Moebius 1954 Hudson Hornet Club Coupe- Review

The year 1954 would be the last for Detroit's venerable Hudson Motor Car Company as an independent entity, as well as the last year you could buy a "real" Hudson. That same year, the company would merge with Nash-Kelvinator, giving birth to American Motors Company. The Hudson and Nash names would soldier on until 1957, after which the old nameplates were retired in favor of Rambler. But in many people's minds, Hudson actually died in 1954, as the 1955 and later models were little more than badge-engineered Nashes.

Moebius' series of Hudson Hornets has included the initial '53 Club Coupe, racing versions of the '52, and a convertible '52. Now, Moebius has introduced a '54 variant as a stock-only kit. While the '52 and '53 models differed only in the grille, hood ornament, seats, and interior side panels (not to mention the racing parts), the '54 has a new body, hood, glass, and dash. Most of the chrome parts are also specific to this version.

Much like with the Moebius '55 Chrysler, the box art shows an old Hudson ad image- and as with the Chrysler, the full wheel covers shown aren't supplied in the kit. Instead, you get some very nicely done wire wheels in chrome. These wheels are shown in the built model on the box sides.

Here is the new body, hood, dash, and fuel door... which is separate, just as it was with the '52 and '53 coupe kits. The body has a very faint texture to it, but the first coat of primer and wet sanding will elimiate that. No need to scuff this one for the first primer coat- I'd call that an advantage. What few mold seams there are, are well-defined and easy to spot, and just as easy to take care of.

The '54 was not an all-new design- the "Step Down" unibody structure pioneered by Hudson for 1948 carried over mostly intact- the '54 was more of a "re-skin". The Moebius kit follows suit- the interior side panels, seats, and floor carry over from the previous kits, the '53 specifically.

The chassis casting also carries over unchanged.

These parts are also carried over- that 308 is a honey of a mill. Moebius also threw in the NASCAR-type dual side-outlet exhaust. Intentional or not, kudos for that! There are no holes in the body to accept the vestigial visor, but I'd imagine it would fit the '54 roof just fine, if you wanted to use it.

More carryover parts, including a '52/3 dashboard you won't be needing.

The chrome parts to the right are carryover, but the two spures to the left are all new, and include all the body parts, bumpers, and those wire spoke wheels.

1:1 '54 Hudsons used the same side glass as the previous years, with a new windshield and backlight. The Moebius kit glass is all new compared to past kits- now the backlight and quarter glass are all separate pieces, not a one-piece unit like on the '52 and '53 kits, which is a big plus! Don't forget to foil the molded trim detail on the windshield and backlight. Taillight lenses, obviously, are all new and entirely different than the earlier kits' units.

And, yes, the nameless printed wide whitewalls and metal axles made a return trip too!

Moebius' instruction sheets have always been good in terms of eye appeal, and each new relase has been improved in terms of clear schematics and accurate parts identification. But as good as the instruction sheet may be...

... Moebius decals are even better! Razor-sharp registration, and a carrier that likes to snug down onto the surface nice and tight. Just be careful positioning them- they adhere so well that if you apply one crooked, you may not be able to reposition it! You could also give them one more quick soak after they release from the backer, to wash away some of the adhesive. That seems to help sometimes if you don't want to risk it.

I haven't built this one yet, but since it shares so much with the '52 and '53 kits, I think I can confidently say the building process should be a fun one. Moebius kits go together with an almost uncanny precision- I expect this kit to be no different.

Just as Hudson themselves did, Moebius has taken something that was good to begin with and given it a newer, fresher twist. The previous Hornet kits have been a nice, slow-burning success for Moebius, and I'd assume this kit will be a pretty decent seller too. Let's just say this... the '54 Hudson Hornet refresh will probably do a lot more for Moebius than it was able to do for the Hudson Motor Car Company.

Expect more good things from this kit- not just from what modelers will do with it, but also with a few of Moebius' future plans for it. I'm pretty sure some type of NASCAR version will follow, and Moebius' owner has a family connection to a particular guy who did pretty well drag racing a '54 Hudson... oh, and did I mention Jack Clifford pretty much built his perforance empire on a '54 Hudson, too? Yep, plenty more to come...