If Ray Stevens had his way, the highways would hum with Hudson cars.
Jill Connor / The CitizenRay Stevens, of Venice Center, touches the front emblem of his 1933 Terraplane 8 he keeps in his garage that he and his family drove to Wisconsin and back in 1974. He has kept the car in condition to still run at highway speeds.
Stevens, of Venice Center, has cherished the late American automobile maker's work for 50 years. With his wife, Teen, Ray is a member of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club, whose express mission is the restoration and preservation of Hudson automobiles.
The manufacturer began in 1909 and stayed in business through 1957, shortly after Hudson merged with the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors, which was later bought by Chrysler.
From states spanning the eastern part of the country, Stevens or fellow club members are contacted by owners of Hudsons looking to let go of their cars. Stevens estimates he's restored and returned about 75 to the road since joining the club in the early 1970s.
“It's an obligation we accept,” Stevens said, “to get as many of these cars back on the road as possible.”
Attorney Andy Fusco purchased a 1950 Hudson Super Six from Stevens about 25 years ago, and continues to drive the car on occasion today. Stevens made sure to pick a Hudson that fell within Fusco's limited price range at the time.
“Ray told me, ‘There's a Hudson for everybody,'” Fusco said. “For years Ray was the go-to guy in the Northeast for Hudsons.”
In Stevens' backyard are the vestiges of that work: 21 rusted over Hudson cars, each ranging in manufacture date from 1933 to 1954 and consisting of varying amounts of parts.
“I don't hunt, fish or play pool, I come out and scrub these old cars,” Stevens said. “People ask me, ‘Why not retire?' and I say I'm doing what I love.”
Stevens prizes the engineering superiority he feels Hudson cars enjoyed over their competitors, namely Ford and its Model T. In every area but price, Stevens said, Hudson bested the automotive giant.
Hudson innovated the oil light in 1932, the push button starter in 1934 and the dual braking system in 1936. In three years of NASCAR competition, Hudson collected 66 grand national victories with its cars.
“It was because of its handling ability that the six-cylinder Hudson was whooping the hell out of those V8s,” Stevens said.
Stevens' 1950 Hudson Pacemaker demonstrates several of the design features that facilitate handling in Hudson cars. In addition to center-point steering, the unibody step-down shape gives the car a lower center of gravity. Hudson's then-president felt the design was too long, low and wide, and that it resembled an upside-down bath tub. But his board of directors overruled him on the car's release.
“Every sedan is that way today,” Fusco said. “Not one isn't unibody.”
As Hudson's place in American automobile history came to a close in the late 1950s, Stevens began taking interest in the line. He had recently come back from the Korean War, where he fought in the U.S. Army's 24th Division and later suffered a shrapnel injury that limited his ability to work.
In 1957, Stevens and his wife started Ray's Auto Sales, where they would practice their passion for Hudsons. After they joined the HET Club - of which Teen would serve as president for six years - the Stevens went on to host 18 gatherings of Hudson owners at their Venice Center home. Enthusiasts from the northeastern United States would convene to socialize, swap parts and admire each other's automobiles.
“We're a different breed, Hudson people are,” Stevens said.
As he joined the club and purchased the Pacemaker that still sits in his garage, Stevens also added a rare 1933 Terraplane Eight. The model set a record in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb that lasted for almost 20 years. Its superior performance even impressed bank robber John Dillinger, who made many speedy getaways in the Hudson car.
Just outside the garage housing Stevens' two working models are the 21 that have yet to be helped. Stevens hopes buyers with a similar heart for Hudsons will also give those cars a home and spare them from a crusher or junk yard.
“Our very first amendment is preserving these great cars built by Hudson,” Stevens said. “It's important that you do what you love.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
Hudson fans
If you are interested in purchasing one of Ray Stevens' Hudson cars, call 497-0316 or 729-2998
The manufacturer began in 1909 and stayed in business through 1957, shortly after Hudson merged with the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors, which was later bought by Chrysler.
From states spanning the eastern part of the country, Stevens or fellow club members are contacted by owners of Hudsons looking to let go of their cars. Stevens estimates he's restored and returned about 75 to the road since joining the club in the early 1970s.
“It's an obligation we accept,” Stevens said, “to get as many of these cars back on the road as possible.”
Attorney Andy Fusco purchased a 1950 Hudson Super Six from Stevens about 25 years ago, and continues to drive the car on occasion today. Stevens made sure to pick a Hudson that fell within Fusco's limited price range at the time.
“Ray told me, ‘There's a Hudson for everybody,'” Fusco said. “For years Ray was the go-to guy in the Northeast for Hudsons.”
In Stevens' backyard are the vestiges of that work: 21 rusted over Hudson cars, each ranging in manufacture date from 1933 to 1954 and consisting of varying amounts of parts.
“I don't hunt, fish or play pool, I come out and scrub these old cars,” Stevens said. “People ask me, ‘Why not retire?' and I say I'm doing what I love.”
Stevens prizes the engineering superiority he feels Hudson cars enjoyed over their competitors, namely Ford and its Model T. In every area but price, Stevens said, Hudson bested the automotive giant.
Hudson innovated the oil light in 1932, the push button starter in 1934 and the dual braking system in 1936. In three years of NASCAR competition, Hudson collected 66 grand national victories with its cars.
“It was because of its handling ability that the six-cylinder Hudson was whooping the hell out of those V8s,” Stevens said.
Stevens' 1950 Hudson Pacemaker demonstrates several of the design features that facilitate handling in Hudson cars. In addition to center-point steering, the unibody step-down shape gives the car a lower center of gravity. Hudson's then-president felt the design was too long, low and wide, and that it resembled an upside-down bath tub. But his board of directors overruled him on the car's release.
“Every sedan is that way today,” Fusco said. “Not one isn't unibody.”
As Hudson's place in American automobile history came to a close in the late 1950s, Stevens began taking interest in the line. He had recently come back from the Korean War, where he fought in the U.S. Army's 24th Division and later suffered a shrapnel injury that limited his ability to work.
In 1957, Stevens and his wife started Ray's Auto Sales, where they would practice their passion for Hudsons. After they joined the HET Club - of which Teen would serve as president for six years - the Stevens went on to host 18 gatherings of Hudson owners at their Venice Center home. Enthusiasts from the northeastern United States would convene to socialize, swap parts and admire each other's automobiles.
“We're a different breed, Hudson people are,” Stevens said.
As he joined the club and purchased the Pacemaker that still sits in his garage, Stevens also added a rare 1933 Terraplane Eight. The model set a record in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb that lasted for almost 20 years. Its superior performance even impressed bank robber John Dillinger, who made many speedy getaways in the Hudson car.
Just outside the garage housing Stevens' two working models are the 21 that have yet to be helped. Stevens hopes buyers with a similar heart for Hudsons will also give those cars a home and spare them from a crusher or junk yard.
“Our very first amendment is preserving these great cars built by Hudson,” Stevens said. “It's important that you do what you love.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
Hudson fans
If you are interested in purchasing one of Ray Stevens' Hudson cars, call 497-0316 or 729-2998
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