Don Hudson

Don confidently pilots his 1929 Ford Phaeton. Rescued from obscurity and meticulously transformed by Don and his brother, this open-air "bathtub" roared to life through innovation and elbow grease, paving the way for Don's future endeavors in the hot-rodding arena. Photo courtesy of Steve Hudson.

With no drag strips in existence, the Southern California Timing Association's weekend runs at Muroc dry lake represented a legal proving ground for their mechanical jewel. Don recalled the tow to Muroc in one of his written stories; "We hooked up the bathtub to a towbar made from a junkyard "wishbone." It wouldn’t trail straight behind my brother’s ’36 Ford coupe, so someone had to steer it while in tow. That was my job, which I was happy to do. It was darn chilly when we (myself, 2 brothers and some buddies) started out early Sunday morning, with me sporting a leather "Lindberg" style helmet and my brother next to me wrapped in a blanket." Photo courtesy of Steve Hudson.

Don and his crew racing the bathtub at Muroc. He gave up on the 4 banger and got his hands on a brand-new Ford V8 longblock. "I remember it was important to get one with a certain number so it could be bored out bigger. We assembled the engine, bolted it into the bathtub and went racing-with much better results." Photo courtesy of Steve Hudson.

The V8-powered bathtub returned to the lakes, this time etching a quarter-mile run at 95.18 mph, as certified by a treasured SCTA plaque dated 6/15/41. This relic stands as a testament to their endeavors, marking a time when 9.46 seconds defined not just a distance but a legacy. Photo courtesy of Steve Hudson.

Don sketched this drawing while he was a Gunners Mate on board the USS Eugene. 411 was his SCTA number, and “Wheelers” was the club he formed with some of his buddies. Photo courtesy of Steve Hudson.

A Rod & Custom Magazine photo taken during an outing of the Long Beach Qualifiers car club. Steve Hudson believes the photo was taken in Big Bear, California. "The truck is Dad's 34 Ford. The photo was taken by him and sent to the magazine. He never heard anything more about it until sometime later when it appeared without attribution."

An early construction photo of Don's Roadster. Steve believes this is the earliest existing photo of the McMullen Roadster. Photo courtesy of Steve Hudson.

Don's Roadster made it onto the silver screen where it became known as The Life of Riley Roadster. For Steve, then a nine-year-old boy, witnessing the roadster on television was nothing short of magical. Despite the grand sum of $100 per day earned for its use, Don remained unimpressed by the haughty demeanor of the actor portraying "Junior" on the show. "As might be expected of a teenage TV "star," he was pretty full of himself, and when Dad tried to explain some of the eccentricities of starting and running a seriously hotted up flathead V8, "Jr." just blew him off. The young actor then spent several embarrassing minutes in front of the cameras in a futile attempt to start the roadster." Photo courtesy of Steve Hudson.

Tom Logan's 1932 Chevrolet featured an interior expertly crafted by Don at Don's Trim Shop. Upholstered in Pearl Grey Tolex with black carpets and accentuated with a custom white tarpaulin bed cover, this pickup is a testament to Hudson's attention to detail and the hot rodding spirit of the Long Beach Qualifiers.

Johnny Bierfeldt's 1932 Ford Roadster, of Norwalk, California was a Long Beach Qualifiers car. It was painted by Bart Root and upholstered by Don Hudson.

Don Hudson, a seminal figure in the hot rod culture of Southern California, was a pioneering hot rodder whose early fascination with cars led him to create one of the era's most iconic vehicles. As a prominent member of the Long Beach Qualifiers car club and the proprietor of Don's Trim Shop in Norwalk, California, Hudson's craftsmanship and entrepreneurial spirit contributed significantly to the golden age of hot rodding. Renowned for his transformative work on vehicles such as The Life of Riley Roadster, Hudson's influence extended beyond the garage, shaping the automotive landscape of post-WWII America. His dedication to the craft and his role in fostering the hot rod community cemented his status as a notable figure in the hot rod movement that swept across the nation during the 20th century.

Hot Rodding: The Early Years

It all began in Don's last year of high school when the allure of the open road became irresistible. He was just old enough to get a driver's license, and with a mere five dollars to his name, Don embarked on the quest for automotive independence. "I found a 1929 Model A Coupe in the back lot of the Ford dealer where my Dad always bought his cars," Don recalled in a story he wrote named "Hot Rodding-The Early Years." "The dealer wanted $25 for the coupe, so I gave him the $5 as a down payment. Dad co-signed for the balance and I paid $1 per week until I was finally the proud owner of a not so nice looking automobile." Thus, Don became the proprietor of an automobile that, though lacking in aesthetics, was rich in potential.

From Family Car to Open-Air Sensation: The Transformation

The coupe did not remain stock for long. Don's older brother, armed with a vision, propelled the idea of transforming the mundane Model A into a hot rod. Their quest for parts led them to a junkyard where a 1930 Ford Phaeton body lay in wait. Their father's disapproval did little to dampen their spirits as they exchanged the coupe body for the open Phaeton, affectionately dubbed the "bathtub" for its distinct shape.

The Mechanical Alchemy: Crafting Speed from Steel

The original 4-cylinder Model A engine was swiftly extricated and entrusted to the machine shop where Don's brother wielded his expertise. Don, too, joined the shop's ranks, adopting the roles of gopher and "general flunky." Together, they embarked on nightly endeavors to revitalize the engine, employing crude tools to port and relieve the block, shaving the head to augment compression. A friend's welding talents birthed a dual manifold to house two "97" downdraft carbs, replacing the underwhelming "Tillotson" updraft. With wiring refinements and the installation of a blimp-shaped gutted muffler and a big 3" tail-pipe, the engine's symphony was complete. Ready to be tested, it beckoned them to the dry lakes.

