Highlights
- Fully restored
- Rare British model with the even rarer soft-top specification
- Very well appointed interior in excellent condition
- Stunning Art Deco design features
The Appeal
"On the sea that's aquaplaning, in the air that's aeroplaning, but on the land, in the traffic, on the hills, hot diggity dog, that’s terraplaning!" - so went the Hudson commercials in 1932. These lightweight, steel framed motors were designed to capture the public’s fascination with aviation. The first went to Amelia Earhart, while the second went to Orville Wright.
The UK examples were popular, but not so great in number. After all, to British tastes they were remarkably large, flashy vehicles that seemed rather more overbearing than their English counterparts - though they did get a few impressive rally wins in.
Well maintained and beautifully finished, this particular example features a cream and red colour scheme, with a full set of white walls setting the style through the roof for the enthusiast that’s seen it all. A particularly rare example!
The History and Paperwork
- First UK registration in 1936
- Restored following purchase in 1992
- Only two previous owners recorded in 2020
- MOT exempt but previous certificates included
- All work undertaken by a specialist with specially imported or manufactured parts
- 48,010 miles on the odometer, though as it’s a five figure indication, may not be accurate
Purchased by an enthusiast in 1992, this car underwent a thorough rebuild and restoration, with specially imported or manufactured parts, leading to an example that feels factory spec and well-presented, without losing any of its distinguished patina.
The Interior
- Red leather seats and carpets
- Distinctive maroon dashboard with cream instruments
- Fully restored without losing its patina
The Hudson Terraplanes were often advertised in the UK for their comfort and roominess - though, being fair, American cars were naturally roomier by nature - and as a result came very well appointed. Art deco was definitely the brand’s forte, and everything here is very nicely presented.
It’s also distinctly red, matching well with the two-tone exterior paintwork. Beautiful marbled leather upholstery on the seats and door cards definitely attracts the eye - and is in superb condition throughout. We can’t discern any marks, scuffs or rips, which includes the oft-neglected rumble seat. The carpets show a little wear and could do with a clean, but still show very nicely.
The dashboard is very well presented. You might spot a little wear to the instruments’ edging, and perhaps a little pitting to the chromework - but other than these minor trifles, it’s a particularly sweet offering. Hudson’s branding and design language are all beautifully on show here.
You may notice the rather unusual gear shifter, which is designed to be easily removed and stowed when using the ‘Electric Hand’ pre-selector.
The soft-top’s internals are well-kept. There’s a little bit of red staining here and there, and some distinct wearing to the seams, but it’s all in line with a car that, to be fair, is practically purpose-built for roof-down driving.
Ultimately, this handsome interior has lost none of its lustre. There’s a gentle patina that adds a beautiful character without in any way diminishing the clean overall appearance, making for a particularly evocative example of a classic.
The Exterior
- Distinctive cream and maroon colour scheme
- ‘Waterfall’ grille with eye catching Hudson branding
- Good overall order from top to tyres
There’s no doubting that the Terraplanes were handsome cars. The distinctive shapes and art deco design cues take note from the world of aviation, and match up beautifully with the car’s equally distinguished interior. Wide arches, a letterbox windshield, and that big, bold waterfall grille. What’s not to like?
The paintwork - despite being in that bright cream that practically demands the attention of stone chips - is all in superb order. There might be the odd scratch here and there on the rear of the car, but these are barely discernible without close inspection. There’s some slight wear to the lights and a few gentle chips on the fender lights.
The chromework is all consistent across the board - a little bit of pitting and patina capturing the car’s impressive age, while remaining clean and presentable to capture its pampered ownership.
The wheels look to be in good order, save for a smattering of patina on the chrome caps, and the tyres look to have plenty of tread.
When inspecting the underside, everything’s in fairly fine fettle. There’s a few spots of surface corrosion and wear, but it’s in impeccable condition considering we’re facing an over-80-year-old vehicle. The wonders of a good restoration!
The Mechanics
- Impressive 6 cylinder inline engine
- Three speed manual transmission
- Electric Hand pre-selector with removable manual shifter
- No reports of mechanical faults, though we aren’t informed if the Electric Hand is working
Hudson were always very outspoken when it came to drivability. The Terraplane was so called due to its natural ability to fly on the road, with centre-point steering, a powerful six-cylinder engine and the technically advanced pre-selector all providing a superb experience for the driver of the period. They were soon a popular choice for rally driving.
The Electric Hand is a bit of a curiosity. It was intended to make switching gear easy without lifting your hands off of the steering wheel, by pre-selecting the gears you were after following a jab on the clutch. However, you could switch to traditional shifting with the detachable shifter. The previous owner drove almost exclusively using the floor shift, and the vendor is unsure if the ‘Hand’ is working.
The engine has reportedly wanted for nothing, and has had a dedicated specialist giving it regular attention. As a result there’s no report of bangs, knocks or faults, but it hasn’t been out on the road in a while.
The engine bay is overall very clean and looks to be in good order. We can spot some wear, but any corrosion is minimal and the bay itself is clean and sharply presented.
Summary
A symbol of speed and futuristic innovation, the Terraplane was a legend in its day. This fine example is your opportunity to find out just how special these cars really were!
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