Makes › Hudson › Italia (Touring) · Coachbuilt · 1953–1954 Ultra Rare
Hudson
Italia (Touring)
Hudson Jet-based four-seat coupe bodied by Carrozzeria Touring in Milan
Photo: D. Miller · CC BY 2.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 26 Built
- Years
- 1953–1954
- Engine
- Inline six, L-head · 3,302 cc / 3.3 LFactory: 201.5 cu in · converted
- Power
- 85 kW / 116 PSFactory: 114 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 154.3 km/hFactory: 95.88 mph · converted
- Designer
- Frank Spring (Hudson) with Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni (Carrozzeria Touring)
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- 21 (independently researched)
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Italia was Hudson's only sports coupe, a dream-car project built in small numbers by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan on shortened Hudson Jet components. It was conceived by Hudson stylist Frank Spring as an experimental sports car and tested the public reaction to radical styling ideas. It was not a commercial success: it cost more than a Nash-Healey or a Corvette, and the 1954 merger into American Motors ended the programme.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model production21 of the 26 built known to survive, plus the four-door X-161 prototype (Mac's Motor City Garage); RM Sotheby's also says 21 believed to survive | 212,3 | Surviving examples | Independently researched |
| Total model productionHudson Italias built | 261 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
Frank Spring worked with Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni of Touring on an all-aluminium prototype built on the Jet chassis. Hudson then sent complete Jet cars to Milan, where the bodies were cut off and replaced with Touring Superleggera bodies of aluminium panels over a tube steel frame. Hudson ordered the 25 cars needed for homologation on 23 September 1953.
Between May 1953 and mid-1954, 26 Italias were built: one prototype and 25 production cars. A price of $4,800 was quoted. After the Nash merger, American Motors showed no interest in continuing, Touring declined to supply spare parts, and dealers reportedly had difficulty buying cars. A four-door Touring-bodied prototype, the X-161, was also built.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Italia (Touring).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Inline six, L-head4 Independently researched |
| Cylinders | 64 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 3,302 cc / 3.3 LFactory: 201.5 cu in · converted4 Independently researchedRM Sotheby's gives 202 cu in. |
| Bore | 76.2 mmFactory: 3 in · converted4 Independently researched |
| Stroke | 121 mmFactory: 4.75 in · converted4 Independently researched |
| Compression ratio | 8.0:14 Independently researched |
| Valvetrain | L-head, mechanical lifters4 Independently researched |
| Fuel system | Twin one-barrel carburettors (Twin-H-Power), mechanical pump4,3 Independently researched |
| Power | 85 kW / 116 PSFactory: 114 hp · converted4 Independently researchedRM Sotheby's also gives 114 hp. |
| Power at | 4,000 rpm4 Independently researched |
| Torque | 225 NmFactory: 166 lb-ft · converted4 Independently researched |
| Torque at | 2,000 rpm4 Independently researched |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Three-speed manual, column shift (overdrive per RM Sotheby's)4,3 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gears | 34 Independently researched |
| Gear ratios | 1st 2.60:1, 2nd 1.63:1, 3rd 1.00:1, reverse 3.53:14 Independently researched |
| Final drive | 4.10:14 Independently researched |
| Driven wheels | Rear4 Independently researched |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Unit chassis platform with steel perimeter frame and front sub-frame4 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Independent A-arms, coil springs, torsional stabilizer4 Independently researched |
| Rear suspension | Rigid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs4 Independently researched |
| Brakes | Four-wheel hydraulic drums, 9.0 in4 Independently researched |
| Steering | Gemmer worm-and-roller4 Independently researched |
| Body construction | Reinforced aluminium body; Touring Superleggera (aluminium panels over tube steel frame)4,3 Independently researched |
| Wheelbase | 2,670 mmFactory: 105 in · converted4 Independently researched |
| Length | 4,650 mmFactory: 183 in · converted4 Independently researched |
| Width | 1,780 mmFactory: 70 in · converted4 Independently researched |
| Height | 1,370 mmFactory: 54 in · converted4 Independently researched |
| Front track | 1,370 mmFactory: 54 in · converted4 Independently researched |
| Rear track | 1,320 mmFactory: 52 in · converted4 Independently researched |
| Kerb weight | 1,230 kgFactory: 2,710 lb · converted4 Independently researchedStated as shipping weight. |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 154.3 km/hFactory: 95.88 mph · converted4 Independently researchedFrom the same Super Jet test; the source expects the Italia to be a bit faster. |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| 0–60 mph | 15.2 s4 Independently researchedSource states these figures come from a 1953 road test of a Hudson Super Jet with Twin-H-Power and Hydra-Matic, not the Italia. |
| Fuel tank | 56.8 LFactory: 15 gal-us · converted4 Independently researched |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
The Italia is a two-seat coupe with aluminium Superleggera bodywork on a Jet-based platform, 10 inches lower than the Jet. Distinguishing features are the wrap-around windshield, doors cut seven inches into the roof, Abarth-style brake-cooling ducts above the headlights and in the rear fenders, and rear fender tubes housing the tail lights. It has an oval grille with an inverted V in the front bumper, Borrani wire wheels and twin reclining bucket seats. Factory data numbers the 1954 cars IT100001 to IT100009 and the rest up to IT1000025 as 1955 models. Most cars were painted Cigarette Cream, and one source says all were the same shade.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
1955 Hudson Italia, chassis IT10024 – Gooding & Company Pebble Beach 2015, lot 105 Level B
- 26 Hudson Italias built
-
2
Another look at the Hudson Italia Level C Mac's Motor City Garage · 2013-05-02
- Of the 26 Italias built, 21 are known to survive
-
3
1954 Hudson Italia Coupe by Carrozzeria Touring, Monterey 2012 Level C RM Sotheby's · 2012-08
- one of 21 Italias believed to have survived
- twin two-barrel Carter carburetors
- three-speed manual transmission with overdrive
- aluminum panels over a tube steel frame
-
4
1954 Hudson Italia Specifications Level C HowStuffWorks (Consumer Guide) · 2017-04-18
- inline 6-cyl L-head
- Displacement (cid) 201.5
- Bore x stroke (in.) 3.00 x 4.75
- Compression ratio 8.0:1
- inline 6-cyl L-head; valve lifters mechanical
- 2-1 bbl carburetors
- Horsepower @ rpm 114 @ 4,000
- 114 @ 4,000
- Torque (lbs/ft) @ rpm 166 @ 2,000
- 166 @ 2,000
- 3-speed selective, synchronized 2nd and 3rd Speeds
- 3-speed selective
- 1st, 2.60:1, 2nd, 1.63:1 3rd, 1.00:1; reverse, 3.53:1
- Differential hypoid ... Ratio 4.10:1
- Drive Hotchkiss type
- unit chassis platform with steel perimeter frame and front sub-frame
- independent A-arms, coil springs, torsional stabilizer
- rigid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs
- 4-wheel internal hydraulic; drum diameter 9.0
- Steering Gemmer worm-and-roller
- reinforced aluminum body
- Wheelbase (in.) 105.0
- Overall length (in.) 183.0
- Overall width (in.) 70.0
- Overall height (in.) 54.0
- Tread, front/rear 54.0/52.0
- Shipping weight (lbs) 2,710
- Top speed (mph) 95.88
- 0-60 mph (sec) 15.2
- Fuel tank (gal) 15.0
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