A.D.'s Flying Circus

Here is the top 10 laws for backyard mechanics.

• 1.Any tool you drop while working under a car will roll to the immediate center
• 2.When in doubt, pull the hammer out.
• 3.You cannot work on a car without getting oil and or grease on you, if you finish a job clean, you did something wrong.
• 4.You might not have needed those
• 5.You might finish the job finding that you have extra peices and have to take apart the whole car to find out where they go.
• 6.It's always the most expensive parts you have to replace.
• 7.Usually the smallest parts of the car cause the most trouble.
• 8.You'll think to yourself:At least it's not a Saturn.
• 9.A neighbor will see that you know how to work on cars and want you to fix his pinto.
• 10.THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN'T FIX WITH A HAMMER!

My Favorite Links

Desert Valley Auto Parts
Step-down technical help.
Hudson Essex Terraplane Club
Wizzy's Collector Car Parts
The Web Surfers Guide to Hudson
More Hudson Stuff -My own Hudson project
For all your inline engine needs.
Gilly's Auto Wreakers
Chicago Milwaukee Chapter HET
MUST SEE- Hartungs Auto Museaum
Junkyards of North Georgia.

The wide and wonderful world of Hudson!!!!!

A Pacemaker is not the thing that keeps Grandpa's ticker going, it's the name of a Hudson model. "Pacemaker" is the word that used to describe the "Pace-car" which is the car used to literally set the pace of other race cars at the beginning of a race. Many times in big event races like the Indy 500, auto manufactures would try to get their cars designated "Pacemakers" at the begining of the race as a promotional tool to sell that model. In some cases the car would be a special edition model to attract buyers to the showroom.

Hudson first used the Pacemaker name in 1932 in advertising to sell its low end model Basically, the theme being that their low-end model set the pace for the rest of Hudsons' model lines in styling, features, and quality. Pacemakers were plain inside and out with less trim and appointments. This remained the case until the Pacemaker name ceased to be used in 1952. It was meant to be a basic, more affordable Hudson for those who wanted Hudson quality but in a more compact package and also to expand Hudsons' marketable price range.

The '39 Pacemaker model was power by Hudsons' own "Splasher" 6 cyl engine. 1939 Was the first year Pacemaker was a model name instead of just an advertsing designation. It is thought that the '39 Pacemaker was a filler model for that year due to the fact that Hudson had dropped its popular Terraplane line, and thereafter only carried models under the "Hudson" nameplate.

Then Hudson did not carry the nameplate for 1940, but resurrected it later in 1950 in "Step-down" form with its own distinct engine: the rugged little "Pacemaker 6cyl. Power Dome" of 232c.i.d. This model came with a standard 3 speed manual transmission with overdrive as an option. It had a wheel base some 6 inches shorter than Hudsons' senior lines. However this did not mean that passenger space was less than any other Hudson because the length was taken off from the front of the car, whereas the passenger area was exactly the same as all similar body styles of "Step-downs". Many buyers liked this because with a shorter hood, there was increased forward visability. Many owners say that Pacemakers handel better with a shorter W.B., and also comment that they are easier to park than full sized Hudsons, even that they look better than full sized Hudsons. Some trace the Pacemakers family tree to the Essex, a Hudson nameplate meant to diversify the product line and give the company broader market appeal. The Essex was designed as a low priced closed-bodied car of high quality and low-cost. As a company, Hudson had always tried to offer the public a chance to buy their cars at a reasonable price. Therefore the Pacemaker was an obvious evolution of that philosophy.

As with all lower end cars, Pacemakers were driven hard by their owners, but they have had remarkable survivability. Out of todays surviving "Step-downs", There are quite a few Pacemakers left. They may not have had the prestige of Hudsons' Hornet or Commadore lines, but they they were every bit as well made. In 1952 the Pacemaker name was discontinued in favor of the "Wasp" name, which drew a kinship to the "Hornet" name, most likely as a marketing ploy. While the Wasp was in actual fact a Pacemaker available with the same 232cid engine. It implied a sportier image to go along with the Hornets' successes in Stock Car racing. More than likely, it was also an attempt to boost declining sales of the quickly aging (though still innovative) "Step-down" design.

Today, Pacemaker owners still can use their car as a daily driver. They are easily maintained and parts are not to difficult to obtain. They also somehow put the driver at ease with their simplicity. Of course, I'm a bit biased. -------- A.D.

NOW HERE!

'50 Pacemaker Brougham 2dr.

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this page was last updated 04/4/99