Hudson Terraplane pickup, ground plane

The Hudson Moto Company is, of course, little remembered in Italy. However, this is an American car manufacturer, founded in Detroit in 1909 which in the period from the end of the XNUMX's to the beginning of the XNUMX's became third American manufacturer by sales volume, 300 thousand units were produced in the USA, but also  in Belgium and Great Britain.

Before the Hudson in the American market there were only Ford and Chevrolet. July 21 1932 Hudson launched in style new model range of cars, la Essex Terraplan... Flyer also participated in the presentation Amelia Earhart who was his godmother and the first customer.

Pickup arrives in 33

The Essex-Terraplane was an economical car. with steel frame и с relatively powerful engine, eight-cylinder from four liters displacement... In 1933, the lineup of cars was added to the model range. light advertising, or pickup. In 1934, the name Essex was dropped. and the car just became Terraplane.

In 1936 was production volumes of trucks and, in 1938, passenger car pickup  they were named  only Hudson Terraplane. Characteristic terraplane it consisted of their lines distinctly streamlined and aerodynamic which were very much like airplanes.

Ground plane

And out of the then exciting world of airplanes, two important events emerged. evidence (as they would say now) who “fell in love2” with a new car: Charles Lindbergh, single Atlantic flyer and the same Amelia Earhart, also a character like Lindbergh is extremely popular. They both bought Terraplane and made (voluntarily or not) one. high profile and creation vehicle nicknamed "Plane of the earth" (ground plane).

The most beautiful

According to experts, the pickup, produced from 34 to 38 years old, is very attractive. perhaps the most beautiful light truck never manufactured in the USA. The stylistic lines, naturally borrowed from the lines of the car, seemed even more expressive in the pickup. aerodynamicsmore elusive, in a sense more classic, but inspired by the fact that at that moment there was more modern and fun, airplanes.

The pickup was equipped with smaller engine than a 3,5L car, capable of delivering power 80 CV. In late 1938, for pickups, Hudson decided to remove the Terraplane name, which he had left to cars until 1939, and convert his pickup to Hudson Truck.

It seems that in the world they were left alone 8 original copies del pickup Hudson Terraplane. Gray in the pictures copy 38 g., was sold in September  2018 at Sothebys Auction in Oborne, Indiana, 46.200 USD.