1953 Hudson Hornet - Jay Leno's Garage
It's no wonder that this celebrated marque of NASCAR fame, with it's innovative "step-down" design, is one of Jay's favorite classics.
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Hosted by legendary comedian and “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, the series explores our obsession with all things automotive. From classic cars to supercars and everything in-between, Jay is hitting the road to discover the most exciting, weird and wonderful vehicles ever made and meet the passionate people behind their wheels. Each one-hour themed episode features a mix of stunts, challenges, reviews, and celebrity interviews that showcases the colorful history of the automobile. Whether he’s exploring the story of an iconic brand, road-testing the newest super car, or investigating the latest automotive innovations, there is no wheel Jay won’t get behind to tell the story of our love affair with the car.
About Jay Leno: Acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, lovable TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist…it’s no wonder that Jay Leno is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.”
1953 Hudson Hornet - Jay Leno's Garage
• 1953 Hudson Hornet - J...
Jay Leno's Garage
/ jaylenosgarage
I love that jay explicitly prohibits ads on his videos.
I wouldn't notice, since I apply every adblock tech that is available to mankind but I still applaud mr Leno for this.
@@Blackadder75 Same here
Well said
In a day of adds upon adds being added (literally), this is remarkably refreshing
I would like to see him put in some old 50s adverts for fun with cool jingles!
"Hey Doc, come look at this fellow on the radio, he looks just like you!"
turn right to go left
Rest in peace Paul Newman.... he even made the character Doc Hudson awesome.
I love the old Hudsons. My dad raced them back in the day on the East coast. 1978: I met Steve McQueen by accident one afternoon at Neptune's Net on PCH above Malibu. He was driving his Maroon 1952 Hudson Hornet, Twin-H, convertible. He had stopped to get a beer and the car wouldn't start. I didn't recognize him at first with his hat, shades and beard. I offered to help him get it running and recognized him in the middle of a sentence, but didn't react. I was driving my 1978 Porsche 924, also Maroon.
you have to appreciate these episodes after rewatching. very personal touch, really full of pure love to the cars. one of positives of pandemic times. this is pure gold
Yea the whole quarantine thing really brought this show up a level.
I honestly prefer "pandemic edition". Just Jay talking about cars.
Couldn’t agree more. I could listen to this for hours.
Having the camera crew back would help, but I love the format far more this way... I've always skipped the episodes with guests, they just don't have the same character as those covering something from his own collection.
Exactly! No dopey fading to into focus and panning up from the garage floor!
Totally agree. I greatly prefer this.
Really??? I guess it does have it's own flair and flavor?
we do not care if they're pandemic edition or not, the simple fact that you still upload makes us all happy.
Facts!
Agreed.
Agreed even more :)
100% agree with you. Gotta love Jay Leno. He keeps us all smiling.
It's true Mr Leno, these are great, we appreciate your knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm, and honest enthusiasm, thank you Jay!!!
I love the lack of script and just talking from the heart and mind. These videos are just great.
I can legit listen to Jay Leno talk about cars for hours non stop. His knowledge and perspective is beyond fascinating to me.
I like when it's just Jay and his cars. No crew, no gimmicks, no celebrity guests, just Jay being a car enthusiast and telling his stories.
Completely agree. Could listen to this type JLG episode forever.
The guests ruin the show. I dont even watch those episodes realy
They are both great but these feel more personable/1-1
From flat head 🪒🤕 to over Head valve's were Our future 🦅🇺🇲🦅‼️
Agreed, Jay's show is W-A-Y better when it's just Jay & the cars. No celebrity egos, no rolling cars over, no gimmicks. I stopped watching Jay's Garage a couple years ago because of that. Here it's just beautiful cars & Jay discussing the history of them.
Fun story: The last time I answered one of those "extended warranty" calls, I told the operator I drove a 1953 Hudson Hornet (the first car that came to mind). They hung up....😥
I say I have a Bugatti LOL “click”
I'm fortunate enough to have an everyday driver that's old enough (1997) to screw with these guys.
I told them i had an 2017 suburban and they still hung up...
