By the 1950s Hudson had carved what was then a unique niche in the automotive world, one of proven performance through racing, specifically in NASCAR. Hudsons would dominate the series in the early 1950s, winning 12 races in 1951, 27 of 34 races in 1952, 22 of 37 in 1953, and 17 of 37 in 1954. During this time, drivers behind the wheel of a Hudson secured three consecutive NASCAR Grand National Series championships, beginning with Herb Thomas in 1951, then Tim Flock in 1952, and Herb Thomas once again in 1953.

Building on this performance success, 1952 marked the first year Hudson offered its “High-Output” options catalogue to the public. That same year Hudson also introduced the Wasp with its signature step-down chassis design. Built on the company’s short-wheelbase platform, the new Wasp was offered in a variety of body styles, including four-door Sedan, two-door Brougham, Club Coupe, two-door pillarless Hollywood Hardtop, and Convertible Brougham. While the standard drivetrain for the Wasp was a 127-brake-horsepower inline six-cylinder engine with a Carter single-barrel carburetor backed by a manual transmission, Hudson offered a Hydra-Matic transmission for an additional $175.71, and performance options that included better flowing cylinder heads and the Twin H-Power package, which featured dual intake manifolds with a dual-carburetor induction system.

This 1952 Hudson Wasp Two-Door Brougham is one such uniquely optioned vehicle. It is powered by an inline six-cylinder engine with the legendary Power Dome cylinder head and Twin H-Power carburetor setup. The engine is backed by the optional Hydra-Matic Drive four-speed automatic transmission, a rare option on a Wasp.

These unique performance specifications coupled with the Wasp’s short-wheelbase design likely caught the discerning eye of legendary actor, “The King of Cool,” Steve McQueen. From the epic motorcycle scenes in The Great Escape and the legendary Mustang chase scene in Bullitt to the revolutionary race-sequence filming of Le Mans, not to mention the numerous fun toys his character had in The Thomas Crown Affair, Steve McQueen is a name synonymous with ground-breaking movies and special cars.

Said to have been one of his favorites to drive later in life, McQueen’s widow, Barbara Minty, has recounted that he “loved and babied” this Hudson Wasp. “We used to drive it around Santa Paula often,” she said; it was his “Sunday-go-to-church-car.” McQueen was also known to use this Wasp for school pick-ups. Great photos taken by Barbara show McQueen outside the Santa Paula Airport hangar with his beloved Hudson. He stored some of his car collection there and even called the airport hangar home for roughly two years while his house was being remodeled.

Following McQueen’s passing, this Hudson Wasp was part of his estate auction held at the Imperial Palace in November 1984. Lot 526, it was simply listed in the catalogue with year, make, and model, described as “very good overall condition.” In November 2006, the Hudson Wasp was once again offered for public sale, this time acquired by the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, which displayed the car to adoring Steve McQueen fans within their hallowed walls and at various events, including the 2013 Steve McQueen Car and Motorcycle Show, the 2014 ArtCenter College of Design Street to Screen Car Classic, and the 2015 Friends of Steve McQueen Show.

Now, following nearly 20 years of ownership, this Hudson is proudly offered from the Petersen Automotive Museum collection. Having been maintained as needed over the years, it is believed to retain most of its original paint and interior, which lend to its honest presentation—one that substantiates the belief that the 63,537 miles on the odometer are original. The engine has been rebuilt in the past and is well detailed, with the highly sought-after Power Dome cylinder head and Twin H carburetor setup intact.

While McQueen’s earlier years were filled with the finest European sports cars, including countless Ferraris, Porsches, and even a Jaguar XKSS, he turned his attention later in life to American machines. It is easy to see the appeal of this unassuming Hudson Wasp with its sleek roofline, timeless 1950s American styling, NASCAR pedigree, and optional automatic transmission, which makes it a perfect cruiser and somewhat of a sleeper.

“I worked hard; and if you work hard, you get the goodies,” Steve McQueen once said. This Hudson Wasp is definitely one of the goodies.