1931 Hudson Greater

Exceedingly rare one-year-only sporting body style
1 of just 5 surviving examples of the mere 12 known to have been built
Long-term ownership by Eldon Hostetler in the Hostetler Hudson Museum
Beautifully restored and highly equipped throughout
AACA Senior and Special award winner
One of the most desirable pre-war Hudson models ever produced

While the deepening Great Depression slashed production and sales, the Hudson Motor Car Company management still felt the need for an exciting low-production, sporty image leader to act as a halo model for the entire Hudson model lineup. Hudson had previously offered boattailed roadsters in 1927 and 1929 on the Essex chassis with the body styles construction attributed to Biddle and Smart. By this time, Hudson and Essex shared bodies built by Murray. The 1931 model marks the one and only time this body style was offered on a Hudson chassis, so rare that it was never even listed in the factory-issued sales literature that year. Only 12 of these examples are believed to have been produced when new and as few as five are thought to remain in existence today.

A former long-termresidentof theworld-renownedEldonHostetler HudsonMuseum Collection, which was referred to as the Worlds Greatest Collection of Hudson Automobiles, Eldon was captivated by finding a one-year-only Boattail Sport Roadster for his blossoming collection. As he related in his autobiography and as fate might have it, When we were in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at an antique glass show, we stopped at a booth that had many nice pieces of glass. We soon learned that the husband of the lady there was into collecting unusual cars. I asked if he had any Hudsons. She said, It is funny you should ask. He just purchased a 1931 Hudson Boattail speedster. It is the only Hudson in his collection. I asked if I could see it since I had never actually seen one. She gave me a phone number to call. I called and then got to see this car with no thought I could ever own it, but I left word for the owner to give me first chance if he ever wanted to sell it. About a year later Mr. Donald E. Galbreath called me with word that the car was for sale. Mr. Hostetlers patience eventually paid off, and in June 1990, this extremely rare Hudson was now his.

From its striking period-correct color combination to its ample yet tasteful brightwork, this Boattail Roadster is highly equipped with period accessories few of its peers boast. Among them are a pair of Trippe Safety lights, a chrome grille stone guard, chrome hood-vent doors, twin side-mounted spare wheels and tires with chrome covers and chrome side view mirrors, a stanchion-mounted spotlight atop the drivers side running board with a smaller lamp on the cross-brace, wind wings, and a rumble seat.

Carefully maintained and admired in the Hostetler Hudson Museum in Shipshewana, Indiana until 2018 when the entire collection was auctioned, it was then acquired by collector Scott Spiro. Mr. Spiro would entrust a restoration shop in Lebanon, New York to perform a three-year restoration between 2019-2021, with addition to detail focused on readiness at concours events and tours; this work totaled over $76,000. After which, this rare Hudson went on to earn its AACA Junior and Senior award badge, a AACA Special award, score 93 points at the CCCA Palm Beach Grand Classic in 2022, and be exhibited at the Boca Raton Concours dElegance.

Included in the sale of this Greater Eight is various correspondence and photos during Hostetlers long-term ownership, restoration invoice records between 2019 and 2021, and its previous judging sheets.

With only five examples known remaining in existence today, these original boattail eights from 1931 rank not only among the rarest Hudsons ever built, but also among the most attractive boattails built by any manufacturer. Beautifully finished and presented, this Hudson stands tall and will easily command attention, whether it is displayed in ones collection or gracing the greens of a future concours or judged event.