1952 HUDSON - GENERAL: The Korean War recession had bolstered sales of less expensive, more fuel-efficient cars and the Pacemaker helped keep Hudson's head above water. Thus, in May 1952 Hudson announced that it was beginning to tool-up for production of a new compact-sized model for its 1953 line. This car would become the Hudson Jet.

A new Series, the "Wasp", was introduced in 1952, built on the Pacemaker chassis and replacing the Super line. In styling, the Wasp, like the Commodore, and Hornet, featured "wrap-around" parking lamps in the front outer edge of the grille, whereas the Pacemaker did not. The side trim on the Wasp, Hornet and the Commodore now followed the body cut line rather than being some distance below it. All Hudsons went from vertical tail lights to horizontal units whose bezels wrapped slightly around the fenders.

Hudson decided that the Commodore Six and Eight should be a distinct line, rather than appearing to be merely an engine choice over the Hornet. Thus, the Commodore Six had less standard features than the Eight, with the idea that this would add a level of exclusivity to the Commodore Eight line. Even with the two distinct series, the entire 1952 Commodore line featured new "Hudson-Aire" identification and appointments to make them appear more upscale from the Hornet, which it was too similar to -  except for the engine choice. 

INNOVATIONS:

• The Hornet L-Head Six "Twin H Power" option was now available from the factory. The multiple carburation setup, that had been an over-the-counter racing addition, now became a factory installed option. Click HERE to learn about the Hornet L-Head six.
• Wraparound back windows were now available on all 2-door coupes, broughams, and 4-door sedans.

1952 HUDSON PACEMAKER CUSTOM SIX - SERIES 4B. Reacting to the recession, the Pacemaker was moved down in pricing for 1952 and was trimmed even less than 1951. The twin-strut grille arrangement was deleted and fender skirts were optional. The "spear tips" had a staggered look and a boomerang shaped fin became the hood ornament. The rear fascia was spartan, with small oval tail lamp lenses, and only outer bumper guards. 

Standard equipment included: Gray special-weave cord upholstery with red and brown stripes; ribbed rubber floor mats; dark brown painted dash; two-spoke, light tan steering wheel; friction, not cranked, front ventipanes; two assist straps in the sedans–one in the club coupe; a pop-out cigarette lighter; dash and seat back ash trays; windshield and window reveal moldings; twin horns; arm rests at front seat ends-plus at rear seat ends on sedan and club coupe; seat-back pockets; and woven trunk mat.

The 232 CID engine was the only powerplant. Even with the changes designed to keep the price down, manufacturing costs pushed up the price about $165 over 1951.

1952 HUDSON WASP SIX - SERIES 5B. The new replacement for the Super, the Wasp Six, was built on the Pacemaker platform, though the overall length of the Wasp was longer by 1", due to the fitment of center rear bumper guards. In terms of market penetration, the Wasp was intended to replace the Super. In terms of market positioning, it was to the Pacemaker what the Hornet was to the Commodore Eight; a slightly more luxurious and more powerful version of the lower priced model.

Standard 1952 Wasp equipment included: Tan special-weave cord upholstery with red and brown stripes; rear compartment carpeting; dark brown leather-grain dash; door courtesy lamps; windup clock; three-spoke steering wheel with half-circle horn ring; arm rests at seat ends, except convertible and Brougham rear seat; robe hanger and hand grips on front seat back; friction, not cranked, front ventipanes; windshield and window reveal moldings; rear center guard with license lamp; woven fabric trunk mat; fender skirts; pop-out lighter; dash ash tray and front seat back type in sedans; distinctive Hudson triangle hood ornament; front fender-top ornaments; seat back pockets; side body rub-rail moldings; and twin-strut front grille guard.

1952 HUDSON COMMODORE SIX - SERIES 6B. The "Hudson-Aire" trim found on the Six included: double rub-rail moldings that ran along the body contour line from the front fenders to the rear fenders, with a downward sweep towards the back bumper; twin-strut grille and arrangement; front and rear center bumper guards; front fender nameplates; rocker sill beauty panels; large DeLuxe hub caps; and taillights styled to form a continuous horizontal trim line. The front fender 'spear tips' on Sixes were decorated with a number "6." Also fitted was the Hudson triangle hood ornament and front fender top ornaments.

