In 1934, Hudson sold 1,901 commercial Terraplanes–a pretty good haul for a light truck maker in those days. But Terraplane would be short-lived and it was phased out altogether after 1938. During its short run, Terraplane offered a full line of Commercial Cars for hauling, alongside its line of standard passenger cars. The Commercial Cars were gracefully styled both inside and out as their sheetmetal, trim and furniture were lifted directly from the passenger car line.
The heaviest of the lot carried a 3/4-ton rating like this month’s feature 1936 Terraplane Cab Pick-up, which meant it could haul 1,500 pounds of cargo. The difference was largely in the springs: Commercial Cars had additional leaves in the front and rear spring packs, giving them a greater payload capacity than their passenger-car counterparts. Power was from the 96-hp 212-cu.in. Terraplane six, with the 102-hp Super Power Dome available. Terraplanes used a three-speed synchromesh transmission with a single-plate, cork-insert, oil-cushioned clutch. Selective Automatic Shift was optional, which provided pre-selective, power-controlled gear shifting.
Terraplanes were also fitted with Hudson’s "Duo-Automatic Hydraulic Brakes," which mated a primary hydraulic braking system with an auxiliary mechanical system, so that in the event of a brake failure, the secondary system would stop the car. An optional hill-hold unit was available as well, to aid the driver during uphill takeoffs.
The Cab Pick-up had an additional unique feature in that it was built with removable "lockers" covering the wheel houses for storing tools and equipment or for use as seats for workers when taxiing around the job site.
Credits:
* Note: This picture was actually recorded at the Gilmore Museum in Hickory Corners, MI while this 1936 Terraplane Panel Delivery truck was on loan from Hostetler’s Hudson Museum in Shipshewana, Indiana.
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Hostetler’s Hudson Museum liquidating
Regrettably, despite its best efforts, the committee tasked with finding a way to fund ongoing operations of Hostetler’s Hudson Museum in Shipshewana, Indiana, could not close the gap between expenses and revenue. On Tuesday, January 30, the Goshen News reported that the museum’s Board of Directors had voted 3-1 in favor of closing the museum and liquidating its collection of 50-plus Hudson, Essex, Terraplane, and Railton automobiles.
Valued at roughly $4.3 million, the cars were once the property of inventor-turned-Hudson-collector Eldon Hostetler, who began amassing Hudson automobiles (and related brands) as a hobby in his retirement. In 1992, he purchased eight acres of land in Shipshewana, and five years later, acquired an adjacent 10-acre plot with the thought of opening a museum dedicated to his preferred brand. Toward the end of 1997, Hostetler reached a deal with Shipshewana’s Town Manager: In exchange for his donation of the land and the vehicles, the town would construct a building to house them, giving Hostetler his museum.
The result was the Shipshewana Town Center, a 60,000 square-foot building designed to house Hostetler’s Hudson Museum, while offering additional space for meetings, weddings and conferences. The adjacent Blue Gate Garden Inn, a 154-room hotel, offered convenient accommodations for business and vacation travelers, and the construction bonds used to build the facility were paid down via a levied “innkeeper tax,” which also helped to support the museum.
Terms of the deal between Eldon and the town specified that the museum would remain open as long as he and his wife, Esta, were alive. Eldon Hostetler died in January 2016, while Esta lived until May 2017.
By this point, the Shipshewana Town Center had been sold to an investor, and the innkeeper tax – which had provided an estimated $150,000 annually to the museum – was lifted. Forced to rely on museum admissions – which amounted to roughly $23,000 per year – as its sole source of revenue, Hostetler’s Hudson Museum faced mounting debts and dwindling reserves.
Though the innkeeper tax was later reinstated, it was too little, too late. In June 2017, a committee was formed to find ways to fund the museum, led by local businesswoman Joanna King. In July, the committee was granted a 90-day extension, giving it until late October to come up with a plan. Despite the committee’s efforts, no viable long-term solution could be found, and on Tuesday, the four-member museum board voted 3-1 to close the museum and sell off the collection. The lone dissenting vote was cast by Eldon Hostetler, Jr.
In reviewing the proposed solutions, Shipshewana Town Manager Bob Shanahan stated that one plan left a projected deficit of $700,000 over five years of operation, while another produced a shortfall of $1.7 million over the same period. The Goshen News quoted Shanahan as saying,
“I wish I had better news for you all, I really do. But as it stands, I cannot tell you as your town manager that I can see any light at the end of the tunnel where I could give you any understanding that you could continue on with the museum and expect it to be a financial success. The numbers just don’t add up”.
The museum itself is already closed (though it can still be toured on Google Maps), its telephone disconnected and its website – perhaps ironically – linked to the city of Shipshewana’s homepage. The collection’s future is uncertain, but Eldon Hostetler, Jr., would love to see his father’s Hudsons sold to a single person, or better yet, a single museum. Failing this, or a miraculous last-minute reprieve, the collection will most likely cross the block, in whole or in part, at an upcoming auction.
Credits:
Hemmings
Epilogue – I am very disappointed to see this fine museum having to close. Shipshewana, Indiana is an Amish community and as might be expected there are many shops in the area, selling everything from; home made preserves, meats, sausage, cheese, and crafts as well as fine Amish made furniture. Many people come to participate in an auction, buying and selling, and celebrate holidays. All this is more suited to my wife’s interests. When visiting, I would always head to the Hostetler’s Hudson Museum. Like so many things, now that is a mere fond memory…………..
Posted by (The) Appleman on 2018-02-21 03:09:36
Tagged: , classic , antique , panel , truck , delivery , Terraplane , Hudson , Hostetler’s , museum , Gilmore , (The) Appleman , © fotoCreations by Roger Beltz , Chicago , Illinois , USA
