1953 HUDSON PICKUP

1953 Hudson pickup

The Wasp (Series 58) was introduced by Hudson for the 1952 model year as an upgraded version of the Hudson Pacemaker, replacing the Hudson Super Custom models from 1951. The Wasp was available in two- and four-door sedan, convertible, and a 2-door hardtop designated the Hollywood. The Wasp was built on Hudson's shorter 119-inch (3,023 mm) wheelbase using the company's unitized, "mono-built" step-down chassis design with an overall length of 201.5 inches (5,118 mm). Hudson's mono-built unitized structure used a perimeter frame which provided a rigid structure, low center of gravity and side-impact protection for passengers.

The base Hudson Wasp used the 202 cu in (3.3 L) L-Head straight six from the Pacemaker. Hudson also offered the Super Wasp which used improved interior materials and a more powerful Hudson 6-cylinder engine. Instead of using the Pacemaker's 232 cu in (3.8 L) straight 6, the Super Wasp used Hudson's 262 cu in (4.3 L) L-Head six fed by a 2-barrel carburetor. The 262 cu in (4.3 L) engine was rated at 127 hp (95 kW; 129 PS) (with single 2-barrel carburetor) while the top-of-the-line Hudson Commodore Custom Eight's 254 cu in (4.2 L) straight 8 was rated at 128 hp (95 kW; 130 PS). The 262 cu in (4.3 L) six's power was underrated so it would not outshine Hudson's flagship 128 hp (95 kW; 130 PS) straight 8 engine. The narrow block 262 cu in (4.3 L) engine was the basis for the stroked and reinforced Hornet 308 cu in (5.0 L) 6-cylinder engine first introduced in 1951 which dominated NASCAR racing events from 1952 to 1954. The Super Wasp was also offered with an aluminum "twin H" manifold and twin 2-barrel carburetors. Super Wasp performance with the "twin H" induction matched the performance of the big 2-barrel 308 cu in (5.0 L) equipped, but heavier, Hudson Hornet.

Wasp model year production saw 21,876 units in 1953 and 17,792 units in 1954, its final year before the Hudson merger with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation took effect.