Car Hunting (2025)

13/07/2025

Unrestored and Gorgeous: 1963 Buick Riviera With Rare V8 Needs a New Home

When it comes to classic Buicks, I'm a fan of 1950s rigs. I think they look pretty wild, and I'm obsessed with their massive, chrome-laden grilles. The 1960s Buicks are nowhere near as spectacular, but there's a certain automobile I would love to own: the first-generation Riviera.
Buick began using the Riviera name in 1949 as a designation for a two-door hardtop version of the Roadmaster. It eventually found its way on four-door versions as well. The Riviera became a stand-alone model for the 1963 model year.

That's when Buick turned the Silver Arrow into a production model and entered the personal luxury market. Although Buick cars usually shared body shells with other GM products, the first-gen Riviera had a unique appearance. And it was downright gorgeous thanks to its Coke bottle-style design and tapered mid-section surrounded by flaring fenders.

Developed to compete with the likes of the Ford Thunderbird, the Riviera hit showrooms with a pair of potent V8 engines of the Nailhead variety. The standard 401-cubic-inch (6.6-liter) V8 delivered 325 horsepower, while the optional 425-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8 sent 340 horses to the rear wheels.

The Riviera was redesigned after three years. And even though it remained somewhat flamboyant, it gradually lost the uniqueness of the original version. The initial Riviera moved 112,544 units over three model years, and it's now considered a styling landmark not only for the Buick brand but also for the entire American automotive industry. More than 60 years later, the first-gen Riviera remains a relatively affordable classic. At least when compared to other nameplates from the era. Per classic.com, 1963-1965 Rivieras have changed hands for an average of $37,866 at public auction in recent years. Some restored examples in Concours-ready condition sold for over $50,000.

If that's too much for your checkbook and you don't mind working on your Riviera, I just found an unrestored survivor ready to move into a new garage for a more reasonable $25,500. It's in Mount Airy, Maryland, has only 74,000 miles (119,092 km) on the odo, and appears to be in great shape for an unrestored, 62-year-old classic.

The ad is super brief but mentions "mostly original paint," which pretty much means that the owner performed a few touch-ups over the years—the only two pictures of the exterior show a nice Bronze Mist coating and shiny chrome. By the way, this hue is relatively rare, with only a tad over 3,000 units ordered like this.

The interior is far from perfect, but it took over 60 years of use like a champ. The white upholstery appears to be in tip-top shape, which is amazing, given how difficult this color is to maintain. The wood trim on the door panels suggests the presence of the optional Custom Trim package.

The engine shows more signs of use, but the engine block still sports the correct and original silver paint. This Riviera packs the more potent 425-cubic-inch Nailhead V8, which is also the rarer powerplant. Records indicate that only 2,601 examples were ordered with this mill. If we also factor in the paint, we're looking at a rig with a three-digit production number.

The lack of a proper ad and detailed pictures means this Riviera requires an in-person inspection. If Mount Airy isn't too far from you, this hardtop may prove to be a good buy. What's your take on this unrestored survivor?

13/07/2025

Father Cared for This Plymouth Sport Fury for 56 Years, Car Goes From Suburb To Auction

While the 1967 convertible has a special place in the heart of every collector who fell in love with the Plymouth Fury, every Sport Fury deserves some attention, especially when in good shape.
This is the case for the 1967 Plymouth Sport Fury. The car landed online after previously spending 56 years in a suburb in San Francisco, with eBay seller joe_shmagaggie claiming the previous owner's father properly cared for it since it was new.

The vehicle is described as a rust-free survivor, and you can tell from the photos that this isn't far from the truth. However, I recommend that potential buyers contact the seller and arrange an in-person inspection because you must check everything thoroughly, especially under the car. Look for signs of previous repairs, as a 58-year-old car without any undercarriage repairs is rare.

The seller says the Sport Fury sports a new dual-exhaust system, new tires, and recent maintenance, so it should now be ready for the road. It boasts a factory air conditioning system with all parts still intact. The interior is also original and unaltered.

Most 1967 Sport Fury buyers went for the standard 318ci engine, while the most common upgrade was the 383ci V8. Plymouth offered this engine in two- and four-barrel configurations. The high-performance option was the 440ci unit with 375 horsepower, while the top but extremely rare choice was the 426 Hemi. The Hemi could only be had with a special order, and a Sport Fury with this engine is now highly desirable, mainly because finding one is almost impossible.

