1926 Whippet Model 96 Two Door Sedan

The Whippet automobile was introduced in 1926 and it was, at the time, America's smallest car. It was a popular vehicle with a sticker price under $1,000. Sadly, the company was not able to endure the Great Depression and went out of business.

The Whippet marque was introduced in July of 1926 as a 1927 model and was Overland's successor. In comparison to the equivalent four-cylinder Overland, the Whippet was 200 pounds lighter and rested on a wheelbase that was a quarter-inch longer. The engine was more advanced, smaller, and produced the same amount of power. It featured advantages such as full-pressure oiling and pump-circulated cooling. It was a very durable and sturdy engine that would eventually be used in Jeep vehicles more than a decade later.

The Whippet vehicles quickly became very successful, popular, and high-selling vehicles. In 1928 a six-cylinder engine was added to the line up increasing the vehicle's versatility and catering to a wider demographic of buyers. In 1928 they were the third-best-selling marque and lost out to Essex by a small margin in 1929.

This vehicle is a 1926 Whippet Two-Door Sedan. It is powered by a four-cylinder engine and mated to a three-speed gearbox with floor-shift controls. It is painted medium blue and black with a blue Mohair interior. In the early 2000s, it was treated to a body-off restoration. There are dual side mirrors, dual step plates, wipers, wood wheels, rear-mounted spare, and full gauges.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2008