1954 Hudson Hornet

By Tom Strongman
LAWRENCE – John Towner always knew that someday he would “find a car sitting in a garage,” like a hidden treasure that had been ignored. Sure enough, his vision came true when he found a 1954 Hudson Hornet convertible sitting forlornly in a garage in Leavenworth.

This dark red 7D ragtop is quite a rare automobile. Towner believes there is only one other one registered in Kansas and approximately 22 in the worldwide Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club.

Towner’s convertible was originally refurbished around 1977, but it then spent considerable time sitting in a garage that was not well sealed. It was full of dirt and grime when he discovered it. Serious cleaning and some mechanical restoration were all that was needed to bring the car to its current state. On a bitter cold winter morning, it fired right up and sounded as robust as ever.

According to Jon Battle of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club, the very first Hudson rolled off the assembly line in 1909. It was named after J.L. Hudson, owner of the Dayton-Hudson department store and the company’s primary financial backer. The Essex, a less-expensive model, came into existence in 1919. The Terraplace arrived in 1932 and was gone by 1940.

Towner’s Hudson represents a body style that made Hudson famous. The Hornet was low and has a “step-down” interior. Occupants step down inside the perimeter frame. The lower center of gravity and streamlined body made the Hudson a successful performance car in the early 1950s. It dominated NASCAR championships from 1951 to 1954.

The 1954 Hudson was produced from August 1953 until October 1954. Hudson merged with Nash to become American Motors, and the 1955 Hudson was based on a Nash.

Towner’s car is a twin-carburetor Hornet. The Twin H-Power engine was a 308-cubic-inch six cylinder. It produced 155 horsepower. According to Battle’s history, a 210-horsepower racing engine was produced in 1952.

Towner, who also has a 1955 Ford Thuderbird and a Nash Metropolitan, has owned his Hudson since 1992. When he was growing up, his family owned a Terraplane and later a 1946 Hudson. His early attachment to those cars is largely responsible for his love of his convertible.

To get in touch with Tom Strongman, send e-mail to tstrongman@kc.rr.com.



John Towner's 1954 Hudson Hornet
By Tom Strongman LAWRENCE – John Towner always knew that someday he would “find a car sitting in a garage,” like a hidden treasure that had been ignored. Sure enough, his vision came true when he found a 1954 Hudson Hornet convertible sitting forlornly in a garage in Leavenworth. This dark red 7D ragtop is quite a rare automobile. Towner believes there is only one other one registered in Kansas and approximately 22 in the worldwide Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club. Towner’s convertible was originally refurbished around 1977, but it then spent considerable time sitting in a garage that was not well sealed. It was full of dirt and grime when he discovered it. Serious cleaning and some mechanical restoration were all that was needed to bring the car to its current state. On a bitter cold winter morning, it fired right up and sounded as robust as ever. According to Jon Battle of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club, the very first Hudson rolled off the assembly line in 1909. It was named after J.L. Hudson, owner of the Dayton-Hudson department store and the company’s primary financial backer. The Essex, a less-expensive model, came into existence in 1919. The Terraplace arrived in 1932 and was gone by 1940. Towner’s Hudson represents a body style that made Hudson famous. The Hornet was low and has a “step-down” interior. Occupants step down inside the perimeter frame. The lower center of gravity and streamlined body made the Hudson a successful performance car in the early 1950s. It dominated NASCAR championships from 1951 to 1954. The 1954 Hudson was produced from August 1953 until October 1954. Hudson merged with Nash to become American Motors, and the 1955 Hudson was based on a Nash. Towner’s car is a twin-carburetor Hornet. The Twin H-Power engine was a 308-cubic-inch six cylinder. It produced 155 horsepower. According to Battle’s history, a 210-horsepower racing engine was produced in 1952. Towner, who also has a 1955 Ford Thuderbird and a Nash Metropolitan, has owned his Hudson since 1992. When he was growing up, his family owned a Terraplane and later a 1946 Hudson. His early attachment to those cars is largely responsible for his love of his convertible. To get in touch with Tom Strongman, send e-mail to tstrongman@kc.rr.com.

Towner's Hudson has dual carburetors.