Hudson introduced an all-new car for 1955-57, but traditional Hudson buyers were having none of it. They called it the Hash.
1955 Hudson Custom Hornet Hollywood
The story of the 1955-57 Hudson rightly begins on May 1, 1954, when Nash-Kelvinator and the Hudson Motor Car Co. merged, forming a new enterprise known as American Motors. At that moment, Hudson was desperately in need of a replacement for the badly dated step-down models (read about the ’48-’54 Hudson here) but there was no budget at the newly minted carmaker to develop a new full-sized car.
So out of necessity, the decision was made to base both the ’55 Hudson and the ’55 Nash Statesman/Ambassador on a freshened-up Nash big-car platform. Each brand would get its own distinctive exterior sheet metal, but the greenhouse, chassis, and floor pan would be shared. To cut tooling and manufacturing costs even closer to the bone, both cars would be produced on the same assembly line at the ex-Nash facilities in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The grand old Hudson plant on Conner Avenue in Detroit was shut down for good.
1955 Hudson Hornet Custom Sedan
Let’s be clear: This new Hudson was not a bad car at all. Like its Nash sibling, it was a comfortable, well-constructed automobile in the middle-price range, with sound features including Nash-Kelvinator’s advanced in-dash air-conditioning system. Power was plentiful as the available engines included the famed Hornet 308 CID L-head six and a Packard-built 320 CID overhead-valve V8. No, the real problem was that loyal Hudson customers didn’t see the new car as a real Hudson. They took a quick look at its obvious Nash origins and gave the new Hudson their own name: the Hash. To this day the ’55-’57 Hash has never been truly accepted by the Hudson faithful as the genuine article.
In interviews years later, AMC chief George Romney was remarkably candid about the ’55 Nash-Hudson big cars and their place in the company’s plans. The program was a stop-gap effort at best as the company was formulating its small-car plans and rebranding itself around the Rambler name. For ’56 the Hudson received a half-hearted facelift as the classic eggcrate grille was replaced with a garish V-themed front-end treatment, and in 1957 the new 327 CID American Motors V8 was made standard. Pretty much as anticipated, it would appear, sales continued to tumble. As the 1957 production year came to an end, the Hash was discontinued and the Hudson name was permanently retired.
1957 Hudson Hornet Custom Sedan. Top, 1956 Hudson Hornet Custom Hollywood 
The ’55 Hudson is a good-looking car, much nicer than the Nash. The ’56 facelift didn’t improve it.
Although I really like both cars, I think I have to choose the ’55 Nash because of the headlights being enclosed in the grille opening – it gives it a somewhat exotic look. As for ’56/’57, I’m not that crazy about either of those, Nash or Hudson.
Nice. Thanks. Now let’s also have reports on the Cheviacs, Lincurys, Oldsmuicks, Dodgymouths, Chrysotos and Pontmobiles.
That’s a great idea. I’ve wanted to do a piece on the 1977 GM engine debacle.
I worked at a Pontiac dealer then. I was given the “honor” of going outside with the customer and telling him what engine it was. People were PISSED!! I could see what the bean counters thought. During the 70’s GM made 5 different 350ish engines. Ford and Chrysler didn’t do that and got along just fine. I also worked for a Chrysler /Jeep dealer that was originally Hudson. The owned had a large collection of them. I loved driving those Step Downs!!
These cars all need to be produced as 1/18 diecasts or 1/25 resin kits, in particular the 1955 Hudson and 1957 Nash, the best looking of this group. The 1957 Hudson, with its fins, would be great as a replica too! This Hudson can be seen 2x in the West Side Story remake.