The Call of the Dry Lakes: Adventure and Misadventure at Muroc

With no drag strips in existence, the Southern California Timing Association's weekend runs at Muroc dry lake represented a legal proving ground for their mechanical jewel. Don recalled the tow to Muroc in one of his written stories; "We hooked up the bathtub to a towbar made from a junkyard "wishbone." It wouldn’t trail straight behind my brother’s ’36 Ford coupe, so someone had to steer it while in tow. That was my job, which I was happy to do. It was darn chilly when we (myself, 2 brothers and some buddies) started out early Sunday morning, with me sporting a leather "Lindberg" style helmet and my brother next to me wrapped in a blanket." Upon arrival, a desolate vista unfolded—no racers, no crowd, only a lone Pepsi-Cola truck on the horizon.

Trial by Fire: The Bathtub's Fiery Ordeal

Disappointment gave way to determination as they decided to test their creation's mettle. Don, with youthful pride, piloted the bathtub, accelerating through the gears until flames erupted through the floorboards. A hasty halt, a smothering blanket, and a flurry of dirt from the crew quelled the blaze. The postmortem revealed a loose fuel line and the ominous signs of engine failure. Undeterred, Don sourced a brand-new Ford V8 longblock, ensuring it possessed the coveted number for future enhancements.

Speed Recorded in Metal: The SCTA's Recognition

The V8-powered bathtub returned to the lakes, this time etching a quarter-mile run at 95.18 mph, as certified by a treasured SCTA plaque dated 6/15/41. This relic stands as a testament to their endeavors, marking a time when 9.46 seconds defined not just a distance but a legacy.

High School Hero: The Rodder's Popularity and Police Pursuits

Back at school, Don's hot rod distinction drew the admiration of his peers, though the girls remained unimpressed. "I had the only real "hot rod" at school, so I was pretty popular...with the guys anyway." His relationship with law enforcement was less congenial, with 14 traffic citations amassing in mere weeks. One incident encapsulates the era's attitude toward rodders: Don, cautious and quiet at a stoplight, was flagged down—not for noise or a visible infraction, but for an alleged red light violation.

A New Chapter: The '36 Ford and Doreen's Entrance

The legal skirmishes waned Don's enthusiasm, prompting the sale of the bathtub. In its stead came a 1936 Ford Roadster, graced with a "Carson" top—a change that finally turned the girls' heads, especially that of Doreen, his childhood sweetheart and eventual wife. Yet, the joyrides in the '36 Ford were short-lived as Uncle Sam's call to duty beckoned, placing hot rods on pause for the duration of his 3½-year service.

From Assembly Lines to Entrepreneurship: The Birth of Don's Trim Shop

After the war, Don joined the Long Beach Qualifiers car club. His foray into the upholstery business began on the assembly line, igniting a passion that led him to pursue specialized training. His newfound expertise culminated in the establishment of Don's Trim Shop in Norwalk, California. This venture not only provided a livelihood but also served as the crucible for several iconic rods, each a testament to Don's dedication to pre-war Fords and a distinct Cadillac-powered dragster. "My childhood included rod runs, trips to the Pomona Drags and hanging out in the shop among the parade of tuck and rolled, Carson-topped cars and trucks," Don's son Steve Hudson told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in January of 2024.

The Life of Riley Roadster: A Screen Star is Born

One vehicle from Don's impressive roster earned fame on the silver screen—the '32 Highboy known as The Life of Riley Roadster. For Steve, then a nine-year-old boy, witnessing the roadster on television was nothing short of magical. Despite the grand sum of $100 per day earned for its use, Don remained unimpressed by the haughty demeanor of the actor portraying "Junior" on the show. "As might be expected of a teenage TV "star," he was pretty full of himself, and when Dad tried to explain some of the eccentricities of starting and running a seriously hotted up flathead V8, "Jr." just blew him off. The young actor then spent several embarrassing minutes in front of the cameras in a futile attempt to start the roadster."

The Roadster's Journey: Lost and Found

The famed '32 Roadster was sold a year or so later, around 1957. After that, its whereabouts were unknown until a serendipitous mention in Street Rodder Magazine revealed its fate. Unbeknownst to the Hudson family, The Life of Riley Roadster had morphed into the renowned McMullen Roadster. Despite undergoing numerous alterations, the essence of Don's craftsmanship—body, frame, interior, and distinctive components—endured. "Needless to say, I was thrilled. For a car guy, this was like finding out your father invented Penicillin or Post-Its or something equally momentous. It was great fun growing up in a "Hot Rod" family during the ’50s, but finding out one of "our" cars went on to become arguably THE most famous Hot Rod of all time certainly puts an exclamation point on the experience."

Don Hudson's Golden Years: The Twilight of a Hot Rod Pioneer

In 1962, just as Steve was approaching his driving age, Don sold his last hot rod, a chopped 1927 Ford Model T Coupe, and moved on to other things. Don, who lived life to the fullest until his passing in 2007, enjoyed his retirement years in Sun City, California. His passion for cars never waned; he immersed himself in the restoration of classic Corvettes, T-Birds, Impalas, Chevelles, and Model A's. His final days saw him behind the wheel of a '29 roadster on '32 rails, a testament to his undiminished love for the roar and rumble of hot rodding.

Don Hudson's Cars

Don Hudson's 1929 Ford Model A Phaeton
Don Hudson's 1932 Ford Roadster
Don Hudson's 1934 Ford Pickup
Don Hudson's 1936 Ford Roadster

Cars Upholstered by Don Hudson

Tom Logan's 1932 Chevrolet Pickup
Johnny Bierfeldt's 1932 Ford Roadster

Cars Photographed by Don Hudson

Johnny Bierfeldt's 1932 Ford Roadster