Detroit-based Hudson celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1949 with a line of cars that continued the popular “step-down” design introduced the year before.

Even as other American automakers caught up with their first fully redesigned post-WWII cars, the 1949 Hudson enjoyed a 36-percent gain in sales from 1948.

The step-down design gave the 1948-1954 Hudsons a relatively low center of gravity—a factor that contributed to the cars’ highly praised handling.

The sleek styling was particularly attractive on the long-deck Club Coupe, as illustrated by the 1949 Commodore deluxe version offered here.

The vendor reports this 1949 Club Coupe is powered by a later production Hudson 308-cid L-head six.

Introduced in 1951 as the standard engine in that year's new Hornet line, the 308 made Hudson's legendary early 1950s NASCAR successes possible.

(A 262cid Hudson engine was originally used in 1949 Commodore Six models.) With the 98,049 miles showing said to represent actual car mileage and a pr...