1949 Hudson Commodore

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys The Hershey Auction event, 7 - 8 October 2026.
Offered Without Reserve $25,000 - $35,000 USD

• Second year for Hudsons trailblazing step-down design
• Top-of-the-line Commodore Custom trim, with radio, in-dash clock, and additional brightwork
• 128-hp, 254-cid inline-eight engine; three-speed transmission with Vacumotive Drive automatic clutch
• Appealing colors of green over tan upholstery with green stripes
• Nicely preserved but never fully restored, with interior believed to be original

Automotive advertising has never shied away from exaggeration, but the following words, lifted from a 1949 Hudson brochure, for once hit very close to the mark.

Here is a motor car that harmonizes low, sweeping exterior lines, with a roomy comfortable interior; a car with a new, lower center of gravity, a car only five feet from ground to top, yet a car with more than enough inside headroom for the tallest person, a car that maintains road clearance!

The all-new Hudsons introduced for 1948 featured what the company dubbed the Monobilt body and frame system, a semi-unitized design in which the body was set within a boxed steel perimeter frame. The result was a lowered center of gravity with a stance so low to the ground that occupants stepped down into the cabin, which contributed to these new Hudsons strikingly modern appearance while improving handling. A number of AAA endurance and economy records demonstrated the soundness of the manufacturers engineering approach, and of course Hudsons proved highly successful in stock car racing as well.

Hudson carried its same basic design into 1949, though the higher-trim Commodore models were now called Commodore Customs. These were offered with either an inline six-cylinder engine or, as with the example offered here, a 254-cubic-inch inline-eight producing 128 horsepower. This was paired with a three-speed column-shift manual transmission with the optional Vacumotive Drive system, which automatically operated the clutch.

Prior to its acquisition by the Vehicle Vault Collection, this Commodore Custom Eight benefited from an exterior repaint in a highly attractive green, as well as a refinish of the engine compartment. Photos on file show that the interior, which is believed to be original, remained in place during this job, a boon to this cars overall state of preservation. Upholstery is the correct tan with green stripes one of two fabric interior colors available and the cabin is well-equipped with a centrally located radio and in-dash clock. Two lockable compartments are set within the wood grained dash (lesser trim level Hudsons made do with just one glovebox), while the 18-inch deluxe steering wheel with full circle horn ring was standard equipment on the Commodore Customs.

Offered now from the Vehicle Vault Collection, this Hudson would no doubt be a welcome addition to any collection of post-war American automobiles and it should not be overlooked by an enthusiast accustomed to vehicles far newer, as an excellent representation of just how forward-looking Detroit could be. To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf26/.