TERRAPLANE

Hudson Motor Car Co. (1932-1938)

Detroit, Michigan

This is a Terraplane GU Deluxe export model radiator emblem (1935)      mjs
Size: 58mm wide 39mm high   MM: D L Auld

In 1932 a model of the Essex (see Essex) called the Essex-Terraplane was introduced. The first Essex-Terraplane was a 70 hp six-cylinder low-priced car offered in a wide range of body styles. It had a top speed of 80mph and was successful at hill climbs and soon became known as the "Hill Buster". A 94 hp Terraplane eight-cylinder model joined the line in 1933 but from 1935 all Terraplanes were six-cylinder models. The Essex Terraplane created such interest that by 1933 some models of the car was called simply the Terraplane. The Essex name was dropped completely in 1934.

Hudson  (see Hudson) began to build Terraplane pickups in 1934 followed in 1935 with utility coach and sedan delivery models. A Terraplane funeral coach was also available in 1937.

The Terraplane was a very popular motor car with good sales and helped the Hudson Motor Car Company through the depression years. In 1938 the Terraplane was called the Hudson-Terraplane and in 1939 the Terraplane name was dropped. Terraplane models exported to South America were badged Autoplano.

Emblems

The Essex Terraplane emblems continued the same hexagonal shape as used on the Essex previously, see examples below:

This is an Essex Terraplane Six radiator emblem (1932-1933)     mjs
Size: 48mm wide 41mm high   MM: Unknown

There is an export model radiator emblem for the Essex Terraplane Six which is the same as the emblem shown above but with "USA" in red enamel at the top.

This is an Essex Terraplane Six radiator emblem used for exports to South America (1932-1933)   ms
Size: 48mm wide 41mm high   MM: Unknown

This is an Essex Terraplane Six combined emblem and mascot (1933)   yahm

The following emblem was used to introduce the new Terraplane Six models for 1933. The emblem was certainly used on the hub caps but I do not know if it was used as a radiator emblem also.

This is an Essex Terraplane Six hub emblem (1933)    ms
Size: Unknown     MM: Unknown

The following radiator emblem was used on the Essex Terraplane Eight in 1933:

This is an Essex Terraplane Eight radiator emblem (1933)    mjs
Size: 48mm wide 41mm high    MM: Fox

This is an Essex Terraplane Eight combined emblem and mascot (1933)    kmc

The following four Essex Terraplane 8 emblems have been selected from a much larger group of similar emblems with many different color schemes displayed at the Swigart Auto Museum in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. I do not know where these emblems were displayed or why there were so many different color variations. If you have further details, please let me know.

This is an Essex Terraplane 8 emblem (1933)    sam
Size: 54mm high 48mm wide    MM: Unknown

This is an Essex Terraplane 8 emblem (1933)     sam
Size: 54mm high 48mm wide     MM: Unknown

This is an Essex Terraplane emblem (1933)    sam
Size: 54mm high 48mm wide     MM: Unknown

This is an Essex Terraplane 8 emblem (1933)     sam
Size: 54mm high 48mm wide   MM: Unknown

The following three emblems are in the hexagonal shape of the Essex emblems but are called Terraplane only. The Essex name was dropped on some models in 1933 and on all models in 1934. 

This is a Terraplane emblem (1933-1934)   sam
Size: 45mm high 40mm wide    MM: Unknown

This is a Terraplane emblem (1933-1934)    sam
Size: 45mm high 40mm wide    MM: Unknown

This is a Terraplane emblem possibly for an export model (1933-1934)    sam
Size: 45mm high 40mm wide   MM: Unknown

The Terraplane emblems shown above were used as part of the hood ornament, see example below:

This is a Terraplane hood ornament showing the emblem (c1934)     ms

This a Terraplane emblem for a car exported to South America (c1932-1934)  mjs
Size: 45mm high 40mm wide    MM: D L Auld

Terraplane emblems departed from the Essex style hexagonal shape and became oval shaped in 1935, see the Terraplane Model GU Deluxe example shown below: 

Terraplane Model GU Deluxe (1935)    ms

This is the Terraplane Model GU Deluxe radiator emblem for domestic American use:

This is a Terraplane GU Deluxe radiator emblem (1935)     mjs
Size: 58mm wide 39mm high    MM: D L Auld

The export version of this Terraplane radiator emblem is shown at the top of this post. The emblems used on export models of the Terraplane are scarce. 

Other examples of Terraplane radiator emblems are shown below:

This is a Terraplane G Special radiator emblem (c1935)    mjs
Size: 58mm wide 39mm high    MM: Fox

This is a Terraplane GU Deluxe radiator emblem used on exports to South America (1935)   ms
Size: 58mm wide 39mm high     MM: Fox

This is a Terraplane Series 61-62 radiator emblem (1936)    mjs
Size: 80mm high    MM: None

This is a Hudson Terraplane Series 71-72 radiator emblem (1937)     mjs
Size: 160mm high 72mm wide    MM: Jarvis

This is a Hudson Terraplane trunk lid emblem (1937)     mjs
Size: 230mm wide      MM: None

This may be a Hudson Series 72 Super Terraplane front fender emblem (1937)     dnc
Size: 230mm wide

This is a Hudson Terraplane grille emblem (1938)    mjs
Size: 75mm high 60mm wide    MM: D L Auld

This is a Hudson Terraplane grille emblem export version (1938)  mjs
Size: 75mm high 60mm wide   MM: D L Auld

This is a Hudson Terraplane trunk lid emblem (1938)    mjs
Size: 252mm high 80mm wide max       MM: None