"Jalopy" car show (but not really - just some nice classics).

[GoCougs]

Went to a car show on Saturday. Turns out the owner was my vice principal when in first grade. Lo and behold he recognized me but he also knows my dad (yes, I got into a fair amount of trouble back then). Fantastic styling cues on these.








Another local owner (my dad didn't know him but knew the name). Details explained in the second pic. Great story. The owner looks to be at least 80. Still drives it regularly too.








This was IMO the nicest car of the whole show. Primo as-new (or better) from top to bottom, inside and out. Don't know the owner's history though.

[Galaxy]

What is the first one?

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

That Impala has to worth a fortune!

[cawimmer430]

Needs more '70s style. 

[Laconian]

Loll I went to that show too. We drove some guests to Snoqualmie Falls but discovered that the trail was down for renovation, drat. So we continued on into town, checking out the show and Mo's BBQ.

[GoCougs]

What is the first one?

Hudson Hornet circa early '50s. They dominated the post-war racing and hot rod scene. The inability/unwillingness to move to V8s and the slow reaction to industry styling changes (fins) doomed the company. For example, the red ('53) Cadillac was a contemporary yet looks years and years more advanced (IMO).

[GoCougs]

That Impala has to worth a fortune!

It's a sweet ride. Hard to believe it's in that good of shape (looks as good in person as it does in the pics). 4 sp is sweet too.

[Madman]

Hudson Hornet circa early '50s. They dominated the post-war racing and hot rod scene. The inability/unwillingness to move to V8s and the slow reaction to industry styling changes (fins) doomed the company. For example, the red ('53) Cadillac was a contemporary yet looks years and years more advanced (IMO).

It was more inability than unwillingness that kept Hudson from updating their styling and introducing a V8.  The "Monobuilt" 1948-54 Hudson Commodore/Hornet/Wasp series featured an innovative "step-down" chassis; a semi-monococque body with the floorpan recessed in between a pair of perimeter frame rails.  (Until this point, floorpans were built on top of the frame rails.)  This semi-monococque body made yearly styling changes (deemed de rigueur by Detroit at the time) difficult and expensive.  Hudson managed to scrape together the resources for a squared-off facelift for the 1954 model year, but it was too late to save the floundering company.

Following the 1954 merger of Hudson with Nash, the 1955-57 Hudson became a badge-engineered Nash (called a "Hash" by its detractors).  Only then did a Hudson finally become available with a V8 engine, a 320 cu.in. unit supplied by Packard.  Had they the means to do so, Hudson would have kept pace with the big three on both the styling and engineering fronts.  It was lack of money, rather than lack of will, that prevented them from doing so.