Hudson Italia
Encyclopedia
The Hudson Italia was an automobile styling study and limited production two-door compact coupé
produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company
of Detroit, Michigan
in cooperation with Carrozzeria Touring
of Italy
during the 1954 and 1955 model years. Designed by Frank Spring
, and introduced 14 January 1954, the Italia was based on the Hudson Jet
platform
and running gear but had its own unique body and interior. It was an effort by Hudson to capitalize on the notoriety of showcars, as the Chrysler Ghia had done.
. The car first appeared under the "Super Jet" name and featured numerous advancements including its aluminum
body, wraparound windshield (reminiscent of the 1953 Corvette
), doors that cut 14 inches (356 mm) into the roof (also called aircraft doors) for easier entry and exit. In part because of Hudson's "step-down" floorpan, which dated to 1948, the Italia was 9" (23 cm) lower than the Jet, but shared its 105" (2667 mm) wheelbase.
While styling for the Jet was conservative, the Italia was anything but. For one, the Italia was 10 inches (254 mm) lower than a Jet. Over the headlights, the front fenders featured "V" shaped scoops, ducting cooling air to the front brakes. The front bumper sported a large inverted "V" (the trademark Hudson triangle, inverted) in the center that angled up and overlapped the grille work. Rear quarter scoops cooled the rear brakes. In the back of the car, the tail, directional, and back-up lamps tipped the ends of three stacked chrome tubes per side, emerging from scalloped cut-outs in the rear quarter panels. Inside, it featured a radio (not yet standard equipment even on Cadillac
s), form-fittingbucket seat
s covered in red and white leather and vinyl, and bright red deep-pile Italian carpet, contrasting with the Italian Cream exterior color, and even seat belt
s (also just beginning to appear as standard, pioneered by Nash
). Flow-through ventilation, usually credited as a GM
innovation, feeding through a cowl vent (just becoming usual in 1950s U.S. cars), was also standard.
Despite lower labor costs in Italy, the hand-built car's price tag was USD$
4,350. Combined with Hudson's dashed prospects as a stand-alone independent marque (Hudson and Nash
merged in May 1954), it spelled the end for the Italia after a mere twenty-five examples were completed. A single 4-door sedan prototype (dubbed 'X-161') was also constructed to study production possibilities.
The car was powered by Hudson's Twin H 202 cu in (3.3 l) L-head straight 6, with higher (8:1) compression
and dual one-barrel (single choke) downdraft carburetor
s, producing 114 hp and all were equipped with a 3-speed manual transmission
with a column-mounted gear shift lever. It featured drum brakes front and rear.
One source reports 21 of the 26 built as surviving today.
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company
Hudson Motor Car Company
The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors. The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was dropped.- Company strategy...
of Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
in cooperation with Carrozzeria Touring
Carrozzeria Touring
Carrozzeria Touring is an automobile coachbuilder established on March 25, 1926 in Milan, Italy by Felice Bianchi Anderloni and Gaetano Ponzoni...
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
during the 1954 and 1955 model years. Designed by Frank Spring
Frank Spring
Franklin Patrick Spring is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 61 games in the National Hockey League and 13 games in the World Hockey Association. He played with the St...
, and introduced 14 January 1954, the Italia was based on the Hudson Jet
Hudson Jet
The Hudson Jet was a compact automobile produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan during the 1953 and 1954 model years. The Jet was Hudson's response to the popular Nash Rambler, and Hudson, with its limited financial resources, chose to pursue a compact instead of refurbishing...
platform
Automobile platform
An automobile platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of automobiles, often from different, but related marques...
and running gear but had its own unique body and interior. It was an effort by Hudson to capitalize on the notoriety of showcars, as the Chrysler Ghia had done.
Development
During development of the ill-fated Hudson Jet line, chief designer Frank Spring had hoped to bring a low-slung stylish car to Hudson's model range. His work was modified by TouringCarrozzeria Touring
Carrozzeria Touring is an automobile coachbuilder established on March 25, 1926 in Milan, Italy by Felice Bianchi Anderloni and Gaetano Ponzoni...
. The car first appeared under the "Super Jet" name and featured numerous advancements including its aluminum
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
body, wraparound windshield (reminiscent of the 1953 Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette C1
The Chevrolet Corvette is the first generation of the sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced late in the 1953 model year and produced through 1962. It is commonly referred to as the "solid-axle" generation, as the independent rear suspension didn't appear until the 1963...
), doors that cut 14 inches (356 mm) into the roof (also called aircraft doors) for easier entry and exit. In part because of Hudson's "step-down" floorpan, which dated to 1948, the Italia was 9" (23 cm) lower than the Jet, but shared its 105" (2667 mm) wheelbase.
While styling for the Jet was conservative, the Italia was anything but. For one, the Italia was 10 inches (254 mm) lower than a Jet. Over the headlights, the front fenders featured "V" shaped scoops, ducting cooling air to the front brakes. The front bumper sported a large inverted "V" (the trademark Hudson triangle, inverted) in the center that angled up and overlapped the grille work. Rear quarter scoops cooled the rear brakes. In the back of the car, the tail, directional, and back-up lamps tipped the ends of three stacked chrome tubes per side, emerging from scalloped cut-outs in the rear quarter panels. Inside, it featured a radio (not yet standard equipment even on Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
s), form-fittingbucket seat
Bucket seat
A bucket seat is a seat contoured to hold one person, distinct from bench seats which are flat platforms designed to seat multiple people. Bucket seats are standard in fast cars to keep riders in place when making sharp or quick turns...
s covered in red and white leather and vinyl, and bright red deep-pile Italian carpet, contrasting with the Italian Cream exterior color, and even seat belt
Seat belt
A seat belt or seatbelt, sometimes called a safety belt, is a safety harness designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop...
s (also just beginning to appear as standard, pioneered by Nash
Nash
-Places:*Nash, Buckinghamshire, England*Nash, Herefordshire, England*Nash, Bromley, London Borough*Nash, Newport, Wales*Nash, Telford and Wrekin, former village in Shropshire, England*Nash, South Shropshire, England*Nash Lee, Buckinghamshire, England...
). Flow-through ventilation, usually credited as a GM
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
innovation, feeding through a cowl vent (just becoming usual in 1950s U.S. cars), was also standard.
Despite lower labor costs in Italy, the hand-built car's price tag was USD$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
4,350. Combined with Hudson's dashed prospects as a stand-alone independent marque (Hudson and Nash
Nash
-Places:*Nash, Buckinghamshire, England*Nash, Herefordshire, England*Nash, Bromley, London Borough*Nash, Newport, Wales*Nash, Telford and Wrekin, former village in Shropshire, England*Nash, South Shropshire, England*Nash Lee, Buckinghamshire, England...
merged in May 1954), it spelled the end for the Italia after a mere twenty-five examples were completed. A single 4-door sedan prototype (dubbed 'X-161') was also constructed to study production possibilities.
The car was powered by Hudson's Twin H 202 cu in (3.3 l) L-head straight 6, with higher (8:1) compression
Compression ratio
The 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
and dual one-barrel (single choke) downdraft carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
s, producing 114 hp and all were equipped with a 3-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
with a column-mounted gear shift lever. It featured drum brakes front and rear.
One source reports 21 of the 26 built as surviving today.
External links
- "History of the Hudson Motorcar Company" Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club, retrieved on 2008-06-27.
- Roth, Frederick J. "History of Hudson Italia" American Sports Cars, retrieved on 2008-06-27.