Packard Proving Grounds Fall Open House

This doesn’t fit into the Hudson niche but I have a soft spot for fellow orphans, especially the Packard brand. On October 18th I had the opportunity to tour the Packard Proving grounds. This was one of those unexpected adventures; in fact I didn’t even have the camera with me. I knew my wife and I would pass the grounds on our way to the apple orchard but I didn’t expect the welcoming sign of a Free tour and classic car show to call to us. There was no question about it, I turned the Escape around and in we went.

The tour began in the Lodge garage, engine displays were scattered around the space and a history channel special on Packard was projected on the wall to entertain guests. Next stop was the private quarters of the director of the grounds and the dorm rooms for visiting engineers. These spaces are still under renovation and have a long way to go before proper museum like displays can be set up. Never the less, pictures of the people that lived and worked there were hung on the walls. One could almost here the echo of the voices and rumble of the motors on the distant track. From the Lodge we crossed the courtyard to the Repair Shop. In there among the dealer chassis displays and donated project cars, friends of the proving grounds were holding a bake sale. The smells of burnt rubber and motor oil maybe gone but the warm smell of cider and donuts is a pleasant change. Directly behind the repair shop is the Engineering Building. The largest of the structures, it remains relatively empty except for a project car and some scattered parts. Upon entering, we noticed a small group of people peeking into what appeared to be an old testing room of some kind. Within this room locked away safely is the main entrance from the Packard plant in Detroit, apparently awaiting a new home some where on the grounds. Old doors, windows, key stones and columns all numbered and stacked surround the chiseled header stone. PACKARD it read, yet another reason to have a camera in the car at all times.

Up both sides and down the middle, the grand boulevard displayed cars from the 30's into the 70's. The lodge court yard was almost like a time machine, once again filled with Packard folks bustling around sticking heads beneath hoods and talking shop. Several service vehicles were present; a vintage fire engine offered little and "big" kids rides up and down the show field, with sirens and bells blazing. A late 40's Packard hearse was offering rides as well but there were no takers. We completed our tour with the show, exited the main gate and went on to the orchard happy with this unexpected automotive treat.

For history, photos or to learn about the Packard Motor Car Foundation visit:
http://www.packardmotorfdn.org/

Article by Glenn Hickey

1939 Hudson 112 Coupe – The Beginning

The garage door screeched as it flung upward. Small dust clouds drifted into the air as the sun began to cut the darkness and the stately grillwork of a 1939 Hudson 112 coupe appeared. Sealed away for 39 years, tucked into the back of an old garage, anxious to take a fresh breath of air again, the rest was over. The moment can only be captured again when the engine turns and the wheels feel the road once again.

As with most old steel, the history can be spotty, if known at all. Throughout the 70 year life of this vehicle, I can begin the story in 1950 when a Mr. Clyde Hensley bought his wife Deloris a gently used 1939 Hudson 112 Coupe. Clyde was in the military and the two of them lived in the State of Washington. As Clyde’s post in Washington was short, they used this car to move their belongings to Kalamazoo MI. The first test that the Hensleys put the Hudson through was to cross the US. With the car piled high with belongings, dreaming of the new life in MI, they cruised through middle America. As the story goes, when they returned to MI, a cousin used the car for daily use. Unfortunately, the cousin did not care for it nearly as well as the Hensleys had. The car soon suffered injuries ranging from a rear bumper battering, splash apron beating, broken out glass to the grille as you see it today. One mystery yet to be solved is some structural chopping in the trunk. The support braces were cut out leaving the trunk open and exposed into the driving cabin of the coupe. One possible rumor is that the supports were removed to make room for hauling as you would a pickup.

Somewhere around 1964, the car found itself tucked into the backside of a two and half car wide and one and half car deep garage. The garage was sitting in the backyard of a 1957 built ranch in Portage Michigan. This ranch in Portage became neighbors to my parents (and myself) in 1979. Throughout the next 24 years the overhead garage door was opened to remove lawn mowers and for Clyde to pull out one of his other cars that will mentioned again when I can recall what it was. The Hudson remained tucked in back where it acquired trinkets, tools and pool table light fixtures on its hood and roof.

