1954 Hudson Super Jet

This specific Super Jet is known as the 1954 ‘Dallas County Hudson Dealers’ Hudson Super Jet. The car was built in 1966 by Sloane McCauley & Fred Schenewerk out of Dallas, Texas. The seller describes the vehicle as being in the same condition it was in when it was professionally raced 50 years ago, aside from the driveline. The vehicle currently boasts an LS408 6.0 motor mated to a fully built 4L65E transmission, which come together to send roughly 620 horsepower to the wheels.

The exterior of this Super Jet is clean. Both surprising for a race car and unsurprising for a museum car at the same time. For the most part, the paint is in good condition. There are few scratches to be seen around the body, and the majority of imperfections can be seen in the gap between the hood and quarter panels. The chrome around the car is in excellent condition, totally straight with no aggressive flaws. All 4 wheels are clean and have no curb rash whatsoever, the tires have no cracks, and all appear to have plenty of tread left.

Much like any other racecar, there isn’t much to see on the interior. Everything has been stripped in order to wring out every last drop of performance available. The dashboard and door panels have been converted to simple plastic, and the carpets have been removed in order to save weight. There are seven different gauges mounted up front, and all of them are clean and easily readable. Sound deadening material spans the entire floor of the car, and that’s probably for the best. Two black leather bucket seats featuring red stitching are now the only seating options, and both seats appear to be in great condition. This trend continues when examining the red 5-point harnesses in each seat as well. The A/C still works, and a modern radio/media system has been fitted to add a touch of modern convenience to the car. The steering wheel has been painted metallic blue to match the exterior of the car, and while the wheel does show some age, there is no noticeable damage.

We are pleased to report that the underside of this Hudson Super Jet is not hiding any major damage. The floorboards are all in good condition underneath and the suspension components are tidy. The exhaust does have some surface corrosion on it, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary. The paint around the edges of the engine bay might be chipped, but the bay itself has been excellently kept. The LS motor looks right at home in the bay, and there are no signs of major corrosion anywhere.

This car comes to us from the wonderful collection at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing located in Ocala, Florida. The car features a 1954 318 cu in. Hudson flathead-six featuring two Fish carburetors, an Isky cam, and Clifford head, all mated to a B&M hydro-stick transmission. The highest recorded top speed for the car was 104.4mph, and the best time it clocked was a 0:13.05. Driven primarily by Sloane, the car saw wins in both Tennessee and Texas, and was an AHRA Record Holder from 1967 to 1975. The seller tells us he has “copious amounts of media and documentation” for the vehicle.

The Hudson Jet is a classic American compact that fell into obscurity due to a short production run. The design of the Jet is far more exciting and interesting than that of the Nash Rambler it competed against, and ultimately submitted to. Furthermore, this Super Jet is a local hero down in Texas. It was a true drag car and has the pedigree to back that up. This is a fantastic opportunity to own a significant piece of American drag racing history.

The Market by Bonhams is excited to offer this Hudson Super Jet for online auction with an estimate of $30,000-$40,000.