Waking Up a Legend: Will this Fabulous Hudson Hornet ride again?

Waking Up a Legend: Will this Fabulous Hudson Hornet ride again? | Will It Run?

Рет қаралды 278,591

9 ай бұрын

This barn find 1951 Hudson Hornet has been left neglected for years, but that's no way to leave this iconic piece of NASCAR (and Disney/PIXAR's Cars!) history. Davin Reckow does his best to get this Doc Hudson lookalike's flathead straight-six running again, and hopefully hit the road.
If you enjoy our content and would like to support its creation, join the Hagerty Drivers Club: bit.ly/Join-HDC-WillItRun ---- Already a member? THANK YOU!
#WillItRun #NeverStopDriving #DocHudson #Cars
Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications! bit.ly/HagertyKZfaq
Visit our website for daily automotive news, cars stories, reviews, and opinion: www.hagerty.com/media
Stay up to date by signing up for our email newsletters here: www.hagerty.com/media/newslet...
Follow us on social media:
Facebook | / hagerty
Instagram | / hagerty
Twitter | / hagerty
If you love cars, you belong with us. Hagerty Drivers Club is the world’s largest community for automotive enthusiasts. Members enjoy valuable automotive discounts, exclusive events and experiences, roadside service created specifically for collector vehicles, and a subscription to the bimonthly Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Join Hagerty Drivers Club here: www.hagerty.com/drivers-club
Like what you see? Watch our other series including:
Redline Rebuilds | Time-lapse engine rebuilds from start to finish bit.ly/RedlineRebuild
Barn Find Hunter | Tom Cotter searches the country for abandoned cars bit.ly/BarnFIndHunter
Jason Cammisa on the Icons | The definitive car review
bit.ly/JasonCammisaICONS
Revelations | Untold Stories About Automotive Legends with Jason Cammisa
bit.ly/JasonCammisaRevelations
Contact us:
Suggestions and feedback - videoquestions@hagerty.com
Press inquiries - press@hagerty.com
Partnership requests - partnerships@hagerty.com

Пікірлер: 397

@MayankLongiany 9 ай бұрын

I was watching Cars (2006) about 15 minutes ago, and the moment I turned my Wi-Fi on, I received this video's notification. Can you imagine?!

@oladiedoo50 9 ай бұрын

Nice!

@MuniTechnology 9 ай бұрын

Great movie on many levels.

@scottgabbard662 8 ай бұрын

Google (KZfaq) is always watching and listening. 😂

@stephencooper5040 8 ай бұрын

Yes I can imagine, Google collects analytics from everything.

@vayabroder729 9 ай бұрын

The super car of its time. That car sitting there for all those years is a crime. Perfect candidate for a full resto.

@there_is_nothing_here 9 ай бұрын

Dude and it's a two-door? 😮 I love the way those cars look

@gittnjiggy2 8 ай бұрын

We used ton push start those flathead 6s every morning, then they would start the rest of the day. If i remember correctly the head gaskets didnt seal after sitting and cooling all night, but after 1 start in the mornings the heat retained in the block/head sealed the gasket enough to start throughout the day. Next day do it all over again, I lived on a hill so i coast started it and never changed the gasket, but I was only 16 and just learning about cars and engines and so much to still learn. 54 years later I still don't know it all lol

@milodemoray 9 ай бұрын

I think Doc was just a little 'cranky' for having been abandoned. Good job persuading Doc to start up.

@lilorbielilorbie2496 9 ай бұрын

My Late boss Jack Clifford loved these things. R.I.P. Jack you were a heck of a guy to work for. 6=8.

@WAL_DC-6B 2 ай бұрын

I still have my Clifford's catalog from the early 1980s.

@billspooks 6 ай бұрын

My Dad owned a Hudson Hornet when he met and married my mother in 1954. I remember seeing it. The Hudson Hornet was a "sporty car" for its day.

@ellesmerewildwood4858 9 ай бұрын

There are many people here in Oz who own classic US cars, there's nothing in the world like classic American automobile styling. This Hudson is in such good condition even a DIYer like me could restore her. As an aside, watching her going through that hole in the ground in slo-mo I couldn't help but notice how the suspension took most of the drop, the body barely moved at all.

@YeOldeGeezer 8 ай бұрын

Must of cost a fortune to get them over to the aussie mainland

@jamessizemore7103 9 ай бұрын

Bold move to just take off rolling without checking the brakes😂

@josephreisinger33 9 ай бұрын

Is a shame I don't have the $$$$$$ to find one and fix it up. Such a great famous car. Thank you gentlemen 4 a wonderful visit back in time.