This specimen has the factory 383ci engine paired with an automatic transmission. It starts, runs, and drives, and considering it has recently received a fresh oil change, it should be ready for the road. The photos confirm that this Sport Fury doesn't need anything, and the owner even says the car is "smooth and quiet" at 70 mph.

A live inspection is recommended, especially as buyers can take it for a spin and check all these details in person.

The auction started earlier this week, but the seller configured a reserve. It's still in place at the time of writing, and it might be difficult for bidders to unlock it by the time the auction ends in 5 days. The top offer is $8,600, but considering 26 people have already added this Sport Fury to their watchlists, I expect the highest offer to reach $10K in the coming hours.

Until this happens, the car remains in Bloomingdale, Illinois, and you must contact the seller to arrange an inspection. Considering its tip-top shape, you should be able to drive this Sport Fury home on its wheels, especially if you don't live far away.

13/07/2025

One-Family 1969 Chevrolet Impala Has Too Many Doors, Wrong Color

Introduced in 1958 as an anniversary model, the Chevrolet Impala quickly morphed into one of America's most popular full-size vehicles. The nameplate moved fewer than 200,000 units in its first year, but annual deliveries exceeded half a million units starting in 1962. Four years later, the Impala sold over one million units, a benchmark it exceeded again in 1966.
Sales had dropped by more than 20% toward the end of the decade. However, the Impala still managed to move over 700,000 units in 1969. This number makes the 1969 Impala a super common classic outside the Super Sport club (2,425 produced), but I still hate to see them rotting away in junkyards.

This example has too many doors and a rather mundane engine, and it's painted in the wrong color, but at least it won't become a rust bucket. After spending its entire life in the same family and more than a decade off the road, this Impala was lucky enough to get a second chance at life.

Rescued by YouTube's "FNK Classic Cars," the four-door sedan rolled off the assembly line in a cool blue-on-blue color combo. Sadly, the previous owner decided to repaint the car white. He also opted to respray it rather than perform a proper repaint, so the original Dark Blue Metallic is still on the car (you can see it on the trunk lid hinges).

The blue interior is still in the car, though, making this Impala a semi-survivor. The upholstery is in pretty good condition, considering this rig is over 50 years old as of 2025. If you're a fan of the old bench front seats we no longer get in modern cars, this Impala has one. It's unclear if the V8 engine is numbers-matching, but it sure looks like it's been sitting in the engine bay for decades. It's a 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) Turbo-Fire, which makes it period-correct. It was one of many powerplants available at the time and sat above the base 250-cubi-cinch (4.1-liter) inline-six and 327-cubic-inch (5.4-liter) Turbo-Fire.

Two versions were available, rated at 255 horsepower and 365 pound-feet (495 Nm) or 300 horsepower and 380 pound-feet (515 Nm). The 350 V8 is slotted below two big-block options displacing 396 and 427 cubic inches (6.5 and 7.0 liters). In short, the 350 V8 offered plenty of oomph, but it's not a desirable powerplant nowadays.

Still, the fact that it's a heirloom classic that still has many original parts makes it a proper candidate for revival. I'm not saying it should be restored because I know it doesn't make sense financially, but this Impala deserves more time on the road. Even as a common four-door sedan, a body style that is rarely favored over the two-door hardtop and convertible versions. If anything, this Impala should regain its factory color. Check it out in the video below.

13/07/2025

1970 Ford Mustang Twister Special Is a Tornado That'll Never Die Out

Every now and then the many auctions taking place all over America bring to light vehicles so rare they throw car collectors into a frenzy. I'm talking about cars so important for the local auto industry that every time they pop up for sale they are bound to sell for big bucks, time and again, without exception.
The list of such cars is not very long, but at its top probably sits the Ford Mustang Mach 1 Twister Special. Considered by many one of the most desirable variants of the Blue Oval muscle car that ever were, this 'Stang has everything it takes to make it a true collectible.

Developed by Ford itself using the 1970 Mach 1 as a basis, the model was specifically tailored to serve the needs of Kansas City drivers. As such, it wore a name inspired by the frequent tornadoes taking place in the Midwest, and even had special tornado decals on the bodywork.

Just 96 such vehicles were ever made, and all of them were draped in Grabber Orange and featuring a black stripe on the hood. Impressive as these attributes were, though, they didn't even come close to what these insane cars had to offer mechanically.