I thought I was the only one getting those motor vehicle warranties. I get the same call once a week from a different number every time.
@@buixrule I started calling them back and opting out. I'd record the number they called, called from date and the fact I opted out. If they call again file a FTC complaint. So far so good. No more calls.
All I know, Jay, is that we appreciate your love of cars, and that you're able to collect them and let us see them. You're a car guy among car guys.
As a kid growing up in the 50’s and 60’s those Hudson Hornets and Henry J’s were everywhere in western PA. So were the Packards and Studebakers. My dad bought a brand new 1953 yellow Studebaker Commander. 2 door stick shift no radio or heater. 4 kids plus mom packed in the Stoody on Sunday morning going to church on a very cold PA Sunday morning. Dad scraping the icy windshield with his hanky and us kids cuddled in blankets in the back seat! God!!! I miss those days. Dad, God rest his sole he was a super dad. He survived Bastogne with the 101st. No heater, no problem. Died at 94, peacefully in his sleep.
That story about the asshat at the impound really grinds my gears. You see this guy coming in regularly, desperately hoping you guys recovered his car and you repeatedly lie to him so you could try and buy it later. What a damn Grinch! Hope that guy got what he had coming to him eventually.
Ditto
People like that usually do!!!
He ended up with an Edsel!
Actually had a similar experience a few years ago, thankfully it was a more modern era and I was able to locate my car. I had an older muscle car, back around 99-00... it was a bit of a beater. One day it disappeared. Took a couple of days before it was reported towed. They lied about where it was parked and claimed it was on private property when it was not. When I found the impound lot, there was a car of the same model sitting in their shop with a t-boned front clip. It was obvious they wanted the front clip from my car (which was the best part of mine) to repair their wrecked one. My car was located out of sight around back, just like in Jay's story. They charged me an insane storage fee, for what the car was worth. I'm pretty sure they expected me to not pay it, and they were going to be able to just swap out the parts they wanted before auctioning the car. They seemed very disappointed when I picked up the car.
@@AlvinBrinson To bad you didn't have a lawyer friend to figure out a way to go after those guys, it would cost too much if you had to pay regular lawyer fee's.
I love the "casual" Jay Leno. I mean, Jay's always pretty casual, but this video of him reminiscing about his previous cars and this Hornet is just perfect.
I've always had a soft spot for Hudson. I think I was in 1st grade and one fine spring day after school as I started to walk home when I heard a car horn, I looked over and my uncle, still in high school was behind the wheel of his first car, a Hornet, my grandmother in the front seat, come on hop in I'll drive you home. as I climbed in the back seat I looked around and thought I was in a movie theatre, chrome and ropes on the back of the plush seats, my grammy had a smile on her face, she lightly brushed her hand across the dash, looked at me and said, "boy this is living", so funny.
American cars from the 1950s are the most beautiful, good thing nr.jay Leno collect them because he brings them back to life.
My dad would always get real excited when he’d see a Hornet running around back in the sixties. I swear if he’d had a tail it shake his whole body. His heavy St.Louis accent would always kick in “Oh my Lard!! It’s a Hudson HARnet !!” 😆
I sure the HARnet was seen on highway Farty Far....
@@beouxbe Maybe even old Highway Farty. 😜
My dad did the same with old Triumph TR-3's and 4's. Dad's rock...
The Sklar brothers do a funny bit about the St. Louis accent.
@@clark9992 Found them didn’t find anything on accent funny though. They are correct on Emos 🤣
Best line: “When you’re stopped at a light, you don’t look like some deposed dictator’s idiot son in a Lamborghini.”
Yeah Matt Farrah Fawcett
He loves that line.
@@Clay3613 yeah, thats because jay knows how it feels, i think. I bet Jay have had some bad rap from people thinkin hes just some idiot rich kid showing off in his super/hyper cars on stop lights... oh how wrong have they been... ;)
Of course that is exactly what a smart deposed dictator's son WOULD look like. I remember an old pathologist I worked for who drove well-worn non-fancy cars, like bottom of the line Oldsmobiles with the hub caps missing, and once he told me why. When he was a young doctor he was stopped at a traffic light next to a guy driving a Cadillac; a fellow got out of another car, pulled out a 45, shot the Cadillac driver dead, and drove away. Made an impression on him.
