For its final year, designer Richard Arbib covered the Wasp in his elaborate "V-Line Styling" motif. Buyers weren't won over — sales fell to just 2,519 before Hudson pulled the plug.
Lead trim: Wasp 202 cu in I6 (H-Power, 120 hp)
Hudson Wasp1955–1956
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Hudson Wasp 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.
FactFor its final year, designer Richard Arbib covered the Wasp in his elaborate "V-Line Styling" motif. Buyers weren't won over — sales fell to just 2,519 before Hudson pulled the plug.
For 1955 the Wasp became a product of the newly formed AMC, based on the unitized "senior" Nash platform (the Statesman's 114.3 in wheelbase) but with exclusive Hudson styling and no longer the step-down design; the new Hudsons were introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1955. The Wasp came as a four-door sedan or a two-door Hollywood hardtop in standard, Super Wasp and Custom versions with Hudson's 202 cu in (3.3 L) I6 from the Jet and Italia (120 hp with "H-Power" dual carburetors); it used Nash's long-travel coil springs, an integrated heating and ventilation system, optional air conditioning and reclining seats, and Hudson's dual braking system with a mechanical backup. Sales fell to 7,191 units in 1955; for 1956 Richard Arbib's "V-Line Styling" was applied, only a four-door sedan in one "Super" trim was built, and 2,519 were sold in the final year; for 1957 AMC discontinued the Wasp. Also assembled in Australia from CKD kits.
Collectors Spotted in the Hudson Wasp Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Hudson Wasp yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasp 202 cu in I6 (H-Power, 120 hp) | 1955–1956 | 3.3 L Inline-6 | 120 hp | — | — | 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
For its final year, designer Richard Arbib covered the Wasp in his elaborate "V-Line Styling" motif. Buyers weren't won over — sales fell to just 2,519 before Hudson pulled the plug.
Hudson deliberately underrated the Super Wasp's 262 at 127 hp, one below the Commodore Eight, so the cheaper six would never outrank the flagship.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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