Like most independents, Hudson went under because it could no longer compete with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. Before it faded into the history books, the Michigan-based company created the Italia, the first and only American vehicle with a Superleggera body designed by Carrozzeria Touring.

Inspired by Chrysler’s Ghia special models, the Italia was based on the compact Hudson Jet. The latter was launched later than planned due to internal company disagreements and was ultimately not a success. With Jet sales sluggish, chief designer Frank Spring convinced Hudson to develop a sportier, more upscale version of the compact car.

Spring commissioned Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring to carry out the project. The Jet came back from the workshop with radical changes. With an aluminum body over a thin tubular steel frame, the Italia sat lower and looked more streamlined than the Jet.

The new design included V-shaped scoops on the front fenders and stacked taillights mounted on chrome tubes that protruded from corrugated cutouts in the rear fenders. The revised interior was distinctly European, thanks to contoured bucket seats, two-tone leather upholstery and plush carpets. Hudson was impressed with the prototype and ordered a limited run of 50 examples.

The Italia was praised at various auto shows for its design and features. However, the 114-horsepower, 202-cubic-inch (3.3-liter) inline-six engine was considered underpowered, and sports car fans were in no hurry to sign checks for $4,800 for the souped-up Hudson (about $51,000 in 2024). Hudson was only able to sell 26 examples, and the Italia disappeared along with the company in the mid-1950s.

Overshadowed by more successful vehicles of the era and forgotten by car enthusiasts, the Italia returned to the spotlight when the first production example sold for nearly $500,000 at auction in 2023. A year later, another Italia appeared in Thousand Oaks, California.

This version is nowhere near as glamorous. Although it runs and drives, it needs a thorough restoration as the aluminum body has been stripped and shows damage. However, the car appears to be complete, and the interior is in decent condition (though there is no information on how original it is). Likewise, there are no pictures of the inline-six engine.

The seller, who claims this example is the seventh produced and was displayed at the 1954 Paris Motor Show, wants $160,000 for the rare Hudson. Somehow the Italia looks cool in this semi-dilapidated state, but I definitely want to see a restored version of it.