I've been watching this episode 3 times now.I love it. This car has such a gentle touch. The design is just superb. Jay has the most impressive personality, I can't think of someone else presenting such a beautiful car. Thank you
Jay, the Hudson hardtop models were called the “Hollywood”. And Vince Piggins was in charge of Hudson’s racing program. Vince, with input from guys like Smokey Yunick, developed the famous 7X engine. Then Vince went on to join Chevy’s performance engineering team to develop cars like…the Z/28.
Anyone else actually really enjoying the pandemic edition where jay just reviews his own cars in his own chilled way?
Yeah I like it
yes, this is better.
Absolutely look forward to seeing them, his passion for the simple old cars is great.
I do!!!
When Jay shut the driver's door, it sounded like a bank vault closing.
I caught that too.
When they close bank vault doors they sound like Hudson Hornets.
Redline reviews approves.
And that's why you call em "bulletproof", LOL!
Yeah, it really did, didn't it
Goodness, it's so good to see these old extinct cars. That is one green beauty. Please keep posting them.
I absolutely love Jay's passion and superior knowledge about these machines. He's just so comfortable talking through all of the ins-and-outs of all of his cars that really just makes you feel like you could spend all day hanging out with him. Love these videos.
Jay Leno is a national treasure. How lucky are we to have Jay as one of us, a car guy?
He doesn't visit the car world he lives in the car world. Hes really one of us, it shocks me everytime I watch
might as well..........he's no comic.
@@martitinkovich4489 But you are,,,,,,,,,Lol
The fix a flat impression gets me every time. It’s a classic Jay joke at this point.
And right at the moment where he usually says: 'You can house a family in here', he called it a typical family-car.
In 1953, Hudson made the Hornet, Chevrolet debuted the Corvette, and my parents made me. It was indeed a year to be remembered.
This episode is like Jay is your dad, tell you what a fine car this was back in the day. Jay is so relaxed and it's almost like he could feel that era again.
Jay is still the most “real” rich guy around. These extended drive videos on “regular” cars are really fun.
There's a lot of "real" rich guys, they just don't have KZhead channels to promote the fact.
I totally agree, and also agree there are probably more that just keep to themselves. Too bad the mouthy ones give the genre a bad name.
Jay is a good steward over his old cars too. They are in good hands.
Def not mad at the pandemic editions, I might prefer this format honestly
I prefer the pandemic Editions It just feels like uncle Jay is talking about one of his cars
yeah i hate these guest who comes and give us a monologue about the car and makes it boring
This format works better than the ones with guests. I'm fine having that sometimes, but not in all videos. Also, Jay's mechanic overalls suits so well with these videos.
@@celicaas95 some of them are good. Like the guy with the Lincoln Continental convertible. But, yes, most don’t know anything about what they have. Especially the d-list celebrities.
I absolutely prefer them. Way better than the over-produced stuff.
70 year old car, looking good, would love to go for a ride in one of these someday!
I love the green color of the car.
I love the "pandemic editions." Keep 'em coming! I love Hudson Hornets.
Same!
Despite the name "pandemic" associated with them, these videos are very charming!
Jay, you are the best thing that ever happened to old cars. Thank you so much!
Ditto.
+++ 100% agree.
There is something organic, fresh and fascinating about the pandemic version other show. The "at home" feel that we are getting from Leno is nostalgic and unlike any other show. The cherry on top is that he now has time to tell his personal stories about the car or history which is captivating. I'm glued to my seat.
