The base Hudson Wasp used the L-Head straight six from the Pacemaker. Hudson also offered the Super Wasp which used improved interior materials and a more powerful Hudson 6-cylinder engine. Instead of using the Pacemaker's straight 6, the Super Wasp used Hudson's L-Head six fed by a single 2-barrel carburetor. The engine was rated at (with single 2-barrel carburetor) while the top-of-the-line Commodore Custom Eight's straight 8 was rated at . The six's power was underrated so it would not outshine the flagship straight 8. The narrow block engine was the basis for the stroked and reinforced Hornet 6-cylinder engine, introduced in 1951 which dominated NASCAR from 1952 to 1954. The Super Wasp was also offered with an aluminum "twin H" manifold and twin 2-barrel carburetors. Super Wasp performance with the "twin H" induction matched the performance of the big 2-barrel equipped, but heavier, Hudson Hornet.