The Hudson Terraplane

Terraplane

The Terraplane was a car brand and model built by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan between 1932 and 1938. In its maiden year, the car was branded as the Essex-Terraplane; in 1934 the car became simply the Terraplane...

 Utility Coupe was a car manufactured by 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

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

, between 1937 and 1942.

Production history

In 1937 (the first year of production), the vehicle was known as the Hudson Terraplane Utility Coupe. The following year, the word "Terraplane" was dropped for the entire Terraplane line (both trucks and autos), afterwards the coupe was known as the Hudson Utility Coupe for the rest of its production cycle. In 1937 it was one of 17 different models in the Terraplane line(nine in the "Deluxe"/Series 71 line and eight in the "Super Terraplane"/Series 72). Even though the manufacturing of civilian automobiles was discontinued from 1942 to 1945 (so all production could be dedicated to the war effort), Hudson did not then resume making the utility coupe after the war ended. Not only was this particular coupe model rare, it was also different from a regular coupe because it could be used either as a car or a truck. The Hudson Utility Coupe had a 212-cubic inch L-head straight-six engine. This engine produced 96 horsepower, giving the Hudson Terraplane Utility coupe the most power of its class, for that time. Not only did the utility coupe have power, it also had strength, the complete load capacity being rated for a half ton. The Hudson Utility Coupe had a strong 117-inch-wheelbase platform. From 1937 to 1939 the Hudson Utility Coupe used radial safety control suspension. In 1940 Hudson altered the Utility Coupe’s front suspension system from its original safety control system to an independent front suspension. The overall weight of the utility coupe was 2,855 pounds (1,295 kg).

Special features

Inside of Hudson’s utility coupe’s trunk was a steel constructed box, complete with functional tail gate that was chain supported. This box could slide out using a “slide rail system”, similar to drawers found on tool boxes. There were handles "mounted on the end of the box" to help make it easier to slide the drawer like feature out. When the box was being pulled out, there were two points in which it could be extended, this was to make the loading and unloading of cargo easier. The ability to pull the box out is what made the utility coupe capable of being used like a pickup truck. If there was no need for it in its pickup form, the box could simply be slid back into the trunk of the coupe. Once the trunk was closed the Hudson utility coupe would look as if it were a regular car.

Uses

The Hudson Terraplane Utility Coupe was a great business car, especially for salesman who drove from door to door. The new design allowed the salesman to be able haul the products they were trying to sell no matter what the weather was like. If they were transporting a product that was long, the salesmen were able to slide the cargo box out and let the tailgate down. They could also detach the trunk door for the larger products, if necessary.

See also

• Essex
  Essex (automobile)
  The Essex was a brand of automobile produced by the Essex Motor Company from 1918–1922 and Hudson Motor Company of Detroit, Michigan between 1922 and 1932.-Corporate strategy:...
  
  
• Fabulous Hudson Hornet
  Fabulous Hudson Hornet
  The Fabulous Hudson Hornet was a famous NASCAR Grand National and AAA stock car produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company. Marshall Teague and Herb Thomas each drove in a Hudson Hornet that they nicknamed the "Fabulous Hudson Hornet"....
  
  
• Hudson Commodore
  Hudson Commodore
  The Hudson Commodore was an automobile produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan between 1941 and 1952. During its time in production, the Commodore model represented the largest and most luxurious Hudson model.- 1941 :...
  
  
• 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...
  
  
• Hudson Super-Six Coach
  Hudson Super-Six Coach
  The Hudson Super-Six Coach was manufactured by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan.-Hudson Super-Six Coach specifications :* Color – Body and wheels, blue; running gear, black* Seating Capacity – Four or Five...
  
  
• Terraplane
  Terraplane
  The Terraplane was a car brand and model built by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan between 1932 and 1938. In its maiden year, the car was branded as the Essex-Terraplane; in 1934 the car became simply the Terraplane...
  
  

External links

• Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club
• Hudson Car Club & Hudson Essex Terraplane Historical Society online club & information-source for Hudson fans