I remember a junkyard in Sun Valley, Memory Lane. In ‘99 I was fixing up my ‘58 F-100 and I’d drive from near LAX to Sun Valley to find parts. That junkyard was literally a graveyard for old cars, and was kept in a state of arrested decay. You’d walk down the aisles and see Ford Flatheads just sitting on the ground, baking in the sun. There’d be a ‘53 Cadillac resting on blocks, nearly 80% complete, and you’d just sit in it and imagine having the money and restoring it to its stock assembly line condition. Just aisles and aisles of bombs from the 50s and up to Mopar and GM muscle cars, JUST SITTING THERE! I was 20 years old at the time, and it was an orgasmic experience for me and my buddies. If only we’d have the money then, the cars we could’ve restored. Anyhow, I remember in their parking lot, one day, they had a Hudson for sale $1,500, a Cadillac Fastback, $2,500. If only I’d had $4,000 then. It was sad to see those cars waste away. I know they’re just things, but damn, they’re freaking works of art.
The sounds are amazing - the clutch pedal dropping, the three on the tree clicking, transmission whine, the 6 pulling hard, and your stories.... Music to our ears Jay! 👌🏼👍🏾🏁
It is a real mans car for real American men. The sort of men that drove that car were the type that beat National Socialism in Europe and were opposed to Socialism.
ABSOLUTELY... YOU NAILED IT..
if i remember correctly the hornet had a cork clutch bathed in oil.
The sound of the clutch pedal dropping instantly brings back memories of my parent’s 1950 Plymouth.
@@bighands69 yes, that’s right 🇺🇸😎
"Some deposed dictator's idiot son." LMAO!!!
_Some deposed dictator's idiot son."_ Sadly, there's plenty of those to go around. (I was even thinking Hunter might qualify)
@@josephgaviota Funny, I was thinking Trump Jr, particularly in view of the complete lack of integrity of Trump Sr.
@@mikevale3620 Exactly, I remember that time when Don Jr. left his laptop with a repair shop, and that time Don Jr. worked for Burisma with no knowledge of gas, no knowledge of Ukraine, that time he got thrown out of the service for being a crack head, that time he was banging his brother's wife, that time he got the hooker pregnant and refused to pay child support, yes _that_ pinnacle of leadership, yeah, I remember ...
@@josephgaviota NICE TRY JOEY. AT LEAST HE DIDN'T WANT TO BANG HIS DAUGHTER.
@@mikevale3620 even on innocent jay leno's videos TDS patients pop up, disappointment.
I could watch these videos all day everyday
Jay, thanks for the virtual ride in your 1953 Hudson Hornet! Yours is very similar to the car I first rode in (the day after I was born). I don't remember that car but my dad's next Hornet is burned into my memory. It was a 55 Nash body Hudson Hornet. It looked different on the outside, but the Twin H Power flat head engine with twin 1 bbl carbs was the same. It had a similar chromey dashboard with the twist knob on the headliner to "retract" the antennae. It carried my parents and 5 siblings until the sixth came along - then it was time for a station wagon! My dad used to brag he would outrun troopers until he ran across one who also had a Hudson.
"Deposed dictators idiot son driving around annoying people." I busted up laughing over that line. All I could think of is the crass middle eastern elite kids driving their Lambos in London. Because a big congested city is where you want to drive a lambo.
I thought about all the super car You Tubers we watch today. They always straight pipe the car for some reason. I am so over hearing car that are loud for no reason.
If you’re an asshat and want people to NOTICE that you have a Lambo (which is the only reason you have it), of COURSE you’re going to drive it in a big city. Who’s going to see it if you drive it out in the boonies? Some raccoons?
"Dear son, we just wired you 150.000 to buy a car and go to your college." "Dear +arents, there's no need for a car, we all go by bus" "Dear son, in that case we wired another 500.000 to buy your own bus. Please stop embarrassing our family."
The only exotica people I respect are the (very few) usually very intelligent, people who own a Vector.
Yes I was in London two times and that’s what you would see all hours of the day rich young men speeding around
I really love when Jay videos these types of cars. Much more interesting than a super car or some 600 HP muscle car.
that was the muscle car of its day
yeah, love these old cars. Too cool
Yesso
Jay is terrific. His love of cars is evident because if I'm not mistaken as a young man he worked as a mechanic during the day and in the evening he would work comedy clubs. Hard working guy and it paid off. Good for him
We had a teacher at Carlisle Military School that drove a Green Hornet. He loved that car so much that he parked it next to the classroom so he could keep an eye on it. He loved to talk about his Hudson Hornet. How cool for Jay Lenno to have one!