@godagamagedamiera6082 9 ай бұрын

thats childhood nostalgia

@FinnWest69 8 ай бұрын

I like your style, good old mechanic, no ego, honest, call your own mistakes and fix them! And best of all; don't give up so easily and keep trying and make it happen. Really enjoyed this video, watched lots of your engine rebuilds. Keep up entertaining us gear loving guys! Thanks!

@paulbaker847 9 ай бұрын

Love that six! Hudsons ruled the roost in the stock car racing world back in the day.

@shaunhardie6077 9 ай бұрын

That engine sounds so smooth and no smoke, what a result, 😎👌👍.

@HitokiriRaiden 8 ай бұрын

I love these old hudsons and any of the 40's and 50's cars and trucks they are all dead simple. My grandfather bought a used hudson in the 70s for 75 bucks and he used it as a panel truck basically. said it was the best hunting vehicle ever because said it would go anywhere with some old knobby tires and chains, I grew up driving it up and down the hill getting firewood with it, never seen it not start no matter how long it sit a little fuel and top off the oil and it was always ready to go lol.

@richardphelan8414 9 ай бұрын

These cars were so far ahead of it's time that flat head six was 308 cubes of low end torque the twin H came with two carbs it had a dual brakes system and a wet clutch My best friend had a 52 drop top when we were kids in High school the first Car I was in that did over 100 miles a hour what a great car that was .

@cbouw329 9 ай бұрын

Thank you for starting my grandpa’s car! It is one of my favorites ever sense he got it.

@RobL88XP29 8 ай бұрын

Great car! If only cars today could be as easily worked on and kept going. 72 years old and still amazing, can’t wait for my chance to care for one!

@kayoss662 8 ай бұрын

The opening clip with the plug wires dancing was pretty comically cool!

@kyleforeman4543 9 ай бұрын

Nothing better that a Ole Hudson purring,an putting a smile on ur face, nice camera work again.

@mikemullay5622 9 ай бұрын

That starter is working overtime!

@agcacustoms2852 8 ай бұрын

Those cars dominated NASCAR in the early 50s and were basically hot rods from factory. Amazing styling that unfortunately isn’t seen as much, such a shame these aren’t more popular but thanks to the Cars movie from 2006 a new generation including myself have fallen in love with these old 50s cars.

@ronniepapepape1629 9 ай бұрын

Cool old Hudson. My grandfather had two of them and so did my dad until 1957 when he bought a 57 chevy station wagon.

@moparedtn 9 ай бұрын

*DAVIN!* What a wonderful old car, those Hudsons. Me, the first 25 minutes at the monitor: "You're flooding it!" Davin, at the 25 minute mark: "I think we're flooding it". Yeah, old car guys think alike - eventually. 🙂 - Ed on the Ridge

@marinablueGS 9 ай бұрын

Good old Doc. Still moving after all these years.

@M626IN3RAZ-gj2bl 7 ай бұрын

After 72 years fam

@dannyfowler7055 9 ай бұрын

I felt so 1950’s again when I said “Points” before you did LOL. Too many days in the garage with Dad, great memories!

@djordjecolic5818 9 ай бұрын

That car deserves to be saved, one very good potential!!!!

@curtgomes 7 ай бұрын

I am old enough to remember these cars very well. I was just a small boy when my dad and I were sitting at a bus stop on the corner of town. As the cars passed by I would ask my dad what kind of car it was. Along came a Hudson just like the one here. I asked my dad and said, "It's a Hudson". I said, "It's a HUD eh dad". He got a good laugh out of that. That was approximately 65 years ago and I remember it well. Those 'Huds' were so distinctive.

@gabrielv.4358 8 ай бұрын

I wish Real DOC could be revived too. That Straight Six is Awesome!! Great video!

@gabrielv.4358 8 ай бұрын

Wow, it is REALLY quiet! Impressive!

@brianellinger6622 8 ай бұрын

scariest thing that i ever heard in my life.... when(jokingly) i asked to spar/fight.... the calmness in her voice when she said "ok" was surreal....

