huddy55
Nash Rambler
Rambler Mentality 0
 Offline
Posts: 9
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« on: July 01, 2008, 03:34:16 AM » |
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G'day all...I just joined The AMC Heritage Forum a couple of days ago and have already posted a couple times. Now here is a little story about our families involvement with both Hudson and AMC products which dates back for more than 50 years.
Lets start with my grandfather Wilfred (mums dad) who passed away back in 1985. Wilf has had Hudson products for many years starting in the late 40's. His first Hudson was a 1940 Hudson Eight Country Club (LWB car) 8 passenger. I do have photos of this car including one with mum sitting on the side step when she was a baby. This car was eventually sold to my uncle Paul who later sold it in 1961 or 62. My grandfather then purchased a 54 Super Wasp. I'm not sure how long he had this car for but my mum has many memories with this car. He later purchased a 1957 Hornet V8 in the mid 60's I believe. This car was a red and white in colour. In 1969 my grand father found a 13,000 mile 57 Hornet Six. These were the XKD cars of which only 72 were assembled in Australia using the left over higher roof line 56 bodies and left over 308 6cyl engines. AMC still sold many Hudson 308 motors well into the early 60's.
Cut a long story short this 57 Hornet 6 is the car I remember the most as a kid. We always went on holidays in this car travelling long distances. As early as 1969, my grandfather was a founding member (not certain as yet) of the HETNR (Hudson Essex Terraplane Nash Rambler) car club of NSW. The club now named as Hudson AMC car club of Australia.
In 1983 the 57 was sold to my mums cousin Eddie. Eddie soon sold the car to another club member. After the death of my grandparents in 1985 (motor car accident) in which I was 11 years old and remember that day till I die, Eddie bought the car back. The 57 was then put into the Sydney motor museum for display. At this point it was all sad for this car. The museum creators displayed the car in a make shift chook pen with live chickens and doors wide open. When the museum closed in the mid 90's, Eddie took the car back home. Thats where it sat for a further 2 years in the open. This is where my twin brother Jeff and I found the car. Jeff now owns the 57 and it will be fully restored. The speedo only reads 62000 miles yet it is a rust bucket.
Jeff and I became members of the club whilst still in High School. We are now the third generation of our family that have now been members of the club. We are very active members and I have held positions of vice president, event director and currently the editor since the year 2000.
Anyway back in 1992 or 93, I spotted a 1971 Matador wagon for sale in a car yard. Mum loved it so she had to buy it. It was a Aussie assembled car with 360 power. I later bought this car of mum as she purchased a 1970 Hornet sedan. At this time Jeff purchased a 74 Matador Wagon.
Unfortunatly my 71 Matador was involved in an accident after a lady pulled out in front of me. The Matador was written off. Soon after I found a very nice 70 Rebel sedan again with 360 V8. Just a note all 70 Rebels and Matadors up to 77 in Australia all had 360 V8 in either 2bbl or 4bbl form. No other engines were used in Australia for these models.
In 1995 I purchased my dream car, 1969 AMX. I found it in the local paper and could not believe my eyes. Of all 68 to 70 AMX's built, only 24 69 AMX 343 Autos were sold new out side of the USA. AMI (Australian Motor Industries) AMX"s were all 343 autos and featured GO Pack, twin grip and rally wheels (magnum 500). The car I found had been sitting in a garage since 1975. The milage was 49,000 miles and genuine. My No:16 AMX was orignally white but the 2nd owner whom I purchased the car from painted it red after the car was involved in a minor accident in 1974. The AMX never saw the road until I bought it. The AMX was eventually finished off.
Since owning the AMX and selling it (stupid of me) I have owned a locally assembled 72 Javelin with factory fitted 401 and auto, 3 67 Rambler Americans, 46 Hudson and a 84 Jeep Cherokee with 360. My current rides are 55 Hornet 308, 66 Classic Wagon 287 and 68 rebel 290.
My twin bro has had a 51 Hudson Pacemaker, 65 Classic, 66 Classic,
75 Hornet, 74 Matador Wagon, and still owns the following, 28 Essex, 35 Terraplane, 56 Hornet 6cyl Twin h-power, 3 57 Hornet 6cyl cars, 57 Hornet V8, 69 Rebel 343,
70 Ambassador SST 360 sedan (needs resto and may be sold soon), 74 Matador sedan 360, 74 Matador X coupe 360 and J20 pickup with 360.
My mum owns a 67 American sedan and a 68 Rebel Sedan 290 while my stepfather owns 57 Hornet V8, 63 Classic wagon with original alloy 6cyl, 63 Classic Wagon 287 (one of 6 assembled here in that combo), 54 Hudson Superwasp and my favourite a 70 Ambassador SST Hardtop (A full import when 2 years old) and never restored and in superb original condition.
Along with all these cars my older brother has a 70 Hornet while our older sister loves driving them all. Her favourite in the SuperWasp because she drove it over 850km from Melbourne to Sydney over ten years ago.
With all these cars plus 10 Hudson/AMC parts cars, 4 Landrovers (one of these is a 1949 model and goes great) and a couple of old Holdens in the yard and what ever else there is, It's in our blood for life. Many of these cars are older restorations or very good originals. Other uncles have also owned Hudsons and I believe my father whom I dont know, once had a 55 Hornet before I was born. Mum tells me this car was wrecked.
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