ICON’s 1949 Hudson Coupe Gets 630 HP V8, Retains Original Looks

ICON is best known for its work creating custom 4x4s but has done something a little different for its latest project, turning an unloved 1949 Hudson Coupe into a powerful vehicle more than capable of shocking would-be drag racers at the lights.

The Utility Coupe was built by Hudson Motor Car Company in Detroit between 1937 and 1942 and ICON says this particular example was found rotting away in a North Carolina barn.

Eager to breathe new life into it, ICON embarked on a comprehensive restomod project.

Also Read: Icon Wants $265,000 For This One-Off 1970 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Restomod

The first port of call was to replace the standard 3.5-liter inline-six cylinder with GM’s LS9 V8 from the C6-gen Corvette ZR1, which delivers 638 HP thanks, in no small part, to the presence of a huge supercharger. An impressive torque figure of 604 lb-ft (818 Nm) perfectly complements the huge number of horses and inevitably results in spectacular performance.

While the car has the engine of a Corvette ZR1, it doesn’t use its transmission, but comes fitted with a four-speed automatic gearbox from Huntington Beach Transmissions. Other modifications include an upgraded Icon braking system, new heat exchangers, a Griffin aluminum radiator, and 18-inch forged billet aluminum wheels.

What we particularly like about the project is that Icon decided against overhauling the looks of the car and, to everyone other than a Hudson expert, it looks identical to the original. Pop open the hood, however, and you are presented with a raging V8 that can put many mid-engine supercars on notice.