Sometimes you just have to build that dream car yourself.
A rare Craigslist barn find vehicle, this 1949 Hudson Super Six Coupe looks absolutely amazing. And while it was just as fast as it was dramatically designed for its time, by today’s standards the factory setup doesn’t make it a performance monster. The mad scientists at ICON in Los Angeles had other plans, transforming this Hudson into a 638-horsepower tire shredder.
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Of course, to squeeze that kind of power from the factory engine would be impossible. ICON decided to do a heart transplant, dropping a supercharged LS9 6.2-liter V8 into the Hudson. Not only is it pushing 638-horsepower at peak, it’s producing 600 lb.-ft. of torque for plenty of get-up-and-go.
With great power increases comes the need to reinforce and redo many parts of any car. The shop put in a beefier 4-speed automatic transmission plus a custom Brembo GT brake package. Another big upgrade is the four-wheel independent suspension, which is fully adjustable.
Rather than stripping off the original paint and applying an all-new coat. ICON decided to just clean up the car’s exterior. That means pitting, chips, and loads of patina are on display on this monster machine.
However, the interior did get a nice reconditioning since it was in desperate need. For example, the seats are clad in hand-dyed wild alligator with Moore & Giles leather. You could take off your shoes and socks to bask in the amazing German wool carpets. Alligator and wool combine on the sun visors, with more wool for the headliner. Further divergence from the factory specs include a custom translucent blue steering wheel, modern guts from the stock gauges, LED lighting throughout, and a thumping audio system.
If you’re interested in this car, it’s already taken. But there are plenty of Hudson models on the site for you to peruse, if you want to use this ride as inspiration for your next project.
