Hudson's famous "step-down" floor wasn't just a styling trick — dropping passengers inside the perimeter frame genuinely protected them, surrounding them with the car's own chassis and lowering its center of gravity.
Median 90 hp across 121 similar cars
Lead trim: Commodore Six (262 cu in I6, 121 hp) · up to 145 hp
Hudson Commodore1948–1952
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Hudson Commodore yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactHudson's famous "step-down" floor wasn't just a styling trick — dropping passengers inside the perimeter frame genuinely protected them, surrounding them with the car's own chassis and lowering its center of gravity.
The third-generation Commodore, introduced on 7 December 1947 for the 1948 model year, was one of the first new-design post-war cars and inaugurated Hudson's trademarked "Monobuilt" step-down construction (production of the 1948 Hudsons began on 12 October 1947); it is "often hailed as one of the great post-war designs". It was available with a new 262 cu in (4.3 L) I6 rated at 121 hp or the 254 cu in (4.2 L) I8 (a design dating from 1930, the premium engine through 1952), whose output was only 7 hp higher, the I6 giving 0-40 mph in 12 seconds with Drive-Master; a Hydramatic automatic was offered for 1951–1952 and a 2-door hardtop for 1951–1952, and in 1951 Hudson introduced a new I6 engine. Total Commodore production was 62,474, of which 35,315 were I8 models; the page also covers the "Sir Vival" safety concept and Steve McQueen's 1950 Commodore Six Brougham convertible fitted with a 308 cu in Twin-H engine from a Hornet. Wheelbase 124 in, length 208 in, width 77.6 in, height 60.4 in; the curb weight range (3,595 to 3,904 lb) is not entered.
Collectors Spotted in the Hudson Commodore Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Hudson Commodore yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commodore Eight (254 cu in I8) | 1948–1952 | 4.2 L Inline-8 | 145 hp | 230 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Commodore Six (262 cu in I6, 121 hp) | 1948–1952 | 4.3 L Inline-6 | 121 hp | 195 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Hudson's famous "step-down" floor wasn't just a styling trick — dropping passengers inside the perimeter frame genuinely protected them, surrounding them with the car's own chassis and lowering its center of gravity.
Hudson loaded the postwar Commodore with things rivals charged extra for — door armrests, twin air horns, a locking glove box, sealed-beam headlights and deep-pile carpeting, all standard.
This Commodore's styling has a quiet first to its name: Betty Thatcher, credited as the first woman designer employed by a car manufacturer, helped shape its interior and exterior.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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