Editing Terraplane (section)

== Changing marketplace ==
Hudson had manufactured the inexpensive Essex from 1919 as a lower-priced vehicle line; the company merged Essex into itself in 1922. The Essex is generally credited with helping to make the fully enclosed automobile an affordable model for inexpensive automobiles. The low-priced closed model Essex coach "had promoted the sensational recovery of Hudson" as an automaker in 1922.<ref name="chapin225">{{cite book|last1=Long |first1=John Cuthbert|title=Roy D. Chapin: the man behind the Hudson Motor Car Company |year=2004 |publisher=Wayne State University Press |isbn=978-0-8143-3184-2 |first2=Charles K.|last2=Hyde |page=225 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WXfyjX_yssgC&q=Terraplane+had+promoted+the+sensational+recovery+of+Hudson&pg=PA225 |access-date=12 February 2014}}</ref>

Declining sales of the Essex, combined with the growing economic pressure and suffering from the effects of the [[Great Depression]] forced Hudson to replace the Essex with a re-designed automobile with a lower manufacturing cost and selling price. Roy D. Chapin decided to repeat the successful strategy in 1932 by producing "a very light car in the bottom price class, a vehicle which would combine style, comfort, and reliability".<ref name="chapin225"/> Although it was daring to launch a car during the Great Depression, Chapin was convinced that the Terraplane name would have "great public appeal" as it also linked with the public interest in aviation that was so prevalent at that time.<ref name="chapin225"/>

The Terraplane contributed greatly to Hudson Motor's sales during the Depression in the 1930s. Sales of the Terraplane outpaced Hudson vehicles in the late mid-1930s and it is said that Hudson management was not fond of that fact and that was partly why they chose to eliminate the car as a make. One unique feature was "Duo-Automatic" brakes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Hudson/1936_Hudson/1936_Hudson_-_How_What_Why/1936%20Hudsons%20HWW-087.html |title=Hudson 1936 – How What Why |publisher=Oldcarbrochures.com |access-date=12 February 2014}}</ref> Terraplanes had two brake systems—hydraulic and mechanical. Should the hydraulic brakes fail (i.e. the brake line had a leak in it), the mechanical brakes would be used to stop the car.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Hudson/1936_Hudson/1936_Hudson_-_How_What_Why/1936%20Hudsons%20HWW-089%20001.html |title=Hudson 1936 – How What Why|publisher=Oldcarbrochures.com |access-date=12 February 2014}}</ref>

The most memorable sales slogan of the Terraplane years came from 1933: "On the sea that's aquaplaning, in the air that's aeroplaning, but on the land, in the traffic, on the hills, hot diggity dog, THAT'S TERRAPLANING".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/terraplane.cfm |title=Auto-Biography: Hudson Terraplane |first=Llewellyn |last=Hedgbeth |publisher=secondchancegarage.com |access-date=12 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/article_37afc17d-8cfc-5885-bab3-548a822dd043.html |date=14 June 2012 |first=Richard |last=Piersol |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|title=Fun cars on a roll in Lincoln |access-date=12 February 2014}}</ref>

===1932===
The new Essex-Terraplane was launched on July 21, 1932, "with [such] sensational vigor" that "accounts of the affair appeared in newspapers throughout the United States."<ref name="chapin225"/> The special event included over 2,000 dealers who came from 40 states to [[Detroit]]. Hudson also had famous aviator [[Amelia Earhart]] helping to introduce the first Essex-Terraplane.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hyde|first=Charles K.|title=Storied Independent Automakers|year=2009|publisher=Wayne State University Press|isbn=978-0-8143-3446-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=California police recover stolen Terraplane once owned by Amelia Earhart |url=https://www.hagerty.com/media/archived/stolen-terraplane-once-owned-by-amelia-earhart-recovered/ |website=Hagerty Media |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210220192016/https://www.hagerty.com/media/archived/stolen-terraplane-once-owned-by-amelia-earhart-recovered/ |archive-date=20 February 2021 |date=1 March 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was a small, but very powerful, car with a steel frame, built to exacting standards, which is probably why [[Wright brothers|Orville Wright]] purchased one of the first Essex-Terraplanes for himself.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wrighthtml/wrighthigh8.html |title=Letter, Amelia Earhart to Orville Wright, August 6, 1932 |publisher=The Library of Congress, The Wilbur and Orville Wright Papers |access-date=12 February 2014}}</ref> The 1932 model bore a slight resemblance to its Essex predecessors. The 1932 model had just the name "Essex" on the radiator ornament, but the 1933 models had the name "Essex-Terraplane" on the radiator ornament.