The idea behind the Twister Specials was to support the release of pace cars for American Raceways Inc., and as such they had all of Ford's most impressive hardware of the time on, including the Drag Pack suspension system. Ford initially planned to have all 96 units of the limited run made with the 428 Super Cobra Jet engine under the hood, but the carmaker was somewhat surprised to learn that there weren't that many of them available. That's why it eventually ended up fitting just half of them with the SCJ, while the others were gifted with the 351ci (5.8-liter) Cleveland powerplant.

The Twister Special you're looking at now is part of the Cleveland batch, which was somewhat intensively used over the years: the odometer shows 63,653 miles (102,400 km). The great thing about it is that many of those miles were driven by Terry Fritz, the man who created the Twister Special registry.

So, the car is two times special: it's one of just 96 Twisters ever made and also one of 48 to have the Cleveland engine on.

We should add a third dimension to this, though, as this vehicle is said to be one of just 13 to still have the original engine and transmission on. And even a fourth, if you consider the fact that it appeared in a 1989 issue of Mustang Monthly something worth drooling over.

The 1970 Ford Mustang Twister Special is listed by auction house Mecum as part of its Harrisburg sale at the end of July. There is no mention of how much it is expected to fetch, but I will remind you one of these babies once went for $330,000.

13/07/2025

1971 Plymouth Fury Claims Survivor Status, Flaunts Rare Paisley Top

First introduced in 1956 as a sub-series of the Belvedere, the Fury became a stand-alone model in 1959. Downsized in 1962, it was one of the early Mopar muscle cars thanks to the limited-run Max Wedge model. In 1965, the Fury returned to the full-size market, where it remained through 1974.
Although it's not associated with the horsepower wars, the late-1960s and early-1970s Fury had plenty of things to brag about. For starters, it's a fine-looking land yacht. Especially if you're a fan of the "fuselage look" and hidden headlamps. The 1970-1971 Fury is the finest-looking full-size of the era in my book.

That's one of the reasons why I'm here talking about this 1971-model-year four-door finished in Tahitian Brown. Sure, it may not be as cool as a two-door hardtop, but this brings me to the second reason why I'm showing you this Mopar. This Fury is an unrestored survivor, and that's something you don't see every day.

Originally sold in California and now residing in Nesconset, New York, this sedan is described as "fully stock and original with no modifications." According to the seller, the brown paint is all original "with some slight fading," and the body is rust-free. The vinyl top is also original, and this is a big deal because the Fury doesn't rock the usual black top. It was ordered with a paisley roof.
These were similar to the Mod Top roof available on the smaller Mopars in 1969 and 1970. Both featured floral prints, but while the Mod Tops were usually colorful, the paisley version had a monochrome finish. In this case, it was color-keyed to the Tahitian Brown exterior. Although it's not super rare, the paisley top is hard to find in this type of condition.

The pattern trickles inside the cabin, adorning both the seats and the door panels. It's perfectly integrated into the brown upholstery. And just like the exterior, the interior is all-original and in great condition aside from a small rip on the driver's seat and two cracks in the dashboard. The air conditioning and the clock need fixing.

The good news continues under the hood with a numbers-matching engine. On the flip side, the Fury relies on a 360-cubic-inch (5.9-liter) V8, which isn't as spectacular as the big-block options available at the time. Paired with a three-speed automatic, the 360 V8 was rated at 255 horsepower.

The 1971 Fury was also available with a 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) V8 good for 300 horsepower and a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB with 335 horsepower on tap.

Granted, it's not the most desirable iteration of the Fury, but it's quite affordable for an unrestored survivor in great shape and with a rare paisley top. The four-door sedan is listed at $11,500, but the seller is entertaining offers. Is this big Mopar worth the sticker?

13/07/2025

Dealer Sells a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air With Something You Can't Ignore Under the Hood

The Impala wasn't yet here in 1957, so the Bel Air was still the king of the Chevrolet castle in the United States.
Chevrolet went all-in on the 1957 Bel Air, and this seemed to be the right strategy. The GM brand sold approximately 700K Bel Airs, and the 4-door sedan was the top choice with almost 250K cars. It didn't have the right number of doors, but it was the most affordable.

The engine lineup started with the famous 235ci six-cylinder unit with only 140 horsepower and continued with a 265ci V8 choice that was removed a year later. The 283 could be ordered in multiple versions, including a fuel-injected version with 283 horsepower. The 348 wasn't yet available, as Chevrolet launched it a year later, together with the Impala.