I have almost exactly the same car!!!! I have 53 Hornet Club Coupe, Green too!!!!
That is a gorgeous car. I wish modern cars were so elegantly designed. I feel like I missed out...
It is extremely luxurious as well.
I agree very beautiful
The designations "Touring" and "Grand Touring" were not yet in vogue in the 1950's, but the '53 Hornet deserved such a a title. And it really does look great 70 years later!
It’s the being at home pandemic lockdown that has allowed me the time to find & watch all these on KZhead ... so glad you’re still doing these shows!
Great looking Hornet. That shade of green with all that chrome 👍
Always enjoy how when people wave at him he waves or honks back. Doesn’t act all snobbish. Stay humble and friendly. Love ya Jay and your vids. 🥰
@Barbara Guest he has it easy barbara
I could listen to Jay all day long talking about cars. He's like the Mr. Rogers of Cardom
As a future engineer in motorsports who grew up as a little kid with the movie cars, this was really cool. Not just the history and all the cool technical aspects that make the car special, but it's one of the cars from the movie that sparked the interest in me that has grown into a future career
My DAD bragged about this car his whole life. The Hornets were boss.
The ‘bee’s knees.’?
So did my Dad.
"Doc has 3 Piston cups!!" He did *what* in his cup?!
I'm a Mopar guy, but when I saw the movie 'Cars' (great movie, I'm due for a rewatch), I totally fell in love with the fabulous Hudson Hornet! A car that kept up with the engineering masters at Chrysler that helped in big ways to win WW2, that's no small potatoes and was equally stylish to a New Yorker or 300. Hudson really had their act together in building these fine cars
doc is a 51 not a 53
all I see is a bunch of empty cups.... -Doc Hudson
@@rumanakhan8388 same difference
What a beautiful smooth driving car for something nearly 70 years old!
RIP Hudson car company, it's similar the the Packard and Studebaker car companies, once great car companies and now they are gone. ~ Beautiful Hudson Jay! Thank you.
I love the way he puts his own cars in the giant advertising reproductions.
When you bring out the ones from the '50;s you just about bring tears to my eyes. My childhood. Summer days, windows down, wind beating into the roomy couch-sized back seat, Dad's driving and Mom's yammering on, road sounds, road smells, every car on the road seemingly looking different, each having a distinct makers mark. Now nothing but vanilla custard, all the same, boring. Thanks, Jay, that Hornet tailpipe is pure art.
ok boomer
@@davechampion4987 I believe I understand your comment correctly, so I ask, "Why do you seemingly believe that your dismissive, snarky sarcasm is going to fill that emptiness in your soul?" I make no apologies for having been a child of the 1950's. You would have had to have been there to understand and you obviously understand little beyond rudeness.
@@k.a.davison9897 These cars a relic of a bygone era, kind of like you boomer. Hope it was worth all the selfish me me me to leave us with this dystopia
@@davechampion4987 Dave: I believe I understand what you are but for someone who dismisses "These cars a(s) a relic of a bygone era," why would you have any interest in learning about a Hudson Hornet? No matter, we will never communicate again. Before closing I do wish you good luck with this ignorant, misguided, meanspirited and bigoted lifestyle you have created for yourself. Generally folks visit such sites as this for the fun and camaraderie of a mutual interest, and Jay always delivers, whereas you seem to troll looking for the opportunity to be simply insulting. Please don't bother to respond, I won't be reading it, ever. Goodbye.
@@davechampion4987 You would do well to remember that without a couple of "boomers", your smug A** wouldn't be here to make ridiculous comments on KZhead. And Dave, before you lash out at me as a "boomer" I will tell you that I am firmly planted as a Gen Xer, something I'm not certain is exactly a badge of honor these days. I have often felt like I was born in the wrong generation because of the simplicity of life that other generations before us enjoyed. For the most part, life in my generation has always been quite complicated. They may not have known it at the time, but the "boomers" had a quality of life during those times that they have seen diminished since that "bygone era", as you say. Not that it matters so much what I think, but I read your embarrassing comment and felt that you owe an apology to @K. A. Davison. I read their comment and had a thought that I would enjoy hearing some stories from their youth, since I wasn't there to experience those times and these vehicles myself. You can always learn from those with more age and life experience than you have. Please do all of us, including yourself, a favor by remembering that.
