1954 Hudson
1954 Hudson Hornet Hollywood, "Molta Casta"
Radical customization done when new for one of Detroit's "high society" members, Harold Du Charme of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. The Du Charme family was the oldest known French family in Detroit, dating back to the days when the French were the early settlers of the area. Harold was associated with Hudson as a large stockholder and who also owned a huge office building located in downtown Detroit. He rubbed elbows with all the area's top businessmen, including Henry Ford II, and lived next door to Hudson President A.E. Barit. In 1947, Harold bought a Defoe Cruisemaster yacht "Natoya", and at 118 feet long it was one of the longest yachts in the Detroit area (used in the James Bond movie "Thunderball" under the guise of "Disco Volante").
In October 1953, Harold purchased a brand new 1954 Hudson Hornet Hollywood at a cost of $3,000. Aside from the Brougham convertible and the Italian-bodied custom Italia, it was the most expensive Hudson offered that year. Harold was not happy with the designs coming from his favorite automaker. Feeling that declining sales could be strengthened by restyling the step-down body, he had the car picked up at the factory and delivered to one of the more prominent customizing shops in Detroit, located on St. Clair Street on Detroit's East Side. There, the top was chopped 2.5 inches, the mid section was channeled by four inches, the stock hood was removed and replaced by a reshaped 1938 Hudson hood with ventilators installed, the headlights were hooded with two air intakes formed below (as an extension of the custom egg-crate grille), and both bumpers were highly modified. The trunk was section to conform to the new lower silhouette, with a continental spare tire fared into it. A 30-gallon gas tank was fabricated, the rear fenders were extended and wrapped slightly to hold Lincoln taillights. Electric door opening buttons were hidden. Topping it off was a set of five wire wheels mounted with wide whitesidewall tires.
It was painted dark metallic green when new, then later changed to silver with black top with the Du Charme family coat of arms hand-painted on each door. According to a letter written by Harold Du Charme, he spent $7,000, which more than likely included the $3,000 purchase price. It was then given the nickname "Molta Casta" by one of his close friends, which is Italian for "very clean.
Apparently he was able to capture the attention of Hudson executives, as original photos taken by Hudson Chief Designer Frank Spring depict the car in the back of Hudson engineering department with some Hudson managers looking on.
Radical customization done when new for one of Detroit's "high society" members, Harold Du Charme of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. The Du Charme family was the oldest known French family in Detroit, dating back to the days when the French were the early settlers of the area. Harold was associated with Hudson as a large stockholder and who also owned a huge office building located in downtown Detroit. He rubbed elbows with all the area's top businessmen, including Henry Ford II, and lived next door to Hudson President A.E. Barit. In 1947, Harold bought a Defoe Cruisemaster yacht "Natoya", and at 118 feet long it was one of the longest yachts in the Detroit area (used in the James Bond movie "Thunderball" under the guise of "Disco Volante").
In October 1953, Harold purchased a brand new 1954 Hudson Hornet Hollywood at a cost of $3,000. Aside from the Brougham convertible and the Italian-bodied custom Italia, it was the most expensive Hudson offered that year. Harold was not happy with the designs coming from his favorite automaker. Feeling that declining sales could be strengthened by restyling the step-down body, he had the car picked up at the factory and delivered to one of the more prominent customizing shops in Detroit, located on St. Clair Street on Detroit's East Side. There, the top was chopped 2.5 inches, the mid section was channeled by four inches, the stock hood was removed and replaced by a reshaped 1938 Hudson hood with ventilators installed, the headlights were hooded with two air intakes formed below (as an extension of the custom egg-crate grille), and both bumpers were highly modified. The trunk was section to conform to the new lower silhouette, with a continental spare tire fared into it. A 30-gallon gas tank was fabricated, the rear fenders were extended and wrapped slightly to hold Lincoln taillights. Electric door opening buttons were hidden. Topping it off was a set of five wire wheels mounted with wide whitesidewall tires.
It was painted dark metallic green when new, then later changed to silver with black top with the Du Charme family coat of arms hand-painted on each door. According to a letter written by Harold Du Charme, he spent $7,000, which more than likely included the $3,000 purchase price. It was then given the nickname "Molta Casta" by one of his close friends, which is Italian for "very clean.
Apparently he was able to capture the attention of Hudson executives, as original photos taken by Hudson Chief Designer Frank Spring depict the car in the back of Hudson engineering department with some Hudson managers looking on.