AMC/Nash/Hudson History

Storied Independent Automakers: Nash, Hudson, and American Motors (part of the Great Lakes Books Series)
Dr. Charles K. Hyde

2009 Wayne State University Press 328 pages ISBN-10: 0814334466

With roots extending back to the first decade of the twentieth century, Nash Motor Company and the Hudson Motor Car Company managed to compete and even prosper as independent producers until they merged in 1954 to form the American Motors Company, which itself remained independent until it was bought in 1987 by the Chrysler Corporation. In Storied Independent Automakers, renowned automotive scholar Charles K. Hyde argues that these companies, while so far neglected by auto history scholars, made notable contributions to automotive engineering and styling and were an important part of the American automobile industry.

Hyde investigates how the relatively small corporations struggled in a postwar marketplace increasingly dominated by the giant firms of Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, which benefited from economies of scale in styling, engineering, tooling, marketing, and sales. He examines the innovations that kept the independents’ products distinctive from those of the Big Three and allowed them to survive and sometimes prosper against their larger competitors. Hyde also focuses on the visionary leaders who managed the companies, including Charles Nash, Roy D. Chapin, Howard Coffin, George Mason, George Romney, and Roy D. Chapin Jr., who have been largely unexamined by other scholars. Finally, Hyde analyzes the ultimate failure of the American Motors Company and the legacy it left for carmakers and consumers today.
Storied Independent Automakers is based on extensive research in archival collections generated by the three companies. Residing in large part in the DaimlerChrysler Corporate Collection, these sources have been seldom tapped by other scholars before this volume. Auto historians and readers interested in business history will enjoy Storied Independent Automakers.

HUDSON MOTOR CAR COMPANY 1909 — 1954

Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Motor_Car_Company

Autopedia:  https://automobile.fandom.com/wiki/Hudson

Classic Car History:  http://www.classic-car-history.com/hudson-car-history.htm

HandWiki:  https://handwiki.org/wiki/Company:Hudson_Motor_Car_Company

Detroit Historical Society:   https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/hudson-motors

100 Years of Hudson Motor Cars     https://youtu.be/l19OxC5aWjU

Hudson Cars on the Road     https://youtu.be/eyByfgiGmGs

The History of Hudson (part of the Crestline Series)
Don Butler
1992 Motorbooks International 336 pages ISBN-10:  0879386967

All Hudsons are shown and expertly described on a year-by-year and model-by-model basis following the evolution of the cars. Terraplane, Essex, Railton and Brough: all are featured in a chronological review of production. A veritable treasure trove of history, both in the written word and illustrations

If you’re a collector or interested in the history of Hudson cars, then this is the Hudson bible. It shows most (not all) of the cars built by the company and details models, production numbers, serial numbers etc, which I have not found elsewhere. This hardcover book has lots off pictures (all in Black & White) and is the definitive Hudson, Essex and Terraplane reference. A MUST BUY for the Hudson enthusiast.

Hudson Automobiles (An Illustrated History)
Patrick R. Foster

2010 Iconografix, Inc. ISMN-13:  978-1583882665

The Hudson Motorcar Company rose above the fray to establish itself as one of America’s greatest automobile companies. Its legendary Super Six was one of the most coveted autos of its era. It was an important defense supplier during World War II. Then came its radical Step-Down models. Company engineers also developed the powerful and highly-refined Twin-H Power engine, and from 1951-1954 Hudson automobiles completely dominated NASCAR. Hudson is remembered as one of the truly great classics of America’s automotive heritage.

A History of Hudson and Its Nine Most Fabulous Cars
Mark James

2021 Barron Publishing Company ISBN-10:  0971637695

Hudson was a promising, growing, producing company from its very 1909 beginnings. It was, in fact, at one time one of what we now refer to as the “Big Three” behind Chevrolet and Ford. So, what happened? Why did Hudson close for good in 1954? A History of Hudson and Its Nine Most Fabulous Cars will take you on Hudson’s 45-year roller-coaster ride.