@user-ym8pd9kj4k 8 ай бұрын

Love your video. One big hint that would help all of these car rescues-STARTING FLUID! Most of these videos pour a tiny amount of gas down the carb or use brake or carb cleaner. That is not enough! Prepare everything as you do and hold the choke and throttle wide open, give it a BIG healthy shot of the starting fluid down the throat of the carb, not spritz a little spray over the top. If the engine is going to fire, it will on starting fluid before anything else. I cringe when I watch these videos og them grinding on the starters and running their batteries down. I'm watching this video as I'm posting this. When he used the starting fluid it actually started. Fresh plugs always help too.

@TheDoosh79 8 ай бұрын

I can't watch a car revival now without adding my own "oofta may, sparkerlators, lighting whirler, fuel making happener"

@martentrudeau6948 7 ай бұрын

It is a fabulous Hudson Hornet Hudson. Good to see it running, it deserves to be on the road again, it still a good car.

@gwhizz44 9 ай бұрын

I love the old Hudson's. They won a lot of races back in their day. You dont see them often on the road anymore. Nice find.

@johna1160 9 ай бұрын

Car backfires as Davin is holding fuel bottle over carb. Next shot, cameraman has backed off 25 feet. Hilarious.

@carlbernard4197 8 ай бұрын

Yes that could have went sideways real quick. 😳

@randallorr3730 9 ай бұрын

The Hornet was my all time favorite Hudson. I want one of those so bad. The Hornets that where run in NASCAR had the twin H engine in it. 2 carburetors. They run good but they where very thirsty. I would take either set up single or twin H. It is so cool to see that run.

@MrCunningham4 8 ай бұрын

Man, as hard as it fought you, it runs and drives beautifully!

@retiredafce3373 9 ай бұрын

What an awesome car! A great project for a full restoration!

@Lydia.LaMar0 9 ай бұрын

Your my hero for rescuing this classic.

@jimlangerie 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for bringing back Doc. We need old timers like him.

@robertharker 7 ай бұрын

A great video for someone evaluating a rusted hulk sitting in a barn answering the question "Can the engine run?" This is Hagery's best "lets get it running" videos. David walks through his pre-starting checklist. The clear video of what he is doing are useful. Simple step-by-step howto footage. Things like checking the fule and cleaning the cap, points and battery leads. David's troubleshooting strategy gives insight about how you troubleshoot a problem. Cool 3D printed 12V adapter for the Craftsman battery at 32:11.

@lovetocrank 8 ай бұрын

Glad it’s running but also loved the sound of the starter when it was cranking over!

@Opalenda-Comodoro 9 ай бұрын

Amazing job! The engine looks pretty good and car design is really beautiful. Hope someone can restore it. 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

@alexeijolkin7851 8 ай бұрын

Great looking vintage high quality car! Hotrod chopped roof already from the factory, COOL! Whish I had one of these!

@The_R-n-I_Guy 9 ай бұрын

I've wanted a flathead Hudson Hornet since the first time I heard about them. The flathead engine is fascinating. And that low stance is great looking. The Twin H-Power would be awesome. But any Hudson would be great

@billyhaddock5540 9 ай бұрын

Congrats Hagerty, on finally getting the Hudson Hornet running and driving. cool old Hudson..

@Sam-yu6ss 8 ай бұрын

What an handsome car! Very meta too, you treated the doc fixed him right up. Makes you the grand-doc or doc-doc! 😅

@ToLateToSave 8 ай бұрын

My dad absolutely loved the Hudson Hornet. He owned a few of them. Took me to the Peach Bowl Speedway near Atlanta dozens of times and he was ecstatic when a Hornet was in the races there.

@gabrielv.4358 8 ай бұрын

Awesome

@bfarm44 9 ай бұрын

The dancing plug wires got me cackling🤣🤣🤣🤣

@SpatialDragon 9 ай бұрын

I am so glad you cleaned the plugs instead of just tossing in new ones. It seems to be a lost art, one that anyone can do. If the electrode is burnt, or the ceramic is cracked replace, but if it is just carboned up you can keep using them. Just clean, gap and go. Okay, you did use new plugs, maybe those were bad. At least you tried. Thing is, you could keep the old ones and now that it is running, it would probably run on the old ones.

@rogerthornburg8794 8 ай бұрын

This is my favorite car channel on KZfaq...Davin is soo passionate about cars no matter what the condition or year...thank you

@joshdobson2737 9 ай бұрын

Almost a crime the car had set for so long! Hopefully a good spit shine and some miles are next?!?