Standard equipment on Commodore Six was markedly different than on Eights. It included: six-tone Bedford cord upholstery with tan and brown stripes; leather-grain Durafab trim; rear-compartment carpets; dark brown leather-grain dash; windup clock; three-spoke, half-ring steering wheel; arm rests at ends of all seats, except on the convertible and Brougham; center rear-seat arm rest in sedan, club coupe and Hollywood; pop-out lighter; ash trays at seat ends; dash ash tray. Additional features included: friction, not cranked, front ventipanes; leather-grain window garnish moldings; reveal moldings; woven fabric trunk mat; fender skirts; seat back pockets; front dome lamp–two side lamps in Hollywood hardtop; rear quarter dome lamps in sedan, club coupe and Hollywood; robe hanger and hand grips on seat back.

1952 HUDSON HORNET SIX - SERIES 7B. The 1952 Hornet was once again based on the Commodore Eight - except it was powered by the awesome, high compression 308 CID Six, now available with the dual carb, "Twin-H Power" as a factory installed option. Special features for the Hornet included: dark Blue or Brown leather-grain window garnish moldings; Hornet "Flying-H" logos on the side of front fenders and rear deck; gold and chrome hood ornament. "Hornet" identifiers were found on front door valance panels. All other interior trim and specifications were that of the Commodore Eight.

On a model for model basis, the Hornet and Commodore were priced almost identically.

1952 HUDSON COMMODORE EIGHT - SERIES 8B. As on the Commodore Six, the Eight's Hudson-Aire trim also included: double rub-rail moldings that ran along the body contour line, from the front fenders to the rear fenders, with a downward sweep towards the back bumper; twin-strut grille and arrangement; front and rear center bumper guards; front fender nameplates; rocker sill beauty panels, as in the Six; and large DeLuxe hub caps and taillights styled to form a continuous horizontal trim line. The front fender 'spear tips' on Eights were decorated with a number "8".

The Commodore Eight had the following upgraded standard equipment from the Commodore Six: Nylon three-dimensional weave upholstery in Tan-Brown with gold stripes or Blue-Gray with blue stripes; foam rubber seat cushions; front and rear carpets; cord type, Durafab covered robe hangers in all models; instrument lighting dimmer switch; DeLuxe steering wheel; electric clock; crank type front ventipanes; printed jute trunk mat; and, of course, the inline eight-cylinder motor.

Of note was that the Commodore models weighed 30 pounds more than Hornets, due to the higher weight of the venerable 8-cylinder L-head engine, now noted for smoothness rather than for performance.

MODEL/ENGINE I.D. DATA:

• Pacemaker Custom serial numbers. Pacemakers were numbered from 4B-132916 to 202512. 
• Wasp serial numbers. Wasps were numbered from 5B-132916 to 202715.
• Commodore Six serial numbers. Commodore Sixes were numbered from 6B-132916 to 198220.
• Hornet serial numbers. Hornet Sixes were numbered from 7B-132916 to 20291.
• Commodore Eight serial numbers. Commodore Eights were numbered from 8B-132916 to 200201.

Serial numbers were on the right door post. Hudson did not provide body code numbers. In the production chart, the first three symbols comprise the series/model codes, followed by a group of numbers in sequential order.  The first two symbols were "the series" in 1952:  "4B" = Pacemaker; "5B" = Wasp; 6B" = Commodore Six; "7B" = Hornet; and "8B" = Commodore Eight. The numbers following designated production sequence.

Engine numbers were the same and were found on a boss near the top left side of the cylinder block as well as between the first two manifold flanges.

BODY PAINT CODE/COLORS:

• B-96 Broadway Blue
  
• CC-93 Symphony Blue Green Light
  
• G-95 Jupiter Gray
  
• H-27 Texas Tan
  
• J-97 Southern Blue
  
• K-5 Ebony Black
  
• M-64 Toro Red
  
• N-92 Boston Ivory
  
• P Symphony Blue Green Dark
  
• P-63 Naples Green
  
• Q-115 Gulf Green
  
• RR-72 French Gray
  
• S-62 Jefferson Green

HUDSON ENGINES:

• Pacemaker Series Six: Inline L-head six-cylinder. Chrome alloy block. Displacement: 232  CID. Bore and stroke: 3.5625" x 3.875". Compression ratio: 6.7:1. Horsepower: 112 @ 4000 RPM. Torque: 175 @ 1600 RPM. Four main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter one-barrel type WA-1 model 749S.
  
  
• Wasp and Commodore Series Six: Inline L-head six-cylinder. Chrome alloy block. Displacement: 262  CID. Bore and stroke: 3.5625" x 4.375". Compression ratio: 6.7:1. Horsepower: 127 @ 4000 RPM. Torque: 200 @ 1600 RPM. Four main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: 2-barrel WGD Type Model 776S.
  