I spent several years in Boston attending a School located on the banks of the Charles River. And I became a Fan of the Tonight Show -- Johnny Carson was truly a Giant. Back in Europe, often times l watch tapes of that Magic Show. And you carried on admirably well the tough llegacy.. Watching the vídeo about this particular Chrysler was really moving -- you were able to bring back memories and emotions related to my time in Boston, to the Tonight Show and to its two main Talk Show Hosts -- Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. If Johnny was Indeed a God, Jay Leno was his Pope . Thank you for this Vídeo and for your fabulous Tonight Show Performances. Warm regards, Albert.
Thanks Jay! My dad had a 1953 Hudson, I was 5 years old. He told me the Hudson held the land speed record for its class. Great memories.
My grandfather collected many Hudsons and he and my father taught me so much valuable history and knowledge. Grandpa passed just one year ago, we still have Terraplanes, Railtons, a Studebaker GT Hawk, and a very nice blue Hudson hornet coupe + few others. I am 25 and I hope there are others my age who share a passion for classic beautiful pieces of history.
I don't know why but I like it when he says pandemic Edition
I know, here in the UK, I look forward too these pandemic editions, it's great therapy, it's like Jay is just chatting with you
It's just him, and you
"Impound yahd" before he corrected himself. In Boston, that's what they are called.
@RBCharger Yah,it's very Hahd ta looz that Bostin accent. We all sound like that....
I pahked cahz at a bah in Boston when I was a teenagah
Well, that really shows that Jay's originally from Massachusetts Even though I'd lived the majority of my life in Alabama, I still slip into a Bostonian accent every so often
My Dad had a ‘53 Hornet. I drove it at 100 mph with him beside me on the ‘Gun Barrel’ in near Alamosa, Colorado.
I have special place in my heart for Hudson, Packard, and Desoto! Just absolutely love the underdogs!
My dad owned one and said they really were a lot faster than you'd think. 308 ci is big for a 6 cyl even today. This version had 170 hp which isn't much by today's standards but for the time, it was astounding.... and from a 6, not an 8. The first Chrysler hemis were only 180 hp. Gorgeous car, Jay! Thanks for bringing it to us.
A distant relative told me that, back in the day, he was driving a Dodge with a V8 and got into a race on an empty road with a Hudson Hornet. Said that the Hudson left him behind. He could not believe it.
Agreed. 308 cubic inch is 5 liters which is enormous for a 6 cylinder. I wish Jay had given it's torque figures. What many don't realize is that with massive torque you don't need so much Hp or high RPM's.
Ford made a few million 300 cubic inch sixes for pickups. 7 main bearings, great engine.
It’s really torque that matters, not HP, and old flatheads are like aero engines, or diesels, low RPM and high torque…
Might not be huge hp but the torque !
ive always wanted a factory perfect car from the 50's, 60's, and 70's to see what they were like brand new
Nothing comes close. I've been in several and a good 50s car is unbelievably wonderful. See if someone will give you a ride in an old bel air or a 60s vette. You'll re think what you're driving.
There's a very big difference between a used 50's car and a maintained 50's car. And then there's an even bigger difference between a maintained 50's car and a factory perfect 50's car. They really drive well. They are comfortable, easy to drive and quiet. The only thing you have to get used to is the size and the fact that a lot of 50's cars don't have power steering and power brakes. But indeed what Mark says, you really have to experience them. It's such an experience to be in one let alone drive one
You have to find a seriously restored one that runs perfectly and has new door gaskets, refurbished seat padding, new suspension and steering gear parts etc. Old door gaskets leak sound as well as water. Worn front suspension and steering gear parts make the ride and steering precision (at best neither up to modern standards) a lot worse.
The fact also that you kept paying the workers during Covid lockdown makes ME happy! Mr. Jay Leno, you're a prince of a man.
Green & Dark blue my fav colors. I can feel how it was back in the day!
