"The car I always wanted." . . . Tom Ferguson
Tom Ferguson with his grandfather's 1947 Hudson
A 1947 Hudson has a new home at Window on the Plains Museum -- a gift of Tom Ferguson of Dumas.
A sense of pride lights up Ferguson's face when he talks about that 1947 Hudson that at one time was owned by his grandfather.
He noticed the car parked beside a residence in Gruver in the late 70s or early 80s and thought it looked like his grandfather's car. He saw it again in 2012 and contacted the owner, Kenneth Bratton of Gruver. If the car actually was the one owned by his grandfather, Ferguson wanted to purchase it, if he could.
An old insurance card in the automobile listed Ferguson's grandfather, Roy Boney of Amarillo as a former owner. The insurance was issued by Frank Painter of Sunray. Bratton had purchased the car in 194 from Robert Lomax of Spearman.
Another owner was H. I. Gaye according to receipts found in the automobile.
Tom Dortch of Morse helped Ferguson put together the history of the vehicle. He had helped Gaye purchase the vehicle in 1955. According to Dortch, "I took Mr. Gaye over to Sunray to buy this '47 Hudson. He lived across the street from my folks, Mack Dortch. I worked at Capps Switch one fall after I got out of the Army and was well acquainted with Roy Boney who ran the office and the elevator." Dortch took Gaye to Sunray and "I think he gave $300 for the car."
A sense of pride lights up Ferguson's face when he talks about that 1947 Hudson that at one time was owned by his grandfather.
He noticed the car parked beside a residence in Gruver in the late 70s or early 80s and thought it looked like his grandfather's car. He saw it again in 2012 and contacted the owner, Kenneth Bratton of Gruver. If the car actually was the one owned by his grandfather, Ferguson wanted to purchase it, if he could.
An old insurance card in the automobile listed Ferguson's grandfather, Roy Boney of Amarillo as a former owner. The insurance was issued by Frank Painter of Sunray. Bratton had purchased the car in 194 from Robert Lomax of Spearman.
Another owner was H. I. Gaye according to receipts found in the automobile.
Tom Dortch of Morse helped Ferguson put together the history of the vehicle. He had helped Gaye purchase the vehicle in 1955. According to Dortch, "I took Mr. Gaye over to Sunray to buy this '47 Hudson. He lived across the street from my folks, Mack Dortch. I worked at Capps Switch one fall after I got out of the Army and was well acquainted with Roy Boney who ran the office and the elevator." Dortch took Gaye to Sunray and "I think he gave $300 for the car."
Keychain with the 1947 nickel
Ferguson and Bratton worked out the details of the car purchase and the restoration work began.
The first step in restoring the Hudson was having Bones Hayhurst at Jim's Shamrock check the engine. There was no insulation on the wiring, but with a new battery, it fired up. Ferguson said, "He cleaned out the interior and even found a 1947 nickel. I imagine my Grandpa still looking for that nickel. I thought it was pretty special and had it mounted in a keychain for the Hudson."
Ferguson commented, "The interior has been cleaned up (the only way my wife would ride in it), but I've tried to keep it as close to the original, the way my granddad had it."
Ferguson gives thanks to those who helped him bring the car back to life. "Many thanks to Mr. Kenneth Bratton for selling me the car -- even at the price he paid for it back in 1974. And thanks to Risa and Chris Lusk, Bones Hayhurst, Ken Coffey, Jimenez Auto Creations and Auto Stitch Upholstery." The car now has a beautiful new interior. The exterior shows it age with a few scrapes, but still has the regal look of a special car of its time.
"The funny thing about this is out of all the cars ever owned by anyone in my family, this is the one that I always wanted. Who knew I would find it again all these years later."
The first step in restoring the Hudson was having Bones Hayhurst at Jim's Shamrock check the engine. There was no insulation on the wiring, but with a new battery, it fired up. Ferguson said, "He cleaned out the interior and even found a 1947 nickel. I imagine my Grandpa still looking for that nickel. I thought it was pretty special and had it mounted in a keychain for the Hudson."
Ferguson commented, "The interior has been cleaned up (the only way my wife would ride in it), but I've tried to keep it as close to the original, the way my granddad had it."
Ferguson gives thanks to those who helped him bring the car back to life. "Many thanks to Mr. Kenneth Bratton for selling me the car -- even at the price he paid for it back in 1974. And thanks to Risa and Chris Lusk, Bones Hayhurst, Ken Coffey, Jimenez Auto Creations and Auto Stitch Upholstery." The car now has a beautiful new interior. The exterior shows it age with a few scrapes, but still has the regal look of a special car of its time.
"The funny thing about this is out of all the cars ever owned by anyone in my family, this is the one that I always wanted. Who knew I would find it again all these years later."
The Ferguson 1947 Hudson as it stands in the Museum Barn.