Few people in the world are as big a lover of cars as Jay Leno. The American comedian and former chat show host has a truly insane number of cars, many of which he showcases on YouTube, such as this 1953 Hudson Hornet Convertible.
This car, however, isn’t one from Leno’s garage. It was brought over by owner Chris Duhon, along with master restorer Steve Stratis, to be showcased on Leno’s YouTube channel and to discuss why it is such a special car. In the video title, Leno describes this $700,000 machine as a “flawless” car.
This is a car that shot to fame in the early 1950s, racing in NASCAR. The low center of gravity of the Hornet ensured it had excellent handling, and the car won the championship in 1951, 1952, and 1953. It was only the rise of overhead-valve V8s that rendered the Hornet obsolete with its six-cylinder engine.
The Hornet has now become a cult icon and one of the most desirable classic cars in America. This particular example has not had an easy life, and it was a meticulous restoration that brought the car back to its former glory.
How This Hudson Hornet Was Restored
This particular car did not have an easy restoration. It had been rescued from an abandoned and stalled project, and when it arrived at the workshop of Stratis, it was scattered across various cardboard boxes. There are 310 pieces of chrome on the car, and 103 pieces were in the top part of the car alone, and they had been painted silver, so they needed to be stripped back.
“It is a style that holds up really well,” said Leno in the video. Putting the car back together was an incredible labor of love for Stratis and his team, and things such as the leather had been destroyed when they got their hands on it. What resulted from the restoration was something truly special, which showcased just how special the Hudson Hornets really are.
This project was a real labor of love for the restoration team. Specialists in Chicago worked on the body of the car, as well as the engine, upholstery, and the top. Craftsmen at the top of their game helped get this incredible vehicle back to factory-fresh condition. The Hudson community also aided in the restoration, and we think the results speak for themselves. The restoration of the car took over three and a half years to complete, and what came out of that project is something truly special.
This Hudson Has a Lot of Factory Options
This particular example of the Hornet has also been heavily optioned. Leno explored these in the video, which showed off the eight-tube radio, power windows, the leather upholstery, and the incredible use of chrome throughout the bodywork. Under the hood of this example is a 308ci inline-six engine that made 170hp, which was very competitive against the V8 engines of the early 1950s. General Motors would eventually usurp the Hudson’s inline-six power figures.
Leno was lucky enough to get a chance to drive the car as well. He was impressed by how smooth the Hudson was to drive, and how good the car felt through the corners. A bonus was the fact that this car retained belted tires to try to keep it as close to the original specification as possible. It is easy to see why so many people have fallen in love with the Hudson Hornet over the years.