In 1932, only the Model K on the {{convert|106|in|mm|0|adj=on}} wheelbase with a {{convert|193|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} 6-cylinder engine was available.

===1933===
The Essex-Terraplanes were available in all the common U.S. automobile body styles. For 1933 offerings were expanded. The Model K was retained. A Model KU 6-cylinder on {{convert|113|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} wheelbase was added. Also a Model KT with a {{convert|244|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} straight-8-cylinder was offered on the 113-inch wheelbase. There were "Standard" and "Deluxe" trim levels for the KU and KT. A limited selection of light commercial vehicles was offered starting in 1933.

Only the 1933 Essex-Terraplanes were made with an optional eight-cylinder engine. The Hudson had the identical basic engine, but with earlier style [[updraft carburetor]] carried over, and a displacement of {{convert|254|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} due to a larger cylinder bore than the Essex-Terraplane Eight. The Terraplane Eight engines featured more efficient downdraft carburetion. Both engines had the same crankshaft and stroke.

The 1933 Essex-Terraplane 8-cylinder cars were believed to have the highest horsepower-to-weight ratio of any production automobiles in the world, and were favored by several [[gangster]]s of the day, particularly [[John Dillinger]], [[Baby Face Nelson]], and [[John Paul Chase]], for their lightness, acceleration, handling, and discreet appearance.

The Essex-Terraplane Eight was distinguished by having vent doors on the hood as opposed to all six-cylinder versions that had stamped hood louvers. A 1933 Terraplane 8 convertible coupe set a record for the race to the summit of [[Mount Washington (New Hampshire)|Mount Washington]] that remained unbroken for over twenty years. Essex-Terraplanes participated in innumerable record events around the United States, and some others around the world setting dozens of records at many venues. Their particular strength was in hillclimbs. Period road tests showed 0-60&nbsp;mph in 14.4 seconds, and 10-60&nbsp;mph in top gear in 18 seconds.

===1934===
For 1934 the word "Essex" was dropped and the car became the Terraplane. The cars were slightly heavier and rarely joined competitive events, particularly as they now lacked the eight-cylinder powerplant. The name Terraplane remained constant through the 1937 model year. By 1936, Terraplane commercial cars were produced in larger numbers.

===1938===
In 1938, knowing they were going to drop the Terraplane, Hudson management chose to phase out the Terraplane name similarly to how it had been introduced, and the 1938 cars were named Hudson-Terraplanes. Concurrently for the 1938 model year, Hudson offered a Model 112 which was virtually indistinguishable in equipment from the Hudson Terraplane, but on a shorter {{convert|112|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} wheelbase and with a smaller engine. The Terraplane did not have an [[ammeter]] or an oil pressure gauge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Hudson/1935_Hudson/1935_Terraplane_Special_Owners_Manual/1935%20Terraplane%20Manual-08.html |title=Hudson 1935 Terraplane Special Owners Manual |publisher=Oldcarbrochures.com |access-date=12 February 2014}}</ref> Price for a Terraplane in 1938 was about US$900 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|900|1938}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars {{inflation-fn|US}}).

<gallery widths=200 heights=145>
Hudson Terraplane 4-D Sedan 1938.jpg|1938 Terraplane 4-Door Sedan
TerraplaneConvertible-RockvilleMDshow2007.JPG|Terraplane Convertible
1938 Hudson Terraplane with Mullins trailer.jpg|New 1938 Terraplane with Mullins Red Cap Trailer
</gallery>

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