Tuesday 12th October 1948

Production of the ‘step down’ 1948 Hudson began. It was coined the Step-Down-Design because the floors were considerably lower than, and surrounded by, the structural sills that formed the integral framework. Because of the frame, only the lower portion of the rear wheels are visible. The new lower bodywork, when combined with the deep V of the windshield, low top and glass, visually nonexistent back tires, and acres of photographically processed wood grained interior metal, gave the Hudson a now unmistakable boatlike feeling. The top-of-the-line Commodore name was right at home on this vessel. The line consisted of Supers and the upmarket Commodores in both six & eight cylinder versions.All models were available as a 2-door Brougham, a 4-door sedan and a club coupe. A classy-looking ragtop was added to the line in the fall of 1948. Under the hood, buyers had their choice of a 262 cid inline six, rated at 121 horses, or an inline 254 cid eight with 128 hp. Prices ranged from $2,069 for the baseline coupe to $2,836 for the convertible. The eight was offered only in the Club Coupe and Sedan for an extra $35.