Hudson Motor Car Company produced a bewildering array of vehicles in 1929. It offered nine distinct models based on its newly-introduced Model R chassis, which measured 122-7/16 inches wheelbase and 57-1/2 inches track — both dimensions somewhat larger than comparable models in earlier years. All Model R cars were equipped with 6.00 x 31 inch tires on 19-inch wheels with wood spokes (except the Victoria, which had wire wheels). The longer Model L chassis, at 139 inches, carried Hudson's five up-scale models on 6.50 x 31 inch tires on 18-inch wire wheels. All Hudson cars of this year were powered by the same in-line six cylinder Super Six engine, which was advertised to produce 92 horsepower. Hudson advertising claimed a maximum speed in excess of 80 mph, and "70 mph all day." Hudson made bodies for many of the models itself; all were built with Hudson's then-novel all-steel construction that featured a piano-type hinge on the doors.
Standard equipment on all models, as listed on Hudson Reference Sheet No. 35 (January 1929) included a Trico vacuum windshield motor, cowl ventilator, engine heat indicator on instrument board, electric gasoline and oil reservoir gauge on instrument board, "smoking set" on all models except those with open or convertible tops (with a cigar lighter on up-scale models), sun visor on hard-top models, radiator shutters, rear traffic signal, a tail and stop light by John Brown Lamp Co., cowl light, rear vision mirror, Ignition Electrolock (an early anti-theft device), Stewart Warner speedometer, Parabeam headlights by John Brown Lamp Co., Exide battery, and Wahl Hydraulic shock absorbers. Trunk racks were provided on all models except the Victoria (which came with a trunk), Club Sedan, and Sport Phaeton.
One thing that strikes the modern observer is that these cars are big by today's standards. Dimensions of the L-chassis cars are nearly identical to a Ford Expedition, and the R chassis cars are bigger than a Ford Explorer.
As was common in the industry at that time, production of the bodies of some models was farmed out to coachbuilders. Hudson utilized the services of the Briggs coach company for three models on the 122-inch R chassis (the Town Sedan, 5-Passenger Phaeton, and Roadster), and of Biddle & Smart for four of the five models on the 139-inch L chassis, as well as the two-door Victoria sedan and the Landau Sedan on the R chassis. The coachbuilders used the "traditional" construction of wood frames for most models, with sheet metal applied for the exterior. On most wood-framed models, aluminum was used for body panels rather than steel.
The information in this section and the accompanying table comes in part from Hudson Reference Sheet No. 35 (January 1929), and in part from from Don Butler's reference book, The History of Hudson, an essential book for anyone interested in the Hudson line of cars.
Prices in the accompanying table are quoted in 1929 dollars. How much are those prices in current (2002) dollars? The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 17.0 in 1929 (1984 = 100) and 184 at the end of 2001, so the conversion factor is about 10.8. Roughly, multiply the 1929 prices by 11 to obtain an equivalent price in 2002 dollars. Thus a $2000 price in 1929 would be a bit under $22,000 now — about the same as a new entry-level Saturn. At an equivalent price, today's car has less space, but more power, better mileage, and more standard features, such as air conditioning, radio, power steering and brakes, automatic transmission, as well as much less maintenance needs. On the other hand, today's car is so complex that no "civilian" can expect to service the engine or drivetrain, whereas cars in 1929 were simple enough that almost anyone could fix them, if so inclined.
The accompanying table doesn't include the Essex line of cars or the Dover commercial vehicles, also made by the Hudson Motor Car Company in 1929. With those three basic lines of vehicles, Hudson Motor Car Company was the third largest manufacturer of vehicles in the U.S. in 1929, with 6.6% of the market. It was Hudson's finest year from a business standpoint, and perhaps also produced Hudson's all-time best cars (from a relative standpoint to the competition). The Super Six cars were trouble-free, handsomely-styled, and fast.