1954 Hudson Italia #25

This beautifully preserved car came to the collection by way of the internet. The original owner John Contus bought this car while being employed at Hughes Aircraft along with two other engineers. He had to purchase a Hudson Jet and provide a deposit close to a year in advance of receiving his Italia. He lovinging preserved the car throughout his life taking car not to over polish or damage the vehicle. He passed and left the car with his nephew in Arizona who had little knowledge of the car. The nephew never drive the car and  researched the odd vehicle on the internet finding American Sports Cars website making contact with Fred. After some back and forth Fred and Chris drove to Arizona to see the car parked in the front driveway with locked brakes, stuffed full of blankets & electronic equipment, and flat tires.  One season in the hot Arizona sun and this car would look very different than it does today. Fred and Chris preserved the car enough that it could be driven into a trailer and shown. To the right is Fred at Pebble Beach showing #25 speaking with Wayne Carini from Chasing Classic Cars who is the owner of another well preserved Hudson Italia which inspired the name for his show.  This car was the last of the run started by  Hudson and then completed by American Motors after the merger.