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1935 Hudson Terraplane Is a Stylish Truck with a Ford Surprise Under the Hood

Hudson is mostly famous for the Hornet, a car that dominated NASCAR in the 1950s despite tackling the series with an inline-six. Alongside the Oldsmobile 88, it was one of America's first muscle cars. But Hudson also produced the Terraplane. Offered from 1932 to 1938, Terraplanes were inexpensive, but they provided solid power and stylish looks. This truck shows why the Terraplane deserves more attention as a pre-WW2 classic.
1935 Hudson Terraplane pickup truck 23 photos
Photo: Bring a Trailer
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More a sub-brand than a nameplate, the Terraplane went through a lot of design changes in its seven years on the market, including four different grilles. Hudson came up with a couple of really unique designs, but I think Terraplanes from 1934 and 1935 have the more stylish front end.

Sure, the grille isn't as exotic as the one offered in 1937, but the V-shaped, concave mesh of 1934/1935 gives the Terraplane a sophisticated Auburn-like appearance, especially when combined with the winged emblem atop the nose. And call me weird, but I find it even more appealing on a pickup truck.

And before you say anything, check out the swooping rear fenders that cover the rear wheels almost completely. I bet you haven't seen such fenders on the more desirable Ford and Chevrolet trucks of the era. And Auburn classics aren't the only vehicles I'm thinking about when looking at this truck. Those fenders also remind me of the Indian Chief. Neat!

Unfortunately, the faded paint and the stained chrome don't do this truck justice, but it should shine once it gets a good scrubbing. Don't be too harsh on it, though, since this truck used to look much worse before it was refurbished a few decades ago.

Which brings me to the cool surprise that hides under the hood. These trucks came with inline-six or inline-eight engines. They were potent enough to help the trucks haul heavy stuff, but they're underpowered by modern standards. It's probably why the previous owner of this Terraplane decided to do a 302-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) Ford V8 swap.

The origins of this mill are unknown, but the sticker on the air filter suggests it's part of the early Windson small-block family. This engine debuted as a 221-cubic-inch (3.6-liter) unit in 1961, while the 302 entered production in 1967. It powered a long list of Ford vehicles, including the Mustang and the Galaxie.

In the first-gen Mustang, the 302 delivered 210 horsepower from 1968 to 1971. Output dropped to 140 horses for 1972 and 1973, but it's still more than the Terraplane's original mill. The swap also included a Ford C4 automatic gearbox and an eight-inch rear axle.

While it still needs a bit of work to become a Concours-winning classic, this Terraplane is one of the finest examples out there simply because you won't find many of them without rusty body panels and a stuck engine.

Well, if you're a fan of old Hudsons this cool truck is being auctioned off as we speak on Bring a Trailer. There are no bids as of this writing, but the auction will stay up for eight days.

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About the author: Ciprian Florea
Ciprian Florea profile photo

Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer.
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