1951 Hudson Hornet 4-Door Sedan

The Hornet was the new top-of-the-line Hudson and was powered by a high-performance 308 cubic-inch, L-head inline-6 delivering 145 horsepower.
Hudson automobiles remain highly regarded for their advancements in automotive design, particularly the innovative “Step Down” design, introduced on the 1948 Commodore. Unlike traditional body-on-frame construction, which forced passengers to climb up to enter their vehicles, Hudson designers placed the entire passenger compartment down inside the chassis, surrounded by a sturdy perimeter frame. This positioned the car at a lower center of gravity, enabling it to handle exceptionally well.
Hudson recognized the marketing value of racing, and engineers including Vince Piggins developed a line of “severe usage parts” which transformed the robust Hornet into the definitive stock car of the early 1950s. A lineup of drivers including Dick Rathmann, Tim Flock, Jack McGrath, Frank Mundy and Lou Figaro accumulated 13 racing wins in 1951, 49 in 1952 and 46 in 1953 in “The Fabulous Hudson Hornet”. No other car of the time could match the Hudson's bulletproof construction, good handling and factory support. The Hornet's legacy continues to be celebrated, especially due to its appearance in the Pixar film "Cars," where the character Doc Hudson is based on this iconic car.

This 1951 Hudson Hornet was originally purchased by Mr. Valley Roberts for his wife, Mora, on January 13, 1951, from Halvorson Motors in Hillsboro, Oregon. The Roberts, who had several cars, reserved their beloved "Hudson" for special occasions.

Following Val's passing in the early 1960s, Mora parked the Hudson in their garage. She then drew black curtains over the windows to block out sunlight, closed the garage doors, and sealed any gaps. The car remained untouched until her death in the 1970s. After this, the car received an oil change dated August 15, 1974, with the sticker still visible on the inside driver's side door jam. The odometer showed 10,008 original miles.

The Roberts family had a field hand named Theodore Rannow, who worked on their ranch until his death in March 1990. A provision in the Roberts' will gave Theodore the right to reside on the ranch and have full use of (though not ownership of) all the ranch equipment. Theodore never used Mora's Hudson.

In March 1990, Mr. Zane Wood, the executor of the estate, sold three vehicles, including the Hudson, to Gene Baxter of Newberg, Oregon. While Mr. Baxter was primarily interested in another vehicle, he maintained the Hudson in its original condition until he sold it to the current owner, Mr. Alan Pallie of San Rafael, CA, in 1995. At that time, the Hudson had 13,663 original miles.

Due to its storage in a darkened garage, this Hornet has minimal UV damage to its rubber components, including the original 44-year-old tires that come with the car. The car was originally painted with lacquer, and some paint cracking and minor deterioration occurred over the years. In 1998, the current owner re-chromed the grill and repainted the car in its original color using modern enamel paint products. The interior is original and in excellent condition and now this Hudson has only 21,956 miles. Don't miss this opportunity to have this incredible Hudson Hornet that will give you years of enjoyment.