Hi Katie!
Where in Georgia are you located? Looks like a great project!

Northeast Georgia, Kerry.

Welcome, Katie! You do indeed have a rare Hudson there, but I'm not sure that the production figures still exist for separate body styles like convertibles. When Hudson merged with Nash in 1954 to form American Motors, most of the files went to the dumpster, sadly. The overall figures survived, but not by body style breakdown. At least, that is my understanding.

If you're not already a member of the H-E-T Club you may want to consider joining, because it will make your life much easier (in terms of finding parts, technical advice, and services). And richer (in terms of finding friends who share your enthusiasm for your Hudson).

Though the convertibles are rare, there are a good number out there, and I'm sure that fellow owners will be happy to share their knowledge with you.

I don't know what your plans are for "Belle". Perhaps you may be inclined to completely disassemble her and start an ambitious restoration to make her "like new". If so, I'd caution you that this will be an expensive and time-consuming prospect and you'll be deprived of the fun of enjoying the car while it's happening (which could take years, depending on your budget). I'd suggest cleaning the car up and getting the "mechanicals" right, then starting to drive your car. If the fabric top is shot, you can buy a new one, ready made, for somewhere around $500 and install it yourself. The main thing is to get the car on the road. You'll find, when you drive to Hudson meets, that you won't be "frozen out" if the car isn't showroom-new. At the HET Club's first national meet over 50 years ago, the participants decided that the Club would never sponsor judging of cars, and we appreciate both the bedgraggled and the splendidly-restored.

But, you may already be a Club member, and realize all of this!

Katie,

Is this a 50 or 50A car? 50A are Pacemaker Deluxe, and they came out mid-year, so fewer of them out there. Regardless any convertible is rare. Also, i'm curious. Does this car have the "fabric" or burlap dash. That was unique to 1950 Hudson Pacemaker. At any rate, any convertible model is pretty rare. Overall, Pacemaker models accounted for roughly half of all production in 1950 and was a new short wheelbase model that year.

Not sure what you mean by "fabric" dash or burlap. But here's a photo of my dash. You could perhaps tell me.

If you care to see more photos I've taken ... Here's the links ...

https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A3GWZuqDGVznvS

https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A35qXGF1uSTJ3

Nice car Katie. If the rest of it cleans up like the seats have then it will be very nice as it is. Good luck and look forward to your progress getting it mobile again.

Katie,you'd benefit from a phone or in-person chat with long time Hudson owner Preston Stevens, in Atlanta. He had a '50 Pacemaker convertible for many years, and he'd love to talk with you about yours. He's a member of the Dixie Chapter of the Hudson Club, most of whose members are in North GA. You should join them. Preston's phone is 404 351-5110; email hudsonnews@aol.com. Tell him Park sic'd you on him.

Hi Katie - welcome to the Hudson bunch. Great bunch of folks - it's really a family that likes Hudsons.

Looking thru my research products I can tell you that there were 39,455 Pacemaker 6's (Model 500) and 22,297 Pacemaker Deluxe 6's (Model 50A). We don't have break-out by body style, however.

So you can see by those figures convertibles would be, as Jon B says, quite rare. Survival rates of converts is somewhat low.

In addition to a regular library there is also an online library at:
http://hetclub.org/burr/lithomepage.htm - there you will find parts books, an owners manual and a shop manual, among other documents.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

Katie,

Your car is the standard Pacemaker, 500 series. It has been "dressed" up with Commodore taillamps and stainless trim (including Porkchop) that originally it did not have (looks like Wasp ornament on front fenders). It looks as though a 1934 Terraplane hood ornament (but it's not that either) has been added to the top of the standard Pacemaker ornament. Fender spears have been added (they were original options for the car). The bumpers have more bumper guards, another available upgrade, than the car originally had. Incorrect trunk ornament (Pacemaker did not have those, but rather a panel that said "Hudson" attached to the license bracket). The steering wheel is the Commodore type, and would be technically correct for all Pacemaker Deluxe cars, but was an extra cost option for Pacemaker. . It has the stock original engine, a 232 cubic inch L-head 6, and has the correct carburetor (single barrel) and linkage for that engine. The car apparently does not have Overdrive, something I would recommend installing if you plan to do much driving with it. It did clearly have the burlap or fabric dash. I've attached some pictures of my 1950 Pacemaker Deluxe sedan. My engine is not original, butis a 1950 262 (the stock engine was gone, except the head -- more on that if you're interested). Overall, I would keep this a stock example, they are so rare. The previous family owner was trying to dress it up, but just recommend a correct restoration is the best. There are enough Commodore/Hornet convertibles out there, but you rarely see a Pacemaker.

This car weighed 3655 lbs from the factory. The price was $2428 in 1950. Engine rated at 112 @4000 rpm. Production of Pacemaker ("500") was 39,455, of which probably 7-10% were convertibles, or about 400 vehicles. Of course, very few have survived. There were also 22,297 Pacemaker Deluxe ("50A) cars produced in 1950, and probably another 200-300 convertibles. Those were introduced mid-year and had fancier upholstery and more stainless trim outside aroudn windows. The Commodore style steering wheel was standard on the Deluxe cars as well as the larger bumper guards on the front edges of the bumper.

Your car has the correct red leather upholstery, and the extra pull-out button on left side near steering column operates the top (the Supers and Commodores also had power windows, but Pacemaker did not). I saw the two holes on the firewall where the Overdrive relay would mount, but there is not pullout switch under the dash, and I think it doesn't have that. you can let us know. If you look at your picture of the rear seat area, you'll see the pump for the power top. it pumps fluid into the two large cylinders on each side to raise the top. Those are seen in teh same picture on each side along with the lines that the fluid travels through. These pumps are basically the same on all cars of this era (I rebuilt mine for my 48 Cadillac which has power windows and seat). They are hydroelectric (uses brake fluid to operate cylinder with solenoids that open/close allowing the fluid to move one way or the other). You use ATF for the fluid on a rebuilt system, which also is great because it avoids all the corrosion from leaking brake fluid. Your car looks to be in great shape there, with not much corrosion! It all takes a close inspection.

HI KATIE AS YOU CAN SEE WE ARE A FRIENDLY BUNCH AS I SAID ON THE PHONE IF YOU NEED HELP LET ME KNOW AND YOUR CARS LOOKING BETTER EVERY TIME IS SEE IT GOOD LUCK AND A HAPPY WELCOME TO THE HET CLUB