  
• Hornet Series Six: Inline L-head -cylinder. Chrome alloy block. Displacement: 308 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.8125" x 4.5 inches. Compression ratio: 7.2:1. Horsepower: 145 @ 3800 RPM. Torque: 257 @ 1800 RPM. Four main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter two-barrel type WGD model 776S.
  
  
• Hornet Twin H-Power Series Six: Inline L-head -cylinder. Chrome alloy block. Displacement: 308 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.8125" x 4.5 inches. Compression ratio: 7.2:1. Horsepower: 160 @ 3800 RPM. Torque: 260 @ 1800 RPM. Four main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetors: Two Carter one-barrel type WA-1 model 749S.
  
  
• Commodore Series Eight: L-head eight-cylinder. Chrome alloy block. Displacement: 254  CID. Bore and stroke: 3.00" x 4.50" inches. Compression ratio: 6.5:1. Horsepower: 128 @ 4200 RPM. Torque: 198 @ 1600 RPM. Five main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter 2-barrel WGD Type Model 773S with L-shaped air horns.

NOTE: To see details on Hudson's 232, 262 and 308 CID sixes - Click HERE.

CHASSIS:

• Wheelbase: Pacemaker and Wasp 119", Commodore and Hornet 124".
  
• Overall length: Pacemaker 201.50" Wasp 202.50" Commodore and Hornet 208.50".
  
• Front tread: All 58.50".
  
• Rear tread: All 55.50".
  
• Overall width: Pacemaker/Wasp: 77.063" Commodore/Hornet: 77.656".
  
• Tires: Commodore and Hornet Convertible 7.60 x 15. All Others 7.10 x 15. The 7.60 x 15 available as an option on all others.

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS:

• Overdrive transmission ($111).
  
• Hydra-Matic Drive ($158).

PERFORMANCE OPTIONS: Hudson Motor Car Company released a special "High-Output" options catalog for 1952. It included:

• High compression engine option for the Pacemaker Six utilizing the aluminum 7.2:1 compression cylinder head.
  
• Super High-output H-127" option for the Wasp/Commodore Six using the same optional head,
  
• "High-output Super-Eight" engine with a "Power Dome" cylinder head.
  
• "Miracle H-Power" Hornet engine was available with either the 7.2:1 aluminum head or a 7.2:1 iron alloy head, and also a 6.7:1 iron alloy cylinder head,
  
• The dual-carburetor, dual manifold induction system was a factory installed option for the Hornet engine called the "Twin-H Power" package.

SIGNIFICANT OPTIONS:

   Optional on Pacemaker

• Center bumper guards.
  
• Fender skirts.
  
• Five solid colors standard, six special hues optional at extra cost.
  
• Front fender ornaments.
  
• Large hub caps (Pacemaker and Wasp).
  
• Windup clock.

   Standard on Commodore Eight and Hornet - Optional on Wasp or Commodore Six -

• Electric clock.
  
• Hydraulic window lifts in Wasp convertible

   Optional All Series -

• External windshield sun visor.
  
• Heater. 
  
• Oversize tires.
  
• Paint: Convertibles available in solid colors only.
  
• Paint: Wasp, Commodore, and Hornet were available in seven solid colors or fifteen two-tone combinations, plus four solid colors that were optional at extra cost. See "Additional Files – Two Tone Color Combinations"  at the top of the page for a list of the available combinations by paint code.
  
• Plastic rear window for convertible.
  
• Radio antenna, roof mount type.
  
• Radio.
  
• Side window sun shields.
  
• Wheel trim rings.

HUDSONS IN RACING: Hudson Hornet was stunning the racing public once again, by winning 27 NASCAR races out of a total 34 Grand National events held this year. Hudson drivers in NASCAR included Herb Thomas and Tim Flock.

Marshall Teague drove Hudsons in AAA competition, after taking the 1952 NASCAR Daytona stock car race in a Hornet. The car was torn down after the race and proved to be 100 percent stock. In AAA racing, Teague took 14 checkered flags, while other Hudson drivers captured a total of five. For the year, the Hornets had captured 40 wins in 48 major stock car races – quite a feat!  

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:  The 1952 Hudson line was introduced January 1952, rather than September 1951, due to Korean War restrictions.

PRODUCTION: Because of the Korean War limitations, the shortened model year sales of 70,000 cars still moved the company's sales rank up one notch to 14th position from 15th. See attached chart for production numbers.