@Charger389 8 ай бұрын

Good that you got it running again. Now it needs someone to save it, restore it and put it back on the road..

@james25764 9 ай бұрын

A definite saver. I would kill to see it after complete restoration.

@ImmortalInflames 9 ай бұрын

I love seeing you bring the ol' girls back to life!!

@ericcorse 9 ай бұрын

How about that 57 DeSoto? I have always liked Hudson's wish I had gotten one in the 70's.

@JamesAllmond 8 ай бұрын

one of my all time favorite cars! For its day, faster than it should have been and handled way better than it had any right to!

@markthegunplumber8376 8 ай бұрын

Bore of the 308 is 3.8125" and the stroke is 4.500". I guess that would qualify as a torque monster.

@thisoldbelair 9 ай бұрын

Seriously nothing better than bringing old iron back to life. I’ve done it a few times and it never gets old. Can’t wait to see more with this beautiful old Hudson. 🇺🇸

@muhammadfadil2515 9 ай бұрын

Beautiful Hudson Hornet 😍😍😍

@jasonstanford 9 ай бұрын

Good call on the new plugs. Every time I have tried wire brushing spark plugs they never work. I don't know why, but that's just been my experience

@scottimusgarrett15 8 ай бұрын

The dancing sparkenator wires cracked me up😂 Nice work, Davin! This car is quite a nice old survivor! Thanks for the episode, everyone! ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦

@maisiefreeman8597 9 ай бұрын

Such an elegant car, before America went totally mad with the chrome. Good to see this one poked back to life.

@danielulz1640 9 ай бұрын

Literally LOL at the dancing plug wires!😂

@stevemadak6255 9 ай бұрын

I was thinking maybe there was some fuel stabilizer in there making it that color. But it seems it was just bad. Great video guys.

@shawndickmann8215 9 ай бұрын

Give it the Hagerty treatment, buy it, fix it up. It looks nice!

@patbullard9276 9 ай бұрын

Congratulations on the win! Looking forward to more of these videos. Thanks.

@Horacio-Lorenzo 9 ай бұрын

Hello David, very good job starting up that beautiful Hudson Hornet, really beautiful car. I think the starter motor was giving you some problem since in these older models the pinion is mechanically released when the engine compresses and in those starting up for many years without Starting it requires the engine to spin faster, but you did it and it came back to life. I hope it is restored and cared for as it deserves. I send you a big hug and blessings for you and your family from Buenos Aires Argentina

@skatesneakerlover 8 ай бұрын

My Grandad had a pet hate for that "UUUURRRGGGHHHH" sound the starter would make when the engine didn't start. He had a rule, you have one chance to start otherwise you get punished REAL good. Many MANY times we'd be 'lil ones in the back seat and Grandad would be punishing the guts out of whichever 40's and 50's car he had at the time - didn't matter where we were, everybody knew, saw and heard it was getting murdered HARD! Granma would just look straight ahead and say nothing while Grandad was leaning forward with a wild, angry look on his face, beating his foot hard over and over into the carpet. That tailpipe would blow like a jet engine and there would just be smoke everywhere and a crazy amount of noise. Folks would just stand and stare most times. The trip home or wherever we were going next was always a crazy ride - Grandad made it scream in every gear. But on the next start, it knew what it had to do. Once home it gets given a dose of brake fluid down the carb while at full revs. Good 'ol days to be sure!!

@jimchik 9 ай бұрын

Love that steering wheel… almost as much as the dancing plug cables. 😁

@UncleManuel 9 ай бұрын

"I need longer arms for this car..." 😂😂😁😁

@leviboyce9577 8 ай бұрын

Cant wait to see the restoration on this. Mainly cause I have a 53' Hudson Wasp.

@alanpecherer5705 7 ай бұрын

The great thing about making a mistake like that (the points) is that you'll NEVER make that mistake again.

@user-if9hu1up1x 9 ай бұрын

That's from Cars the movie this incredible

@rjs2005 8 ай бұрын

I love those Hudsons, it's such a joy to see one brought back to life- thanks Davin!

@jodaddysdodgegarage3533 9 ай бұрын

I love it when you get these old cars running.

@jameswolfe7485 8 ай бұрын

Ten years since running means it was ethanol fuel. The ethanol evaporates, lowering the octane. A fellow I watch uses 2-stroke fuel for the first start, thinking that the oil adds lubricity to the top of the cylinders. Amazingly, it doesn't cause clouds of smoke when it does light up!

