as told by Rose & Butch Walker

After owning a yank tank for 15 years, we decided it was time for a new ride, but just agreeing on what sort to have wasn’t all that easy. Rat Rod or Sled! With that out of the way it took another 12 months just to find a Hudson in reasonable condition – then in 2003 we found one at Pomona.

Got her home and spent another few months on what was going to be done, the budget and all that, which of course was all just a waste of time as that budget came and went long ago.

So finally the car was sent over to good mate Dave Hough at Bundy to have a HZ Holden front end and graft new rear springs and a diff.

Back home again to wait in line to go to LDI for panel paint (ha ha) as you can see a tad more than that was done.

From the onset we wanted this car to be a car which we could drive so some creature comforts were needed. We also wanted it’s own look which we think has been achieved. A big thank you goes to Lindsay, Denise and all of the guys at LDI for their great work and ideas.

 

as told by Lindsay Houston

 The car was bought to us with an original body fairly rust free although it had a sizable hit on the LH front. From the onset once we saw the height of the front cross rails from the HZ graft, we could see we had no chance of lowering the suspension without the rails hitting the ground, so we went about creating new sills 130mm lower and added 130mm to the bottom of the door skins which in effect has the same effect as channelling.

 

We then went about shaving door handles, boot locks, chrome strips and Butch was able to track down a 1950 Buick front bar and grille which makes a nice change from the standard grille or the ever popular Desoto grille. We also lowered the mounts for the bar and grille to match the sills and decided to finish off the side look we would pancake the bonnet one inch in the front which takes out the oversized hump in the bonnet.

 

 

 

 

Then came the roof chop which has been cut 3.5 inches in the front and 5 inches in the rear with the tulip panel extended and the use of a one piece VW rear screen. This creates a smooth line front to rear. The front windscreen was purchased from Paul McKennariey which meant we had to remove the peak in the roof and the dash was extended to suit the one piece screen.

  

 

 

Leading edge of the front door glass frame was straightened to enable removal of the quarter glass vents and fitment of one piece glass windows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

 

The interior mods are mainly to do with the top chop with the inclusion of Ford Fairlane courtesy lamps and underdash integrated A/C heater with the dash shaved and classic gauges used to replace the originals. A Holden steering wheel has been painted to colour match the car.

The running gear consists of a Holden V8, turbo 350 and a HZ rear. The car runs one inch reset springs, along with power steering makes for a very comfortable and easy to drive sled.

The paint scheme which Rose and Butch chose is loosely based on the Hirohata Merc but with an Aussie twist. Over the seafoam green, we added a coat of Blue pearl and we have slightly deepened the dark green. With the use of a white pinline to separate the colours with the addition of some 50’s type scrolls we have our HiroHud.