1950 Hudson Cars Described

1950 HUDSON CARS DESCRIBED

1950 HUDSON - GENERAL: The new Hudsons were introduced on November 18, 1949. A smaller Hudson was introduced, on a 119" wheelbase, to capture some of the low-price market that Hudson hovered above. This new model, called "Pacemaker", was not much smaller than conventional Series Hudsons with a 6.5" smaller length at 201.5", but those 5.0" and 6.5" respectively, seemed to be a lot back then. It was styled the same as the larger Hudsons, so only a side-by-side comparison would tell the difference. The Brougham Convertible, in the Commodore series, came with hydraulic window lifts and Red genuine leather or leather grained vinyl upholstery as standard equipment. The same upholstery was featured on Super Series convertibles, but hydraulic window lifts were optional. Convertible top colors were Tan, Black or Maroon. A 'Fold Away' rear window was optional with all convertibles. Prices were slightly reduced from the previous year, and the new Pacemaker was some 10% lower than the senior cars as well.

INNOVATIONS: The "Super Matic", fully automatic transmission (GM-supplied 4-speed Hydramatic) was made available for the first time.

1950 HUDSON PACEMAKER SERIES 500 SIX - SERIES 50A DELUXE SIX. The Pacemaker copied the senior series' 1950 new look, which included a grille with four horizontal blades widening as they neared the bumper, and twin struts forming a triangle with a company medallion at the top. Though only the grille was drastically changed, this alteration made the cars appear lower. Basic equipment on all Pacemaker models included "Durafab" plastic interior trim, eighteen-inch steering wheel, twin, adjustable visors, full opening rear quarter windows for club coupes, new, two-piece curved Full-View windshield, a rear view mirror, front dome lamp, lockable parcel compartment, and a large trunk with mat and horizontal spare. Pacemaker shared several features with Supers, including lighted grille/hood medallions, standard twin tail lamps, latch type front ventipanes and a new, streamlined hood ornament. Distinctive Pacemaker fittings included striped Bedford Cord upholstery, front and rear, rubber floor mats, Blue Spruce two-spoke steering wheel, fabric finish dash, seat back pockets in sedans only, ash trays in front seatback and dash, trumpet horn and parking lamps under the lower grille bar. DeLuxe Pacemakers had a extra trim and slightly richer interior appointments.

1950 HUDSON SUPER: SERIES 501 SIX - SERIES 503 EIGHT. Supers were basically a 1949 carryover with the newly designed 1950 grille. A small "spear tip" ornament at the front of the body contour line, just above the wheel opening, served as a Super identifier. A broad sill panel molding was used as the only major side body trim. There were no fender-top ornaments and the new, streamlined hood ornament was a match to that of the Pacemaker. The Super equipment list comprised all basic features and items shared with Pacemakers, plus striped Bedford cloth upholstery, two-tone wood-grained dash, windup clock, cord robe hangers, light tan steering wheel and door pillar assist straps. The following items were shared with Custom Commodores: ribbed carpet-like front mats, rear carpets, arm rests at seat ends, sedan rear ventipanes, bright metal windows and windshield reveal moldings, larger sedan and Brougham rear window, parking lamps in lower grille bar, license lamps in center rear bumper guards, fender skirts, twin air horns, ash trays in seat ends plus dashboard and envelope style seat back pockets in all models.

1950 HUDSON CUSTOM COMMODORE: SERIES 502 SIX - SERIES 504 EIGHT. The Commodores had a sweeping upper level trim that terminated at the back of the rear fender not found on the Super and Pacemaker. This side trim was made up of a broad body sill panel and a strip of molding that followed the body contour line several inches below it. At the front of this molding were model nameplates, while the rear portion widened and curved into the sill panel, behind the enclosed rear wheel housing. Custom Commodores had enriched interiors over the Super and Pacemaker. Standard equipment included all basic features and the additional items shared with Supers, plus Nylon Bedford Cord upholstery in Tan with Brown stripes or Blue-Gray with Blue stripes, foam rubber seat cushions, "Durafab" (Nylon) covered robe hangers, bright metal seat-back hand grips, sixteen inch rear seat center arm rest, pop-out cigarette lighter, dash dimmer switch, leather grain dash and window garnish molding, three-spoke steering wheel, electric clock, crank type ventipanes, two rear dome lights in sedans and club coupes, and inner and outer bumper guards, front and rear.

