My Favorite Ride: $500 for a relic and two years to get this 1951 Hudson on the road
Back in 2010, Larry Kennedy noticed two old Hudsons listed for sale in Port Huron, Michigan, $5,000 for both.
One was a 1950 Commodore Six from California that had been someone's daily driver nearly half a century, until 1996.
The other was a 1951 version of same car. This story is how it ended up in the driveway at 14-year-old Seth VanBuskirk's house in Indianapolis.
When the price of the Hudson duo went down to $2,000, it was clear the owner was going to junk them for the price of the metal.
"So I bought them both," Kennedy said.
What's in Kennedy's collection?From Hudsons to Cadillacs, how many cars does Larry Kennedy have?
He collects old cars such as this. The last time we spoke he had 49 cars. Two more wasn't an issue.
Kennedy and his wife Sue spent the pandemic restoring the 1950 sedan, after it sat outside for a decade. "We brought that car back to life," he said. "It has a quarter million miles on it now."
Seth discovered the 1951 six cylinder parked in the weeds among Kennedy's many cars. His dad, Brian, and Kennedy are friends, both Hudson restorers and aficionados.
"Seth had an interest in this car and it's not that rusty and the frame and body are pretty solid even though it looks pretty rough," Kennedy said. "I told Seth he could have it for $500 if he wanted it."
He did.
This past Sept. 11, Seth and his dad freed the car from the weeds and got it to start. "That was the main thing that made me sure I wanted to buy it," Seth said, imaging the possibilities.
After 20 years parked outside, the motor was intact. They towed the car home and parked it next to the driveway. He's cleared out the trash and debris. He and his dad removed the door handles and glovebox lock to take to a locksmith to have keys made.
One of the first projects on the car restoration list is to replace the hood, which a previous owner sawed a hole in to access the hood latch. Kennedy had an extra 1951 Hudson hood lying around, not surprising, and donated it to the cause.
There's so much work to be done. But Seth has two years before he gets his driver's license. Plenty of time to figure out and rebuild a 70-year-old car.
More Hudson stories:It took some digging to save this classic car from a horse stable
"I can do some of it, but mainly it's going to be a learning thing," Seth said. "I'll get my driving permit as soon as I can, and mainly just drive to school." It's less that two miles from his house to Purdue Polytechnic High School, where he's a freshman interested in industrial engineering.
He needs to remove the seats and floor pans to replace the clutch and repair the transmission. Then, the engine cooling system needs attention.
"It's missing the radiator and the water pump," Seth said. "We do have a radiator for it, but for a Hudson water pump, you go to Aaron Cooper."
I asked if Aaron Cooper is a company that makes custom parts for old cars. "No, he's a guy in the Hudson Club."
I saw Seth and caught wind of his recent purchase at a Hudson Car Club meet a few months ago in Bloomington. He's not paid his membership dues yet, but has what it takes to qualify to join.
He owns a Hudson.
Have a story to tell about a car or truck? Contact My Favorite Ride Reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Teen who bought 70-year-old Hudson has 2 years to make it roadworthy
