Hudson collection sell-off

Worldwide, Shipshewana, Indiana, USA 4 August

WHAT IS BEING touted as the ‘world’s greatest collection of Hudson automobiles’ is to be sold en masse in one huge no-reserve sale conducted by Worldwide Auctioneers on 4 August. The auction of the Hostetler’s Hudson Auto Museum Collection will take place at at 760 South Van Buren St, Shipshewana, the site of the former museum.

The lots, around 60 of them, comprise the world’s most complete collection of Hudson, Essex, Terraplane, Railton and Dover cars and trucks. The sale follows the January decision by the board to close the museum permanently, the board’s vote triggered by the 2016 death of founder Eldon Hostetler. The four-strong board considered whether it should keep the museum going following some major losses, but only the founder’s son voted in favour.

Hostetler’s Hudson Auto Museum Collection grew out of Eldon ‘Ziggity’ Hostetler’s lifelong passion for the marque. Having been born into an Amish family, he became an inventor with many agricultural patents to his name. He was also the first carowner in his community after his grandfather lent him $350 to buy a 1938 Hudson. It triggered his love of the marque and ‘hauled a lot of Amish people around’.

His business success allowed him to indulge his enthusiasm for Hudsons, and eventually his 55-strong collection encompassed fully restored cars from the first Hudson, a 1909 Model 20, to the last, a 1956 Hornet. Highlights include a one-off 1928 Murphy-bodied Town Car, the 1917 Shaw Special originally built with its Duesenberg chassis, and a 1951 Hornet Convertible. There are curios, too: a 1927 Hudson fire engine, a 1929 Dover US Mailtruck and impressive 1941 Hudson Super Six and 1942 Commodore Eight Station Wagon woodies, plus a basket-case example of the latter if you are after an interesting project. And, intriguingly, there is also a meticulous recreation of the 1952 NASCAR Hudson Hornet Club Coupe.

John Kruse, principal of Worldwide Auctioneers, said: ‘This is the one of the most impressive and impactful collections you’ll ever see – there are so many one-off and scarcely seen examples. We’re honoured to have been entrusted with the sale of such a matchless collection.’ worldwide-auctioneers.com