In the early 1950s, the most feared engine in American stock car racing was not a V8.
It was a flathead inline-six.
The Hudson 308 Twin H-Power looked outdated on paper, but on dirt tracks across America, it became a nightmare for Detroit’s newest overhead-valve V8s. With massive low-end torque, dual Carter carburetors, and the low-slung Hudson Step-Down chassis beneath it, the Fabulous Hudson Hornet dominated NASCAR in a way few cars ever have.
In 1952 alone, Hudson won 27 out of 34 Grand National races.
But the same engine that ruled the track was fighting a different battle in the showroom. American buyers were falling in love with the sound, image, and promise of the modern V8. Hudson had racing glory, but not the money to redesign its future.
Then came the 1954 merger with Nash, the birth of AMC, the shutdown of Hudson’s Detroit factory, and the slow disappearance of the legendary 308.
This is the story of the Hudson Twin H-Power 308 — the flathead six that humiliated the V8s, made NASCAR history, and proved that even a winning engine can be left behind when the world decides it wants a different kind of power.
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If Hudson had adapted supercharging the could have remained competitive against the V-8 onslaught, but sadly, they were nearly broke.
NICE
Older american style cars are so nice, i hope they create similar looking cars for later models just to feel like the style isn't on a decline lol
in my mind the 308 I6 wold have made a great pick up engine….
Bl Bl. How many mains 5 or 7 crazy bour. & Stroke
GM still use the 308 v8 engine in there automoblies .The Chevy 350 what a bulletproof engine like the Buick 231 aka the 3.8 v6 rock solid .
AI garbage! I'm outa' here!
If they had simply tooled up an OHV HEAD to fit on the existing block, as STUDEBAKER did with the Lark in 1961, they couldve stayed competitive with V8s.
Smokey Yunik worked with the Hudson NASCAR team
3:27 I sure wonder how the 308 cubic inch inline 6 would have performed with fuel injection. I can only imagine.
In 1948 I was six years old and living in Detroit with my parents my dad my uncle's all worked in the auto build business. I always remembered the Hudson hornet it was a fast car
Gm, ford & chrysler obviously ruined the auto industry for the American consumer/ driver, by eliminating several smaller competitors that displayed & developed several I innovations that were groundbreaking, but what the big 3 could not litigate out of business any competitors were removed by corporate espionage, look it up ! We as the American public could have had safer and more reliable autos if it had been for the big 3's jealousy & greed
I sure wonder how the 308 cubic inch inline 6 would have performed with fuel injection. I can only imagine.
Hudson finally had it's own V8 in 1957 327 cubic inch V8 with 4 barrel carburetor rated at 255:Horse Power and about 345 lb.ft. torque.
This engine should have been kept and made standard equipment on the AMC Cars.
Thisisareally good deep digging into the mechanical inside this Engine thank you.