Love it when Jay says ‘Yes Siree Bob’.. don’t hear that in too many videos 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
'The last days of old technology are better than the first days of new technology..." Welcome to the beginning of the 21st Century.
I hate to tell you, Mr. Leno, but, I enjoy these versions better than the originals. It's nice that you take your time and explain it all and don't seem in a hurry!
I freaking love Jay Leno
When I was growing up there was a restaurant in my hometown called "Hudson's", it was a 1950s-themed restaurant with automotive memorabilia all over the place. There was a 4-door Hudson Hornet on a balcony above the main entrance and it had its own giant window facing out to the street so you could see it as you drove by. When the movie "Cars" came out in 2006 (I would have been 9-years old at the time) I instantly recognized Doc as a Hudson Hornet. So at least I can say that I liked Hudson Hornets before they were made cool again by the movie! I really miss that place. They would bring your kids meals out in cardboard cars which I used to collect as a kid. I've always wondered what became of the Hornet in the window when they closed.
Jay is such a nice man, and I think that most people like him so much because he comes across as such a people person and friendly.
A company man to the bitter end
@@Celedan yup.
I'm 83 and well remember the Hudson. I grew up in a small Manitoba city of 37,000 in the 50s. We had a raft of dealerships for many makes including Hudson, Kaiser Frazer, Studebaker plus British like Austin and Morris. I love the fact you kept the Hornet coupe virtually original. In the mid 70s I had an AMC station wagon. It was a beautiful ride and the unibody was so superior to those of the big three and their rust buckets made of recycled steel. Love your videos.
I love your intimate knowledge and true passion for your cars. The pandemic version is much more personal. It's like one on one tour. Awesome.
Love that shifter knob! Green, with ivory star on the end. Beautiful touch.
i thought i was the only one who noticed that beautiful shift knob .good call elmo.
Side valve engine, smoothness and torque. Yup, feel that every time I mow the lawn.
That's my dream car the hornet is beautiful
Even though I just started watching these pandemic videos, I love them. It's like watching one guy coming across another guy with a really nice old car. One guy is really appreciating what he's seeing while the guy with the car is more than happy to give him the 50 cent tour even though he has already done it 3 times that day. I'm looking forward to watching more of them. Nice job.
I like the way a cop doing his job in telling Jay they had found his car was a good guy due to the context of the bad cop who was essentially trying to steal Jay's car off him. Or they could both do their jobs and tell him they have found his car.
Makes you wonder just how much they did that. I wonder if that particular bad cop ever got a car that way. I wonder if he's still alive. I wonder where he lives...
@@weaponofmassconstruction1940 The spin off series is going to be brilliant
The good cop stood up to the bad cop. That is amazing
@@TheChadPad Yeah... That doesn't happen too often anymore. Damn blue curtain.
Corruption among law enforcement in the Boston area in the 1960's was commonplace. Even the FBI Boston field agents in regard to Whitey Bulger for example.
"The big steering wheel". We're the same age, Jay, and I still remember the big steering wheel in my parent's '51 Buick and the sound that dad's wedding ring made when it 'skipped' against the 'finger grooves' as the wheel returned to it's neutral position after taking a corner. A nice memory.
man what an iconic vehicle thanks for showing it to us
It would be amazing if we could see photos of the car as when you got it Jay! Idk if you and your crew did take photos- but the end result is amazing on all your cars! I think it would help us see what it looked like when you got it! Thanks so much for being a humble car guy, Jay. That isn't lost on normal people who are into cars.
I'm sure they have hundreds of pics. Before you tear a car down, you take pics of everything. So everything goes back exactly. It's hard to remember every detail. Every vacuum line, wiring routes. There's a lot to a frame off.
The pandemic editions are how I might imagine a conversation with Jay if he were a neighbor detailing his car in the driveway.
There’s a 53 Hornet for sale where I live. It’s two tone. I can afford it and am considering it.
Go for it!
@@willgeary6086 Ditto
Quit stalling,get it.You only live one time,no do over.