@TraceNoOne 9 ай бұрын

He’s pretty clean

@davidroland6431 8 ай бұрын

what a nice looking car. and great suspension.I read about the durability and build quality of Hudson & Nash cars. Great job.

@tumblelake63 9 ай бұрын

Keep them running and on the road! I enjoy seeing an old car return to life. Is there any hope for the other two cars? TLC

@grimmerjxcts2206 9 ай бұрын

I didn't understand anything going on but i love Hudson Hornet great video

@jimamizzi1 9 ай бұрын

Someone’s been in there not to long ago, newish looking clips, clamps,fan belt, and the oil from the air filter looked very clean

@gastupntruckin 9 ай бұрын

For the most part, I appreciate and enjoy Hagerty content. The Barn Find articles are usually interesting and informative and I enjoy them a lot, thanks Tom, for all your hard work. However, I have a critique for Daven. When I click on a thumbnail for a video, I expect the content to be organized, thought-out, and the players to be equipped for their needs. When Daven shows up without enough tools, without a supply of necessary parts, with a dead battery with which he is trying to start a car that has not run in years, I experience frustration at his amateurish approach. When it looks like he doesn’t know what he’s doing, I wonder why I’m watching his video. Making a video is a big deal, I can imagine. However, you can’t make an intelligent video, that I want to spend my time watching, if you’re not ready. Get ready! Collect information on the subject at hand, such as the Hudson Hornet, what a fabulous car!! Show and tell your audience what you’re doing, such as checking the oil, checking the engine coolant, cleaning around the spark plugs before removing them! Check the wiring going to the solenoid and to the battery, etc., etc. Get ready first, please. Don’t show up to make a video that you want me to watch, with a dead battery!! Thanks for listening to my rant. I do enjoy most of your content. Jeff M.

@Rudy32225 9 ай бұрын

Great job. Notice how she remained level with the suspension taking all the action through the puddle dip. Might have been as smooth as a Citroen DS. My uncle who was in marine equipment sales had a Hornet yellow convertible with a radio telephone. That Chrysler sitting next to it has great lines too. Thanks for the memories.

@garlandhenry6792 9 ай бұрын

I wish yal could take it back to Hagerty’s shop and do a complete restoration series. That car would be so cool to drive !!!!!!

@darnoldie 9 ай бұрын

Regarding the old oil bath type air cleaners...uh...never mind.

@giovanefortuna 8 ай бұрын

The design of this car is perfect❤

@user-bi3hs2vn9i 2 ай бұрын

A car that 1950s and 2000s kids will remember

@miniz33 9 ай бұрын

I love these rescues, but it bothers me when people hoard old cars they will never get to just to have one, when It could be in loving hands and being enjoyed instead

@abel28 14 күн бұрын

Doc is trying to revive back to life

@basspig 7 ай бұрын

I remember back in 49 how the Hudson of that year had tapered cylinder walls. Hudson claimed that that would increase the life of the piston rings by allowing them to flex.

@jonmccarty3116 9 ай бұрын

Gorgeous car!

@deweygill1973 9 ай бұрын

My Dad had a 1951 that was a year old when he bought it. It had the higher compression aluminum head that warped easily. I think he had it milled twice. Neat car. He finally traded it in for a new ‘56 Olds 98, he was sick of the hassle.

@DonDufresne 7 ай бұрын

Brings back memories of my first car, and a complete restoration project in the early 70's, a '51 Packard. Learned a lot. Needed rings. I would pull the plugs and warm them up in the oven. :-)

@JimKnight-lr4if 9 ай бұрын

Nice work fellas! Kudos to seldom-seen Ben @ 30:30 in his matching blue BD jacket. Thanks for the inspiration to Keep 'em Rolling!

@richriley8031 9 ай бұрын

What a Ride!!!

@marlborom2c829 8 ай бұрын

Love this video. These Hudson legends need more respect!

@mikebennett146 7 ай бұрын

If an engine turns over by hand (and isn't internally damaged), the difference between it starting & running well vs not at all can usually be traced back to two 'superficial' but crucial things, Like a permanent rule-of-thumb (Aside from the battery power): 1) Spark delivery- all the way from ignition to plugs, and 2) Fuel. Best to always start with putting in new plugs, cleaning all distributor points, and inspecting/changing/cleaning wires/coil wire. Even the slightest dirt residue or microscopic rust on any electrical contacts can completely hinder an engine from starting/running