MODEL/ENGINE I.D. DATA:  Pacemaker serial numbers. Pacemakers were numbered from 500-101 to 500121481. Pacemaker DeLuxes were numbered from 50A-101 to 50A121505.  Super serial numbers. Super Sixes were numbered from 501-101 to 501121508. Super Eights were numbered from 503-101 to 50312149.  Custom Commodore serial numbers. Custom Commodore Sixes were numbered from 502-101 to 502121504. Custom Commodore Eights were numbered from 504-101 to 504121500. Serial numbers were on the right door post. Hudson did not provide body code numbers. In the production chart, the first three symbols comprise the series/model codes, followed by a group of numbers beginning at 101. The first two symbols were "50" in 1950, with the third symbol signifying the model: "501" = Super Six; "503" = Super Eight; "502" = Custom Commodore Six; and "504" = Custom Commodore Eight. Then following group of numbers designated production sequence. Engine numbers were the same and were found on a boss near the top left side of the cylinder block and also between the first two manifold flanges.

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BODY PAINT CODE/COLORS:  21 Bright Red  K-5 Black  B-35 Lagoon Blue  B-46 Riviera Blue  C-39 Golden Gray Dark  G-23 Twilight Gray  H-27 Texas Tan  H-44 Deep Maroon  J-36 Legion Blue  J-45 Bali Blue  M-28 Revue Red  N-37 Cornish Cream  P-25 Oriental Green  Q-24 Gray Mist  Q-48 Field Gray  R-29 Golden Gray Light  R-38 Revard Blue  S-26 Peacock Green  S-49 Hawaii Green

HUDSON ENGINES:

 Pacemaker and Pacemaker DeLuxe 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: 123 @ 4000 RPM. Torque: 175 @ 1600 RPM. Four main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter one-barrel WA-1 type Model 749S.

 Super and Custom 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: 123 @ 4000 RPM. Torque: 195 @ 1600 RPM. Four main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: 2-barrel WDO 647 SA or WGD Type Model 776S with L-shaped air horns.

 Super and Custom Commodore Series Eight: Inline L-head eight-cylinder. Chrome alloy block. Displacement: 254 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.00" x 4.50" inches. Compression ratio: 6.5:1. Horsepower: 128 @ 4200 RPM. Torque: 198 @ 1600 RPM. Five main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter 2-barrel WDO 648S or WGD Type Model 773S with L-shaped air horns

CHASSIS:  Wheelbase: Pacemaker 119.00", Super, Commodore 124.00".  Overall length: Pacemaker 201.50" Super, Commodore 208.09".  Front tread: All 58.50".  Rear tread: All 55.50".  Tires: Convertibles 7.60 x 15 All others 7.10 x 15.

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS:  Overdrive manual transmission ($95).  Drive Master semiautomatic transmission ($105).  Super Matic (GM Hydramatic) automatic transmission ($199).  Aluminum cylinder heads for the Six or Eight with 7.2:1 compression ratio.  Rear axle ratios: 4.10:1 (standard); 4.55:1 (standard Super Matic) or 3.82:1 gears - all at no extra cost.  Oil bath air cleaner.  Vacuum booster pump. SIGNIFICANT OPTIONS: Optional on Pacemaker

 Foam rubber seat cushions.  Front bumper outer guards.  Mechanical or electric clock.  Rear wheel covers (fender skirts).  White sidewall tires. Standard on Commodore and Optional on Super -

 Front bumper outer guards.  Foam rubber cushions.  Hydraulic window lifts for Super convertible.  Side ornamentation.  White sidewall tires.