In 2002 Mr. Clyde Hensley passed away leaving his son Jake the ranch, garage and its contents. Jake and my father had many conversations over the years about different autos including the Hudson. One afternoon Jake knocked on the door of his neighbors and offered my father the car. The Hudson now had a new home in the backyard of my parent’s similar ranch. The car was pulled into the one car garage every winter for years where my father began the bodywork and dreamed of the possibilities. Lucky for me, one evening in my father’s kitchen, he gave me the offer I couldnt refuse.

Author Mike LaJoice

2009 Ypsilanti Orphan Car Show

Beneath an over cast sky and with the threat of rain, some 340 plus orphans braved the unpredictable Michigan weather for the 13th annual Ypsilanti Orphan Car Show. The spot light this year shinned on two centennials, The Hudson Motor Company and a lesser known company, Cole.

Hudson did not disappoint for its 100 year anniversary and was represented by more than 35 cars, ranging from 1910 to 1957. Among the ranks were:

1910 Hudson Roadster

Several Terraplanes

1942 Hudson Commodore Convertible

Mrs. Roy D. Chapin's 1948 formal car (Only 3 cars were customized by Derham). A treat for the crowd William Chapin grandson of Roy D .Chapin talks about childhood memories of the car his grandmother drove.

As always the Step downs were well represented.

For additional pictures visit my photo bucket:

http://s657.photobucket.com/albums/uu297/Hud1105/?newest=1

Hudson Youtube video:

Held in Depot Town's Riverside Park, this show is one of the best for setting and organization. The Huron River provides a calming peace as it bubbles by. The show field is arranged by make and then by year. Each owner is asked to join in a pass and review, where information from automotive historians is presented for the crowd's enjoyment. If in the Detroit area next June make it a point to stop by and visit with an orphan or two.

Photos / video / Article by Glenn Hickey

Detroit Autorama 2009

Faded relics of a by gone era are scattered across the show floor, no this in not a salvage yard, but the creations of some of metro Detroit’s most talented hot rodders. From Detroit Free Press mailbox air intakes to Flat Head V8s, hot rod creators show off their rusted bodies and raw welds or their pristine perfected Riddler Award competitors.

The basement of Cobo Hall in Detroit Michigan is where you find the pure raw rods. Some refer to them as Rat Rods, while the ones that know call them Traditional Rods. To the untrained eye they appear to be incomplete projects that are unpainted, rusted or even lacking floorboards. To the lovers of cars, they are beautiful works of art intricately pieced together with different body panels, grilles from a completely different era and power ranging from in-line 6 to Cadillac monsters. To me, the Traditional Rods and the culture surrounding them, bring me back to the time of real auto culture. Back to the days where a Hot Rodder cobbles together the pieces from their neighbors yard and hits the pavement, or salt flats, hard and fast.

Upstairs is a different event. For the most part the tattoos and slick hair have faded to the corporate vending booths and hundreds of thousands of dollars in polished chrome. You can still find some tats at the pin stripers Panel Jam where artists stripe up works of art to be auctioned throughout the weekend. Wandering up and down the aisles is were the bright and shiny Hot Rods and Muscle cars are perched trying to show off their good side. The steel upstairs is quite different where the builders have spent uncountable hours and loads of dough on trailer queen show cars. I snuck in a pic of someone every car guy should know. Do you know who he is?

Author:Photographer Mike LaJoice

Richard Kughn Tucker

The Richard Kughn Tucker is not the Convertible.....

