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Editor’s note: David Krumboltz’s regular column is on hiatus until further notice due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, we’re running some of Dave’s favorite past columns. This one originally ran in March 2017.
There so many interesting stories regarding the automobile industry, and the story of Hudson is among the most interesting. Most car brands are the named after their creators, like Buick, Chrysler, Ford, Nash, Willys and Studebaker. But that was not the case with Hudson. The company was founded in 1909 by Howard Coffin, George Dunham and Roy Chapin but largely financed by J. L. Hudson, the owner of Detroit’s largest department store. In their very first year, 4,000 Hudsons were sold, the best start of any new automobile company at the time.
There have been more than 2,600 different U.S. automobile manufacturers, many producing very few vehicles, but by 1910, only a year after they started, Hudson was the 11th largest producer. The people at Hudson were very innovative and ahead of most others in the business.
Lafayette resident Mark Forbes owns a 1912 Hudson Model 33 “Mile-a-Minute” roadster. The model names in those days had meaning, unlike many of today’s models with initial names like MKC, RS7 or CR-V. “Model 33” meant it had 33 horsepower, and “Mile-a-Minute” meant it could go 60 miles per hour. In fact, Hudson guaranteed the speed. Forbes’ father, who has passed away, restored this vehicle from literally a pile of junk to this beautiful car that has been shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance as well as at Silverado, Hillsboro and Palo Alto.
When new, this right-hand-drive Hudson would have cost about $1,600, or about $38,600 in today’s dollars. This was when the average U.S. worker earned between $200 and $400 a year. So while it was an expensive car, one can see the quality. This is found in the gauge of the metal, the way the car was designed and the showy features like brass on the headlights, the steering column and the straps that hold the gas tank in place.
The four-cylinder, 226-cubic-inch engine is teamed with a three-speed manual transmission using the standard “H” pattern for shifting. Added during the restoration process is a Mitchell two-speed Gear Splitter overdrive to give the car more speed. The transmission shift lever, the hand brake as well as the Mitchell overdrive lever are just outside the car, above the running board on the driver’s side. On the floor, there are three pedals, as one would expect. The two larger pedals are the clutch on the left and the brake on the right side while a much smaller pedal, the accelerator, is in the center. Also on the outside is the squeeze ball horn that I had to honk.
The fuel tank behind the seats is divided. One side holds up to 30 gallons of gas, while the other side holds up to 10 gallons of oil. Each side of the tank has a quick-fill cap, as the “Mile-a Minute” roadster was a dual-purpose car, a race car and an over-the-road car. The fenders are fairly easy to remove for weight reduction if the driver is in a serious race. The oil tank is not for storage but for when driving the car. The 2,460-pound car sits on 36-inch tires and carries two spares on its rear. The spares include only an outer rim, but not the spokes. Inside that hollow space provided by the two spares is the Hudson’s trunk.
Even though it was a pretty fast car in its day, it wouldn’t have made a fast getaway car. The electric starter had not yet been invented, so a driver has to coast and pop the clutch or crank to get it started. The car has four headlights and one taillight, all of which run on kerosene. There is even a kerosene tank on the side of the car. To stop this roadster, the driver has to plan ahead, as there are only mechanical brakes for the back. What’s the Hudson worth today?
“Maybe it’s worth $75,000. I don’t really know. I’ve seen them go on RM Auction for $106,000, but this more of a family heirloom,” Forbes said.
He has no plan to ever sell this car. After our interview, I watched Forbes start the Hudson with a crank. First, he made sure the car was in neutral — very important — and that the ignition was off. He turned the crank several times, which pumped fuel to the engine. Then he turned on the ignition and cranked it about six times before the engine came to life. Cranking can be hazardous to your fingers, thumb and arm if not done correctly. Forbes zipped up his jacket, put on his hat and leather gloves and climbed over the passenger seat to get to the driver seat behind the monocle windshield.
Right below the driver’s seat is a lever called the exhaust cutout. As he drove away, he pulled the level up, and the exhaust bypassed the muffler for a louder, better and happier sound.
Have an interesting vehicle? Contact David Krumboltz at MOBopoly@yahoo.com. To view more photos of this and other issues’ vehicles or to read more of Dave’s columns, visit mercurynews.com/author/david-krumboltz.
