One of Hudson's most famous cars was the Terraplane in the 1930s.
The company had a number of 'firsts' for the auto industry including the self starter, dual brakes, and the first balanced crankshaft, which allowed the Hudson straight-6 engine to work at a higher rotational speed while remaining smooth, developing more power than lower-revving engines. Most Hudsons has straight-6 engines.
At its peak in 1929, 300,000 cars were produced in one year, including contributions from Hudson's other factories in Belgium, England and Canada.
Hudson ceased auto production from 1942 through 1945 to manufacture war materials during World War II, including aircraft parts and naval engines.
On January 14, 1954 Hudson merged with Nash Motors to become American Motors.
The brandname was discontinued two years later.
In the late 1950's the sedan's high horsepower to weight ratio made it a popular choice for use in drag racing, where it was a frequent winner in its class with minimal modification.