What Kind of Car is Doc Hudson from Cars?
Doc Hudson is based on the classic 1951 Hudson Hornet.
Written by Alexandra Maloney
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you’re a fan of the Cars franchise, you’re definitely familiar with the loveable car character Doc Hudson. What you might not know is that Doc Hudson was actually based on a real life
classic car
that still exists today in one lucky collector’s garage, and other models are available for purchase.Doc Hudson was inspired by the 1951 Hudson Hornet, a classic car that’s worth remembering for its speed on the racetrack and sleek drive on the roads.
What kind of car is Doc Hudson?
Doc Hudson from Cars was based on the classic 1951 Hudson Hornet, and the movie even follows the general color scheme of the vehicle, with blue and black tones. According to
Road and Track
, the 1951 Hudson Hornet supports a Twin-H-Power straight-six engine that provides massive power and torque, especially during the time period it was at its peak. Its top speed is said to be around 107 mph, and it could go from 0 to 60 mph in just about 12 seconds.Unfortunately, when the car first debuted, it couldn’t compete in sales with car brands like Chrysler, GM, and Ford, simply because it lacked a V8 engine many drivers wanted. But, when Doc Hudson was modeled after this classic car, it finally got its time in the spotlight.
Today Dave Bonbright, who is one of the automotive historians that helped produce Cars, owns the infamous 1951 Hudson Hornet. And, the car in Bonbright’s garage actually has the signature of Paul Newman, the actor who voiced Doc Hudson in the movie, on the sunvisor. Newman rarely gives autographs, so his signature makes this iconic car even cooler.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Interesting details about the 1951 Hudson Hornet
As
HotCars
points out, the 1951 Hudson Hornet was a superstar on the race track, just like Doc Hudson was in the movie . Funnily enough, the car’s success on the race track was largely due to savvy engineering with the straight-six engine that so many drivers found unfavorable. Not to mention, the car had a step-down chassis that featured two sets of frame rails situated outside the rear wheels. This unique design not only strengthened the car’s body, but also gave the driver excellent handling, which allowed the Hudson Hornet to dominate the NASCAR world during the 1950s.
Off the race track, the Hudson Hornet was a great option for everyday driving, too. The step-down chassis provided minimal body roll to drivers, and accelerating and changing gears was seamless. But, the car did work best at faster speeds, since power-steering wasn’t offered until 1954.
Classic car insurance
Although it doesn’t look like Dave Bonbright is putting up the original, autographed car Doc Hudson was based on for auction anytime soon, you might be able to get your hands on a similar Hudson Hornet. While its short production does make inventory limited, you might be able to find one on a car auction site.
If you decide to invest in a Hudson Hornet you’ll need classic car insurance, since a new model hasn’t been produced since the 1950s. Classic car insurance can definitely be pricey, but luckily
Jerry
is here to help. Jerry is an app that automatically finds you the lowest rates on insurance, including classic car insurance, in as little as 45 seconds. Stop overpaying for car insurance and start using Jerry.
4.7
