Old Hudson Pickups Appeal To Minnesota Teen

2014 - Volume #38, Issue #5, Page #23

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While many of his friends dream of owning a big new 4-WD pickup, 19-year-old Jacob Kiel is more interested in Hudson trucks built in the early 1900’s.
  “I’m a fan of orphan trucks, not big brand name stuff,” says the Stillwater, Minn., college student. He’s put his money where his passions are and purchased three Hudson pickups to go along with his IH tractor collection.
  “Hudsons are rare and were very advanced for their time,” Kiel explains. “They had conveniences and creature comforts–like roomy interior space. They were a large pickup with a lot of chrome and styling to them.”
  Produced in Detroit from the late 1920’s to 1947, Hudson pickups were actually built on car frames. Everything from the back of the cab forward was the same in a car or pickup, Kiel says.
  The early lighter chassis bodies were used as panel delivery trucks and light pickups. Hudson beefed them up in 1937 with Terraplane models. The Terraplane Big Boy pickup was a 3/4-ton and 7 in. longer to carry heavier loads.
  “It’s the first year Hudson made a special frame for pickups,” Kiel notes.
  His favorite year model is 1937, and he owns a 1937 Hudson Terraplane Model 78 Big Boy. He also owns a 1941 short wheelbase 1/2-ton pickup and a 1946 Big Boy pickup.
  “One of the neat features of the ’41 and ’46 is that their hoods open backwards from the factories,” Kiel says. “All Hudson trucks through 1936 had suicide doors, which open backwards compared to modern cars.”
  His 1946 pickup is in the best condition and is the one Kiel takes to car shows.
  With only 3,000 commercial vehicles made in Hudson’s highest production years for trucks, they tend to be rare, but not as expensive as Fords or Chevrolets from that era.
  Though he’s busy studying to be a mechanical engineer and hopes to one day work on agricultural machinery, Kiel says he always has time for Hudsons.
  “I love old trucks and tractors,” he explains. “I’m now after anything Hudson. I like to hear from other collectors.”
  For those interested in learning more about the Hudson company, he suggests checking out the website, www.hudsonclub.org.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jacob Kiel, 11316 Jasmine Trail N., Stillwater, Minn. 55082 (ph 651 429-4988; jacobakiel@yahoo.com).

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Old Hudson Pickups Appeal To Minnesota Teen AG WORLD While many of his friends dream of owning a big new 4-WD pickup 19-year-old Jacob Kiel is more interested in Hudson trucks built in the early 1900’s “I’m a fan of orphan trucks not big brand name stuff ” says the Stillwater Minn college student He’s put his money where his passions are and purchased three Hudson pickups to go along with his IH tractor collection “Hudsons are rare and were very advanced for their time ” Kiel explains “They had conveniences and creature comforts–like roomy interior space They were a large pickup with a lot of chrome and styling to them ” Produced in Detroit from the late 1920’s to 1947 Hudson pickups were actually built on car frames Everything from the back of the cab forward was the same in a car or pickup Kiel says The early lighter chassis bodies were used as panel delivery trucks and light pickups Hudson beefed them up in 1937 with Terraplane models The Terraplane Big Boy pickup was a 3/4-ton and 7 in longer to carry heavier loads “It’s the first year Hudson made a special frame for pickups ” Kiel notes His favorite year model is 1937 and he owns a 1937 Hudson Terraplane Model 78 Big Boy He also owns a 1941 short wheelbase 1/2-ton pickup and a 1946 Big Boy pickup “One of the neat features of the ’41 and ’46 is that their hoods open backwards from the factories ” Kiel says “All Hudson trucks through 1936 had suicide doors which open backwards compared to modern cars ” His 1946 pickup is in the best condition and is the one Kiel takes to car shows With only 3 000 commercial vehicles made in Hudson’s highest production years for trucks they tend to be rare but not as expensive as Fords or Chevrolets from that era Though he’s busy studying to be a mechanical engineer and hopes to one day work on agricultural machinery Kiel says he always has time for Hudsons “I love old trucks and tractors ” he explains “I’m now after anything Hudson I like to hear from other collectors ” For those interested in learning more about the Hudson company he suggests checking out the website www hudsonclub org Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jacob Kiel 11316 Jasmine Trail N Stillwater Minn 55082 ph 651 429-4988; jacobakiel@yahoo com

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