Mark James’ writing is succinct and on point thus enabling him to present the entire Hudson Motor Car Company history in a most complete way within the confines of this modest-of-page-count book. He admits that while reading and researching that he “. . .became hopelessly lost in a tsunami of names, dates, production figures, Hudson income and losses, and more.” To help himself keep track he created a graph and subsequently had a graphic designer make that graph comprehensible by everyone and thus publishable. The graph is this book’s two-page appendix.

From the length and depth of the book’s Bibliography, it is obvious Mark James left few, if any, stones unturned in his reading and research prior to writing. Moreover he’s created a very thorough Index so that you, his reader, can easily revisit particular passages or find information again.

NASH MOTORS    1916 – 1937/ NASH-KELVINATOR CORPORATION    1937 – 1954  

Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nash_Motors

Wisconsin Historical Society:  https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS344

Detroit Historical Society:  https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/kelvinator-corporation

University of Wisconsin, Madison Libraries:  https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ALCQPTN4EZ5OOK8L

Nash Motors 1951 Automobile Promo Film     https://youtu.be/aLtVKimcmxs

History of the Nash/AMC Ambassador:  1927-1974     https://youtu.be/XHKCs4qA04g

Visual History of Nash Motors     https://youtu.be/_ruFVSqC14c

The Hemmings Book of Nashes
A. Lentinello

2002  Hemmings Motor News  120 pages ISBN-10:  1591150108

From Nash’s distinctive prewar models such the Special 8 convertible to the lovable Metropolitan, this book examines more than a dozen Nash examples from 1929 to 1962.

AMERICAN MOTORS CORPORATION 1954 – 1988

Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Motors_Corporation

Autopedia:  https://automobile.fandom.com/wiki/AMC

Classic Car History:  http://www.classic-car-history.com/american-motors-history.htm

Autocarsindustry.com:  https://www.autocarsindustry.com/history-of-american-motors-corporation/

AMCRC Nash Rambler History:  http://www.amcrc.com/feature/nr.html

The Life and Death of American Motors Corporation    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCmHII0Pp9w

Automotive History in Kenosha, Wisconsin:  https://youtu.be/OIhCqWtHWrQ

American Motors History of the Automobile Industrial Film:  https://youtu.be/qMjdwSGzEg0

AMC Cars:  1954-1987 (An Illustrated History)
Patrick R. Foster

2004     Iconografix, Inc.     158 pages     ISBN-10:  1583881123

Formed in 1954 by the merger of The Hudson Motor Car Company and Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, American Motors Corporation was no ordinary company. It was the last, and the very best, of the great independent automakers, producing such notables as the muscle-flexing AMX and Javelin, and the forward-designed, 4-wheel-drive Eagle. Highly regarded AMC historian and expert, Patrick Foster, gives us an in-depth look at AMC and its cars from its beginning in 1954 through its demise in 1987. Over 300 photos combined with informative captions show all of AMCs cars. A great reference for the AMC enthusiast!

 

 

The Cars of American Motors: An Illustrated History
Marc Cranswick

2011 McFarland 364 pages ISBN-10: 0786446722

Though American Motors never approached the size of Detroit’s Big Three, it produced a long series of successful cars that were distinctive, often innovative and in many cases influential. This history examines AMC’s cars from the company’s formation in 1954 through its absorption by Chrysler in 1987. The Gremlin, Pacer and Eagle vehicles are examined in detail, as are the AMC custom cars of George Barris and Carl Green. The text details AMC’s 1980s involvement with the French firm Renault and the design legacy of that joint venture, which includes the Hummer. The evolution of Jeep is covered from the 1960s through the 2000s. Features include some 225 photographs; a listing of AMC / Rambler clubs, organizations and business entities, with contact details; tables of detailed specifications and performance data; data on technical devices, trim packages and all model variations; a comprehensive account of AMC / Rambler appearances in film, television and cartoons.

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