This 1957 Bel Air hopes to impress the eBay audience with more power under the hood. Instead of a factory 283, the car now sports a 350ci small-block engine thanks to a restomod finished not long ago. Druk Auto Sales, the garage responsible for finding a new home for this Bel Air, didn't share more information about the engine, so we don't know how much power it develops, but for someone not interested in the all-original configuration, it's a welcome upgrade. The car is in perfect shape, and it's hard to find something to hate on this Bel Air. It looks like the car has also received a repaint, and the dealer says it also sports "modern upgrades," without elaborating. The vehicle sports an aftermarket radio, air conditioning, a power driver's seat, front disc brakes, and power windows that work properly.

The engine is paired with an automatic transmission. The 1957 Bel Air was available with a 3-speed manual transmission, a 3-speed manual with overdrive, a 2-speed Powerglide automatic, and an all-new 3-speed Turboglide automatic introduced in 1957 on the Bel Air.

We're not getting more information about the transmission on this Bel Air, but if you're interested in the car and believe it's worth a spot in your collection, you should contact the seller and arrange an in-person inspection where you can decipher more data.

The selling price seems to keep most potential buyers away from the auction. The garage configured a starting bid of $39,000, but this won't be the selling price of this car. A reserve is also in place, meaning the bidding must go up significantly before the Bel Air can leave for a new home.

Nobody has entered the digital race for this Bel Air, and considering the auction ends in 2 days, it's safe to assume it'll end up getting relisted in the coming days. The car is parked in Anoka, Minnesota, and it should be able to go anywhere on its wheels.

13/07/2025

1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe Restomod With LS9 V8 Sells for $215,000

This sinister looking 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu sport coupe is powered by a supercharged 6.2L LS9 V8 and was displayed at the 2018 SEMA Show. It was purchased by its last owner in 2017 before being brought to Classic Car Studio in St. Louis, Missouri for some custom work. Fast-forward to 2025 and it just sold at auction for a staggering $215,000.
That’s not including the buyer’s fee, mind you. This is a properly badass restomod, and while we don’t have any specific performance figures, you can bet your life savings this thing is putting down more than enough power for everyday folks. Based on common knowledge, I’d say we’re looking at just under 640 horsepower and 604 lb-ft of torque.

This is basically a Corvette ZR1 C6 engine and seeing it under the hood of a second-generation Chevelle is beyond special. Speaking of the second-gen Chevelle, this one here is a 1972 model year car, and while it carried over much of the styling and structure of the 1971 Chevelle, most people probably still remember it for the regulatory shifts.

Visually, the 1972 Chevelle came with a revised front end, a new grille design with integrated turn signals, plus a few other mild modifications. Sadly, they were down on power significantly compared to their predecessors, but they’re still way more desirable than the third-generation model, as if that could even be up for debate.

This particular tuned example is finished in black with gray stripes, featuring shaved side markers, flush door handles, tucked bumpers, a cowl hood, Wilwood brakes, and a custom chassis built by Jimmy Bullard of Moore Race Chassis in Missouri.

Meanwhile, interior highlights include the tan Relicate leather Recaro front bucket seats, a similarly upholstered rear bench, a custom center console and dash with carbon fiber trim panels, a Vintage Air climate control system, a Kenwood touchscreen stereo unit, blue ambient lighting underneath the dash, a Billet Specialties leather-wrapped steering wheel, plus Dakota Digital HDX gauges (tachometer, speedometer, voltage, fuel, coolant, oil). As for the supercharged 6.2-liter LS9 crate engine, it was installed during the build, together with a Griffin aluminum radiator and dual electric cooling fans. A custom engine cover, inner fender covers, and a radiator cover complete the look.
Assuming it’s putting down every single one of those 640 horses, everything would get routed to the rear wheels via a Tremec T56 six-speed manual gearbox, a McLeod clutch, and a fabricated 9” rear center section.

How do you guys feel about this custom classic American muscle car selling for $215,000? Worth every penny? Keep in mind how just a few days back we showed you a 1970 Chevelle restomod with an 850 horsepower LSX V8 that sold for $170,000.

13/07/2025

Ultra-Rare Super Hawk: 1964 Studebaker GT Hawk R2 Took 20 Years To Restore

Still struggling to stay afloat after the 1954 merger with Packard, Studebaker joined the emerging personal luxury car market with the Hawk series in 1956 (following the limited-edition 1955 Speedster). Although it wasn't as successful as the Ford Thunderbird, the Hawk lineage soldiered on until 1964.
The original Hawk lineup included no fewer than four models. The range-topping Golden Hawk is arguably the most iconic. Only the latter remained in showrooms in 1957, joined by a Silver Hawk model. In 1958, Packard created its own version of the Hawk.

