights styled to form a continuous horizontal trim line. The front fender 'spear tips' on Sixes were decorated with a number "6." Also fitted was the Hudson triangle hood ornament and front fender top ornaments. Standard equipment on Commodore Six was markedly different than on Eights. It included: six-tone Bedford cord upholstery with tan and brown stripes; leather-grain Durafab trim; rear-compartment carpets; dark brown leather-grain dash; windup clock; three-spoke, half-ring steering wheel; arm rests at ends of all seats, except on the convertible and Brougham; center rear-seat arm rest in sedan, club coupe and Hollywood; pop-out lighter; ash trays at seat ends; dash ash tray. Additional features included: friction, not cranked, front ventipanes; leather-grain window garnish moldings; reveal moldings; woven fabric trunk mat; fender skirts; seat back pockets; front dome lamp–two side lamps in Hollywood hardtop; rear quarter dome lamps in sedan, club coupe and Hollywood; robe hanger and hand grips on seat back. 1952 HUDSON HORNET SIX - SERIES 7B. The 1952 Hornet was once again based on the Commodore Eight - except it was powered by the awesome, high compression 308 CID Six, now available with the dual carb, "Twin-H Power" as a factory installed option. Special features for the Hornet included: dark Blue or Brown leather-grain window garnish moldings; Hornet "Flying-H" logos on the side of front fenders and rear deck; gold and chrome hood ornament. "Hornet" identifiers were found on front door valance panels. All other interior trim and specifications like the Commodore Eight. 1952 HUDSON COMMODORE EIGHT - SERIES 8B. As on the Commodore Six, the Eight's Hudson-Aire trim also included: double rub-rail moldings that ran along the body contour line, from the front fenders to the rear fenders, with a downward sweep towards the back bumper; twin-strut grille and arrangement; front and rear center bumper guards; front fender nameplates; rocker sill beauty panels, as in the Six; and large DeLuxe hub caps and taillights styled to form a continuous horizontal trim line. The front fender 'spear tips' on Eights were decorated with a number "8". The Commodore Eight had the following upgraded standard equipment from the Commodore Six: Nylon three-dimensional weave upholstery in Tan-Brown with gold stripes or Blue-Gray with blue stripes; foam rubber seat cushions; front and rear carpets; cord type, Durafab covered robe hangers in all models; instrument lighting dimmer switch; DeLuxe steering wheel; electric clock; crank type front ventipanes; printed jute trunk mat; and, of course, the inline eight-cylinder motor. Of note was that the Commodore models weighed 30 pounds more than Hornets, due to the higher weight of the venerable 8-cylinder L-head engine, now noted for smoothness rather than for performance. Continued – Copyright © Automotive History Preservation Society, All Rights Reserved. Contact: Librarian, PO Box 467, Perry MI or e-mail [email protected]. MODEL/ENGINE I.D. DATA: Pacemaker Custom serial numbers. Pacemakers were numbered from 4B-132916 to 202512. Wasp serial numbers. Wasps were numbered from 5B-132916 to 202715. Commodore Six serial numbers. Commodore Sixes were numbered from 6B-132916 to 198220. Hornet serial numbers. Hornet Sixes were numbered from 7B-132916 to 20291. Commodore Eight serial numbers. Commodore Eights were numbered from 8B-132916 to 200201. Serial numbers were on the right door post. Hudson did not provide body code numbers. In the production chart, the first two symbols comprise the series/model codes, followed by a group of numbers in sequential order. The first two symbols were "the series" in 1952: "4B" = Pacemaker; "5B" = Wasp; 6B" = Commodore Six; "7B" = Hornet; and "8B" = Commodore Eight. The following numbers designated production sequence. Engine numbers were the same and were found on a boss near the top left side of the cylinder block as well as between the first two manifold flanges. BODY PAINT CODE/COLORS: B-96 Broadway Blue CC-93 Symphony Blue Green Light G-95 Jupiter Gray H-27 Texas Tan J-97 Southern Blue K-5 Ebony Black M-64 Toro Red N-92 Boston Ivory P Symphony Blue Green Dark P-63 Naples Green Q-115 Gulf Green RR-72 French Gray S-62 Jefferson Green HUDSON ENGINES: Pacemaker Series Six: Inline L-head six-cylinder. Chrome alloy block. Displacement: 232 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.5625" x 3.875". Compression ratio: 6.7:1. Horsepower: 112 @ 4000 RPM. Torque: 175 @ 1600 RPM. Four main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter one-barrel type WA-1 model 749S. Wasp and Commodore Series Six: Inline L-head six-cylinder. Chrome alloy block. Displacement: 262 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.5625" x 4.375". Compression ratio: 6.7:1. Horsepower: 127 @ 4000 RPM. Torque: 200 @ 1600 RPM. Four main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: 2-barrel WGD Type Model 776S. Hornet Series Six: Inline L-head -cylinder. Chrome alloy block. Displacement: 308 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.8125" x 4.5 inches. Compression ratio: 7.2:1. Horsepower: 145 @ 3800 RPM. Torque: 257 @ 1800 RPM. Four main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter two-barrel type WGD model 776S. Hornet Twin H-Power Series Six: Inline L-head -cylinder.