That would be so cool
Had an opportunity to buy a 52 Hudson wasp 3 or 4 years ago, I'm still upset about it. Don't make the same mistake.
That car is a work of art. Absolutely beautiful
Mr. Leno, Thank you for all of the wonderful automotive shows that you create. I do and have enjoyed them greatly for a number of years now. During this episode you were making mention of the Hudson that you owned as a young college student and aspiring comedian. You made one comment about your earliest days of your career. I was really hoping that you would expound upon this topic. It didn't happen this time. Perhaps you have already obliged us fans during a different episode that I am unaware of? I know and greatly appreciate that you're a man of humility but I sure would enjoy hearing you speak about the early years or for that matter any years of your fascinating career. I thank you again, one of your many loyal and grateful fans. R. Zumwalt
4:14 Starts talking about Boston, acidentally says "impound yahd" instead of "impound yard"
Jay's one of the best, he's a simple boy from Massachusetts just like Johnny from Nebraska, and Dave from Indiana? This is why late night used to be great, they were simple folks who made it and they never forgot where they came from no matter how much cash they had in their trowser pockets? This is what we lack today in society, or I should say, one of the the things we lack today.
Sorry, one of the many things we lack today, Jack and Google communism don't mix folks.
He also said "arso", instead of also, but who cares. ;)
As a 7 year old kid in Australia, I saw a picture or an advertisement of a Hudson Hornet in a car mag known as Modern Motor. I dreamed of that car for years. Ultimately some came to Australia to complete my vision.
Hudsons are part of my family history so I always love seeing them at car shows or seeing videos like this about them. My grandfather was a diesetter at Hudson from the mid '30s to the very end of production in Detroit in the '50s. So there's a bit of my grandpa's work in every Hudson body. My father's very first job was inventorying body parts at Hudson in 1941. This Hudson really beautiful example of the make.
Jay my dad owned a Hudson Dealership in Weymouth Mass. I was a clean up guy around 1949-1953. The memories are wonderful.
“Impound yah’d, excuse me, YARD” No Jay, you were right the first time! 😂😂😂
Jay's New England roots just slipped out!
Crooked cop! Big surprise.
I recognize every boston area address he mentions. A great connection from a guy with tremendous authenticity
For a non-native english speaker, what's the joke? Is it the accent?
@@dima.jiharev He pronounced "yard" without the "r" sound. That's a typical Boston or New England accent.
That Hudson style always reminded me of the 1949-1950 Mercury.
Very much the same...
Growing up my mother, father, and brother had Hornet's. Love the look and performance . Great feature Jay!
Hudsons are way nicer than similar vintage Mercurys. The lines are much cleaner and flow better.
@@robertwaid6988 Agree.
Hudson actually beat them out to that shape by a year.
I really like it when you do a more serious "non- comedy " Review. Thank you Mr. Leno.
My teenage friend's dad had a new one of these. I remember how fun it was to ride in.
One of my favorite cars ever made. It's what the 50s are all about. Engineering horizons were limitless. The future was bright. ...it was good while it lasted
When I was in High School, in the fifties in Australia, this was the car of my dreams .I saved enough money to buy a Dinky toy model which was cream with red roof. Now in my 80's I still wish I had that toy. lol.
Canada here, I had that Dinky Toy when I was a kid around 1956. I know what you mean.
Man I could listen to his voice all day
I've never watched such a long dissertation on a single model vehicle. With all the make and model interests that Jay has, I now know that Hudson is close to his heart. After all that, I missed the model, but I have heard of the Hudson, Hornet. I sense a renewed interest in the great American marques. From a Lotus 26R to this is quite a range of interest. - By the way, Jay, I raced you once in the Santa Monica mountains. I was on my red BMW R100GS and you are in a freshly painted, British racing green, Aston Martin Grand Prix car from the early twenties I believe. Have you ever made a video of that car? We happened to meet again, not long after at the rock store in the middle of the week. I remember you raised the hood, and spent at least an hour explaining all of the technical features of this Grand Prix racing car to a fairly large audience. Your Ducati helmet bag was in the passenger seat. I was impressed and educated on high-end 1920's racing technology. How cool? Super cool! G.