Can it really be 70 years since Hudson stunned the automotive world with
its step down designed new cars? Up until then cars were still pretty much
based on the old horse and buggy chassis, riding high and above the frame, it
was Hudson who moved out the frame rails and nestled the occupants between the
frame rails. Allowing for more width for three across seating, take note Mr.
SUV seven seater, Hudson seated six without adding a third or fourth row! But
it also allowed for the seating positions to be lowered, as sitting within the
frame rails instead of on and above, allowed better handling. Which showed on
the track in early NASCAR racing, as Hudson won many races and championships,
using an older flathead design, VS. contemporary valve in head V-8’s. Basic
physical laws proved them right, the results followed. But after seven years of
the same body style, and sales declining, Hudson merged with Nash, becoming
American Motors, which was later bought by Chrysler, who was merged, raped and
pillaged by Daimler Benz, and then narrowly avoided bankruptcy by being given to
FIAT, forming FCA, FIAT Chrysler America. No more Twin H power, no more step
down, now just another orphan car but at one time stunned the automotive world
and changed how cars were built.
Win on Sunday, sell on Monday was the mantra for car sales once, it has
diminished now, as there are no true stock cars in NASCAR, the SC in their name
standing for Stock Car, the rules have changed, and so has racing. 1954 was a
turning point for Hudson, and O.E. LaBar Hudson in Bangor, Pennsylvania remained
a Hudson dealer into the seventies, more than 20 years after merging. When my
Grandpa and I stopped in one day, Mr. La Bar, old by even my young standards was
suspicious. He had a 1953 Hornet convertible on the showroom floor, new parts
still in new boxes on the shelf, and two Hudson pickups, rare even when new, he
used as shop trucks. But he wasn’t open for the casual observer, he was an
active dealer who never gave up his franchise to become an AMC dealer like Pat
Ronco had down the road with his Nash store. After he saw I truly loved
Hudsons, he gave us a tour, each car there being identified by its owner, Mr.
White’s 1948 Wasp, Mrs. Speer’s 1951 Hornet, traded in against a newer 1954
model. But never worked on anything newer than 1954, the year Hudson gave up
and merged. No more real Hudsons, Hashes as they were referred too. And after
45 minutes we were gone, with a new insight into the Hudson Motor Company, its
cars, its dealers, and its owners. A car more than the sum of its nuts and
bolts, which reminds me of the depth of some relationships, while others pale by
comparison. If Mr. La Bar went out of business, he asked, “who will take care
of my customers after the company deserted them?”
In case you didn’t know it, the most profitable area in a car dealership is
the service department. Living in a fallen world, we might buy new cars to
replace the old ones, but they too will someday need repairs and maintenance.
And who will service them? Jesus was faced with the same problem, who will take
care of my disciples and believers when I am gone? Yet God had it planned since
before the beginning, and sent his spirit to guide, comfort, counsel, and lead.
How the 12 minus Judas must have wondered “now what?” and we find the going back
to their old jobs. But one night, we see Peter out fishing, having a tough
night, when Jesus approaches him on the beach. Recognizing him, he is asked
three times by Jesus, “do you love me?” Most theologians believe he was
referring to the night just weeks earlier when Peter denied Jesus to a little
girl, I don’t. In asking him three times, and answering Peter with “then feed
my children,” we miss the answer we need to minister. We are a people of body,
soul, and spirit, and we have physical needs, emotional needs, and spiritual
needs. Each individual and different, and can only be ministered to when the
need is identified. Spiritually. Peter take care of the physical needs,
address the emotional needs, and let the spirit guide you in all, including the
spiritual needs. Three types of problems, each with a specific need. You can
have a good attitude with a broken leg, the leg still needs to heal. You can be
healthy but miserable, you still need an attitude adjustment, and you can be
healthy and happy, but still need Jesus. One size answer will not meet all the
individual needs. Only by the spirit will we know and know what to do. Which
explains why only weeks after his denial, he led 3000 to the Lord on Pentecost.
By the spirit, who gave him the words needed. It was the spirit that changed
Peter and the others, not themselves. Jesus was preparing Peter for ministry
that night on the beach. If only we can see the need for the spirit, what a
difference our lives would make.
I attended a Hudson meet a few months ago, good people passionate about
their cars. Each with a story to tell, spending time with the car, developing a
relationship. Cars taken care of tenderly by their owners, and it reminded me
of how Jesus takes care of us, his children. We need cleaning, maintenance,
repairs, and need to be driven regularly. If not, we begin to atrophy, we begin
to leak, show signs of wear, and soon end up an orphan, no one wants to be with
us. But Christ renews us, giving us the energy to carry on, and when we follow
his leading, we enjoy the blessing he has for us. Sadly I see more devotion to
a cause at car shows than I do among some Christians. Who believe their church,
their religion, their way to worship is the best or only. It takes the Mr.
LaBar’s of the world to keep Hudsons going, it takes the spirit to maintain us.
Hudson made its last hurrah based on its step down design. Do we remember
the design of Jesus, who stepped down from heaven, and became lower than the
angels for a while to serve us? To die for us and bring us back into fellowship
with God? The step down design was new and brave in 1948, Jesus made it popular
thousands of years earlier. There truly is nothing knew under the sun, what
appears new is only new to us, what is your answer when Jesus asks “do you love
me?” Will you serve him? Do you have the commitment of Mr. La Bar, who knows
all his cars and customers by name, and who when the company retired, never
quit? Jesus asked his disciples “can you stay awake just one more hour?”
Without Jesus, who is taking care of you needs? The ministry needs Mr. La Bars,
many are called, few are chosen. Do you really love Jesus? Then feed his
sheep. Not a baaad idea....remember the car that drove Miss Daisy!
love with compassion,
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