Studebaker dropped the Golden Hawk for 1959, making the Silver Hawk the only offering. The grand tourer was renamed simply Hawk for 1960-1961 and then Gran Turismo Hawk for the remaining three years (1962-1964).

While not as iconic as the Golden Hawk, the GT Hawk is widely regarded as the best iteration of the series. And it's not because of the Thunderbird-inspired roof and the Mercedes-Benz-inspired front grille. The Gran Turismo Hawk was quite the hot rod when equipped with the optional R2 engine.

When equipped with this feature, the 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8 engine came with a McCulloch supercharger strapped to it. The setup generated 289 horsepower, which hit the rear wheels through a 3.54-ratio rear end. The naturally aspirated 289 V8 delivered 240 horsepower.

Customers who also wanted to improve handling and stopping power could order front and rear anti-roll bars, rear radius rods, heavy-duty springs, and front disc brakes. These were also available as a bundle in a Super Hawk package. The Bordeaux Red example you see here is one of those rigs. Featured by classic car enthusiast Lou Costabile, this GT Hawk is a fully restored vehicle. The R2 has had the same owner since 1995 and was restored over the course of 20 years. That's a very long time to put a classic back on the road in stunning condition. Why did it take so long? Well, the owner blames it on having trouble keeping the shop owner focused on the project.

But I think it was well worth it because this Studebaker looks ready to win prizes at any Concours d'Elegance. And I'm pretty sure it's one of the finest Studebakers of any kind out there.

This hardtop is also a rare classic. Studebaker sold only 1,767 Gran Turismo Hawks in 1964, and records show only 70 were fitted with the R2 engine. This one's actually much scarcer. According to the owner, it's one of only four Bordeaux Red units delivered to Wendover, Utah, to serve as press transportation for Studebaker's Bonneville speed runs.

In late 1963, Studebaker showcased various high-performance vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The lineup included the Avanti, the GT Hawk, and the Lark Daytona. The company set hundreds of USAC records. A supercharged GT Hawk ran the flying kilometer at 157.29 mph (253.13 kph). Some of the journalists who documented the records were driven to Bonneville in this Bordeaux Red hardtop.

So, this Gran Turismo Hawk is not only gorgeous and powered by one of the greatest Studebaker engines ever produced, but it's also a historically important car. And it's absolutely amazing that it's still on the road over 60 years later. Check it out in the video below and make sure you subscribe to Lou's YouTube channel for similar content.

12/07/2025

This Rare 1956 Studebaker Transtar Is the F-Series Fighter You've Never Heard Of

When discussing 1950s pickup trucks, we usually think about the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Advance Design / Task Force, and the Dodge C-Series. But the pickup market was actually much more diverse at the time. Customers could also buy haulers built by International Harvester and Studebaker.
The latter is probably a surprise to many folks. Studebaker is usually associated with quirky designs, such as the Avanti sports car and the Golden Hawk personal luxury car. But Studebaker produced pickup trucks for decades. The company entered the truck market in the late 1920s with the GN Series. In the 1930s, it offered the Coupe Express, arguably the most stylish car-based pickup.

1938 saw the arrival of the M-Series truck, which remained in production for 14 years. It was followed by the 2R/3R (1948-1954) and the E-Series (1955-1960). The short-lived Scotsman became America's most affordable truck in 1958. Finally, Studebaker sold the Champ, based on the Lark compact, between 1960 and 1964.

Most of these trucks are unknown compared to their Ford and Chevy rivals, but they're also very rare. Their survivability rate is low, and unrestored survivors are rarer than hen's teeth in most instances. This 1956 Transtar is one of those trucks you don't see very often.

Yes, I haven't mentioned the Transtar in the Studebaker truck list above, so it's time to explain what it is. In short, the Transtar was part of the E-Series. It's a bit unclear what made an E-Series a Transtar, but the name appeared on pretty much every iteration, ranging from the small 1/2-ton trucks to the 2-ton heavy-duty haulers. This one is a 1956 (first year) half-ton version in pretty good shape. It's not an unrestored survivor because it's been refreshed in the 1980s, but it sure looks like one with all the patina inside and out. The green color appears to be period correct (I think it was called Glenbrook Green), while the turquoise front grille (Seaside Green in Studebaker's color palette) adds to the 1950s magic.

