Plans have been revealed to restore a 1952 Hudson Hornet to commemorate the life of its disabled owner – but also to modify the finished car so that other disabled drivers will be able to get behind the wheel.
Driving Aids Development Corporation – a specialist in fitting hand controls – has undertaken to restore the car to its former glory. The Hudson currently resides in the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum in Michigan, where it remains half restored.
The firm estimates that $30,000 will be needed to complete the work and has launched a crowd fund campaign to reach its target.
The Hornet had been in the care of Eugene Smith – an Air Force veteran and classic car fanatic – for a number of years, and was used as his daily car. It was only after the central Pennsylvania flood of 1972 that he decided to begin its restoration, quickly stripping the car down to individual components and priming panels ready for installation. His vision was to allow others to drive the finished article.
However, time and circumstance got in the way of the rebuild: Smith suffered a stroke that left him partially paralysed and unable to complete the work.