Optional All Series -

 Convertible Brougham top rear window glass.  Directional indicators.  Heavy scale front and rear springs.  Police and Taxi equipment including large clutch, heavy rear springs, 11" brakes and heavy construction seats.  Radio.  Weather Control heater.  Wheel trim rings.  Tire options included white sidewalls, oversized 7.60 x 15 tires, and extra-ply tire construction. Convertible Broughams came standard with 7.60 x 15 tires  Three-quarter leather grain trim ($25-$41 or $32-$53 per body style).  Weather Control heater ($64).  Weather Master heater ($50).  Wheel trim rings ($13).  Whitewall tires.

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Hudson reported a $12 million profit on sales of $267 million.

PRODUCTION: Canadian production, suspended during war, was resumed at the Hudson factory in Tilbury, Ontario, in April 1950. Despite of model year sales of 121,408 cars, which was very respectable, the firm slid to 13th rank in the American auto industry. This was due, for the most part, to the industry's huge across-the-board sales. See attached chart for production numbers.

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CAR IMAGES:

In 1950, there were 700 six-cylinder models and 426 eight-cylinder Hudson Custom Commodore Convertible Broughams sold.

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CAR IMAGES Continued

1950 Hudson Custom Commodore 2-door Club Coupes were popular and they counted well among the 40,210 2 and 4-door Commodores sold that year.

The 1950 Hudson Custom Commodore 4-door Sedan was the major seller in the Commodore line, delivering most of the 40,210 Commodores sold that year.

The 1950 Hudson Super Convertible. The car was only offered as a six-cylinder model and 464 were sold.

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CAR IMAGES Continued

The 1950 Hudson Super 4-door Sedan was very popular and contributed a great deal to the 18,320 in Super sales, less the convertible. It should be noted that the Pacemaker supplanted the Super in the lower price model line.

The 1950 Hudson Super 2-door Club Coupe was a solid choice, but was overshadowed by the Pacemaker version.

Like the 1950 Hudson Super 2-door Coupe, the 2-door Brougham also lost out to Pacemaker sales.

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CAR IMAGES Continued

The 1950 Hudson Pacemaker Convertible was offered in both Standard and DeLuxe trim. Otherwise they were the same car. 1,865 Standard trim Convertibles were delivered, and 660 DeLuxe versions were sold.

The 1950 Hudson Pacemaker 4-door Sedan was also sold in both trim levels. It supplanted the Super Series version in sales.

Like the 4-door, the 1950 Pacemaker 2-door Club Coupe was available as a Standard and DeLuxe. It outshone the Super version with approximately a 2 to one dales margin.

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CAR IMAGES Continued

The 1950 Hudson Pacemaker 2-door Brougham also overtook the Super version in sales.

CAR STYLING CHANGES FOR 1950

In response to the rather small rear window and limited vision toward the rear, 1950 Hudson coupes & sedans featured this "wraparound" rear window treatment. It Added 44% more glass.

While the "look" was similar, there were many subtle changes to the front end in 1950. The grille was wider and spread under the headlights. There were only 3 bars – all that were thicker and the third bar contained the parking lights. The grille contained the reversed "V" in place of a single verticle bar and the hudson emblem was red and molded as part of the top bar. The bumperettes were bolder and the two outside units contained bullets. The new design spread the front horizontally.

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CAR STYLING CHANGES FOR 1950

Commodore side trim changed in 1950. The 1950 model (top) had the added brightwork and "Commodore" inset in the forward termination of the brightwork. The 1948-49 version had the nameplate in the cutline termination higher up – and no trim following that cutline.

1950 Super side trim also changed, but only subtly. Where the 1948-49 version (top) had the nameplate in the cutline termination, the 1950 merely had a small "bullet" with no nameplate.

1950 Pacemakers had a separate grille treatment. Borrowing somewhat from the 1948-49 models, the grille bars were thinner, but they did extend like the other 1950 models. The parking lights were set below the bars, ala 1949-8-49 and no massive outside bumperettes were fitted. The hood ornament was more modest and the chrome fender tops were not fitted.