The exterior color trickles into the cabin via the painted dashboard and door panels. The white inserts and the two-tone grey/white bench seat are yet another reminder that this truck was born in the 1950s. It's also a statement about how spartan small trucks were back in the day. This hauler is missing the carpets and the headliner, with both showing surface rust.

The engine bay is in line with the rest of the vehicle. Although it's been restored, it displays patina from 40 years of use. The Transtar was sold with a wide selection of inline-six and V8 powerplants. This truck has one of the larger V8s. Specifically, it draws juice from a 259-cubic-inch (4.2-liter) V8.

The mill mates to an automatic gearbox, and the owner claims it's one of only eight known Transtars equipped with this drivetrain combo. There's no paperwork to back this number up, but it may very well be true because Transtars are rare in just about any configuration. Impressively enough, the truck still has the original Climatizer system.

Spotted at what appears to be a local car show, the Transtar is actually looking for a new home. Our host says the seller wants "12 5" for it, which probably translates to $12,500. According to classic.com, Studebaker Transtars in excellent condition have changed hands for an average of $30,406 in recent years. However, the website also factors in hot-rodded examples.

Stock examples have been going for anywhere between $17,000 and $33,000, with a notable exception that fetched over $50,000. This truck may be a bargain. The video below includes information on how to contact the owner.

12/07/2025

Twin H-Power: 1951 Hudson Hornet

When we begin to assess some of the marques that have long passed into automotive history, some deserved greater success than they ultimately achieved. One such brand is Hudson, which broke new ground when it introduced its “step-down” design philosophy with the 1948 Commodore. It continued that trend with this 1951 Hornet, a car that presents beautifully following a total restoration. Its only apparent need is a new home, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mike F. for spotting this beauty listed here on Craigslist in Denver, Colorado. The seller set their price at $33,500, stating that potential buyers won’t be disappointed with this classic.

The early post-war years saw American manufacturers marketing vehicles that were little more than lightly refreshed versions of cars that had rolled off the line before the country found itself dragged into World War II. Such was the overwhelming buyer demand that few people objected to this approach. However, the scene changed at the close of the 1940s as various manufacturers introduced entirely new models. Hudson introduced the Hornet in 1951, utilizing its “step-down” design philosophy that lowered the overall center of gravity. When combined with sleek body lines, the company’s latest model couldn’t help but to stand out in any crowd. This 1951 example has undergone a thorough restoration, presenting beautifully in a winning combination of French Gray and R***e Red. The seller has been the Hudson’s custodian for over twenty years, holding documentation tracing every aspect of its restoration history. Its presentation is all that you might expect from a build with a focus on perfection. The panels are as straight as an arrow, the gaps are tight and consistent, and there is no evidence of rust. With sparkling chrome and crystal-clear glass, this Hornet promises much to potential buyers.

Hudson introduced a larger, high-compression version of its flathead six for the latest offering in 1951, with the engine stretched from 262ci to 308ci. It offered a dealer-installed “Twin H-Power” induction system during the first model year before this became a factory option the following year. This Hornet features that combination, sending 145hp and 257 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via an overdrive manual transmission. The engine’s power was considered fairly impressive by the standards of the day, but the fact that it delivered its maximum torque at around 2,000rpm made it exceptionally flexible. The seller indicates that, apart from an upgrade to a 12-volt electrical system, this Hornet is mechanically standard. It is also in exceptional health, running and driving perfectly. If a Colorado vacation is on your agenda, making the return journey aboard this Hudson is a viable option.

This Hudson’s restoration included an interior retrim, and the results justified the cost and effort. I’ve always considered the dash as a work of modern art, with stunning plated components that make a striking visual statement. These items are in good condition, while the cloth and vinyl upholstery look perfect. There is no wheel wear or other problems to detract from the positive impression. The seller added air conditioning to an interior featuring a clock and a factory pushbutton radio.

Founded in 1909, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator to create American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1954. It signalled the beginning of the end for a standalone marque that changed the face of automotive design. No longer did cars need to be upright, with vehicles like the 1951 Hornet demonstrating that the way forward lay in low and sleek styling that improved appearance and dynamics. This is a stunning example of the breed that can be enjoyed immediately. I hope that it finds a home with someone who will continue to treat it respectfully, and I love to think that the ideal candidate will be one of our loyal Barn Finds readers. Do we have any takers?

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