Hudson Italia Sizzles

Blast from the Past

There’s something undeniably captivating about the 1950s when it comes to car design. A time when innovation was about pushing boundaries, ignoring the rule book, and letting creativity take the wheel. Sure, most of the big names decided to play it safe, but that’s what made Hudson stand out with its daring project back then—the Hudson Italia. The Italia was one of those rare gems born from the imagination of Hudson’s chief designer, Frank Spring. Taking inspiration from Chrysler’s Italian-crafted Ghia designs, the Hudson Italia brought Italian flair to American roads. It’s not every day one of these beauties comes up for sale, but it looks like there’s a rare bird sitting in a Bring a Trailer auction, ready for someone with a vision.

Craftsmanship

Frank Spring’s dream car was realized by the Italian masters at Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. The Italia’s bodywork screams ’50s futurism, with its distinctive inverted V front bumper and headlight-fitted brake cooling scoops, a Jetsons-worthy wraparound windshield, and sculpted edges. Bringing all these design elements together, the triple chrome tubes for rear lights give it a look like it’s ready for takeoff rather than a drive down Main Street.

Limited Edition

Hudson only built 26 of these magnificent machines between 1954 and 1955, with this particular car, chassis 10007, taking a bow at the 1954 Paris Motor Show. From there, it journeyed to Sweden in 1955 and changed hands several times until it was brought stateside in 1999. Under the hood, it packs a 202 cubic inch Twin-H L-head inline-six that was refurbished in 2011 along with new twin Carter carburetors. A column-shifted three-speed manual transmission keeps it connected to the road.

Looking Closer

Though its body is marked with patina and its bumps are souvenir scars of its journey, the Italia remains a fascinating portrait of history. The interior has seen touches of restoration, with the red and black leather seating getting a fresh dye and new red carpeting. Yet, the dash and that lovely two-spoke steering wheel stay true to their origins. It sits on classic 15-inch Borrani wire wheels wrapped in whitewall tires that likely need swapping.

Reflection

Driving a Hudson Italia isn’t just about hitting the roads—it’s about embracing a narrative of design innovation that stands as both a work of art and a piece of history. While seeing this classic car restored to a showroom shine would be striking, there’s a raw honesty in its current, worn state. The auction sits at around $10,000, and the allure of unfinished potential is palpable. It’s not just a purchase; it’s an invitation to become part of a storied legacy, albeit with a bit more elbow grease than most are willing to give. Yet, for the right person, it could be the start of a unique journey. The auction house even throws in some innovative tools like 3D scans from another Italia, just to sweeten the deal.