This past week many people have had many things to say regarding the 1948 Tucker Convertible Prototype for sale on eBay. Reviewing all of this information has brought me to the conclusion that the car sold in 2002 by Richard Kughn, is not the convertible for sale today. Whether or not this is an actuall prototype I do not know but it is not the Richard Kughn car. Dates and information provided by the seller and other Tucker authorities attest to the validity of their claim. Please see note from the seller:

"The car that was in Detroit was #27, was on frame #52, and was outfitted with parts from various other Tuckers. #27 is listed on the Tucker Club's website as being the car the was rolled during testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It has been and still is in Roscoe, IL. The information you have about there only being 50 cars is incorrect. The first Tucker ever produced was a prototype sedan, known as the "Tin Goose". Fifty-eight frames and bodies were built at the factory. From these parts, 36 sedans were finished before the factory was closed. In addition, one prototype convertible known as "Vera" was started but not finished at the factory. Since the factory closed, an additional 14 sedans have been completed for a total of 51. The convertible is expected to be completed in May of 2009, pushing the total to 52. The car we have is body number 57, not 27 or 52. We have a letter from a verified Tucker Corporation accountant that reads “Dear Allan (previous owner), Long time no see. I hope your address hasn’t changed and this gets to you okay. Did you ever get the Tucker convertible finished? I would like to drive over and see it sometime. Give me a ring at 414-275-XXXX and tell me when it will be convenient to get together and bring each other up to date. Sincerely, Mel Koeppen”. We have paycheck stubs, tax withholding statements, and a picture of Mel Koeppen (the accountant mentioned above) in a newspaper from 1948 that further verifies he was an employee. “The Indomitable Tin Goose” (page 90 softback version and page 99 of the hardback version) verifies that #57 was in Tucker Corporation experimental department when the plant closed.#57 was mentioned in a “Tucker Topics”, the Tucker Automobile Club of America’s newsletter in 1994 as being a convertible. The person we bought the car from interviewed Tucker Corporation employees who said that they knew that the project existed when the plant closed. He is willing to sign sworn affidavits that outline his interviews."

Originally posted:
http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17123

This story has many facets and it would irresponsible of me not to have presented my theory. I am thankful to all who have presented information and thoughts behind this issue.

Where is the Richard Kughn car and can it be viewed?

Author: Glenn H.

1948 Tucker Convertible Prototype for Sale?

Priceless Prototype or Priceless Pile of Parts?

This February has been an eventful one for the Tucker community. Apparently a long lost Tucker Prototype Convertible has been discovered and placed up for auction at the hefty sum of $5 million. Strange that with only 50 cars rolling of the Tucker assembly, all of which accounted for, that this one should fall through the cracks and resurface 61 years later.

When I first saw the Tucker Convertible turn up on ebay, I was reminded of a similar project, seen seven years before. It was at the Novi Expo center in Michigan. A large chunk of the Richard Kughn collection was being offered at no reserve. Among the many low mile collector cars was a large collection of Factory Tucker parts. If memory serves me correctly the parts included the pieces from the two Tuckers wrecked, one in an auto accident and the other by the Tucker Company for a roll over test. All of these, along with several surplus parts were cobbled together on top of a chassis right of the Tucker line. Unfortunately I don’t remember the number. Taped on the side of car were the plans Richard Kughn had drawn up by a friend to turn this collection of rare parts into the first Tucker Conv.

If somebody can present me with the location of the Kughn car I will shut up but for now what I propose, is that the car for sale right now is the very same car from the Richard Kughn collection. When this information was proposed to the seller there was no response. If they in fact have an actual prototype why don’t they say it? Why ebay and not Barrett Jackson? I do not claim to be an authority on Tucker but I know what I saw in 2002 and I have pictures:

Author/Photographer: Glenn H.

1939 Hudson 112 Coupe

An offer I couldn’t refuse. November 2007 my dad and I stood in his kitchen. He simply said “I build it, you learn, you pay for it”. He was referring to the 1939 Hudson 112 coupe wrapped in a tarp in his backyard. This offer, I could not refuse. The summer before I had purchased and sold a 1963 Lincoln Continental convertible. Before that I struggled with a 1964 Ramble Convertible and 1964 Dodge Polara. Shopping for a car that was a collector, yet I could get in and drive was not a reality for me. My dad and I both knew that I needed a car that I could hit the road running with minimal busted knuckles. This Hudson would be that car. The plan is to have a stock interior/exterior with mild rod components making it go and stop, the “get in and drive” classic that has evaded me for years. Details of the build and conversations around the decisions in the near future.

Author/photographer: Mike LaJoice