Richard L. Burdick was devoted to the Great Race (now known as the Great American Race), a timed cross-country rally first held in 1983. Fiercely competitive and dedicated to the thrill of victory, Mr. Burdick and his friend and trusted navigator, Wayne Bell, drove in all of the first 25 races, taking home a record number of five wins. At one point Mr. Burdick was also a part-owner of the event and officiated for it over 25 years.

This 1916 Hudson, based upon an original Series H Super Six chassis and engine, was built by the Burdick team specifically to be driven in the Great Race. It participated in the event several times in 1997, 1998, and 2000, driven by the experienced team of Burdick and Bell; they claimed overall victory in the 2000 event, held between Boston, Massachusetts, and Sacramento, California.

The car features a tapered boattail body with a bare, polished aluminum engine cover, as well as fully exposed and functional side exhaust in the manner of a period Indianapolis racer. Disc wheels shod in blackwall tires provide excellent reliability, as does the engine, which was reportedly professionally built for long-distance driving. The interior features dual leather-covered bucket seats, facing an engine-turned aluminum dashboard with an assortment of instruments, including a Great Race-compliant rally timer and outsized clock. The steering wheel has been wrapped, for additional “grip” when maneuvering the Hudson across the U.S.!

One of the most exciting vehicles in this collection, this Hudson would be an ideal, potentially victorious rally competitor (perhaps a future repeat Great Race victor) – or simply a blast to drive for a new owner.