1935 Hupmobile 527-T

Robert C. Hupp was an automotive industry veteran with experience at Olds Motor Works, Ford Motor Company, and the Regal Motor Car Company. He established the Hupp Motor Car Company in November of 1908 in rented premises on Detroit's Bellevue Avenue. His prototype, dubbed the Hupmobile Runabout, was completed in time for the Detroit Automobile Show in February 1909. At the show, Mr. Hupp took production orders for the well-received vehicle with advance payments of $50 each. The jaunty two-passenger Runabout was designated the Model 20 and rested on an 86-inch wheelbase and was equipped with a water-cooled four-cylinder engine displacing 122 cubic inches and delivering 16.9 horsepower. The engine was mated to an advanced two-speed sliding gear transmission. The rectangular slab-style 11-gallon fuel tank was located directly behind the seats, and extra-cost Model 20 accessories included a glass windscreen, folding top, luggage rack, a brass Prest-O-Lite cylinder, and gas headlamps. Model 20 pricing was $750, F.O.B. Detroit, and production commenced in March of 1909 with approximately 1,600 examples built that year.

The popularity and strong demand for the Hupmobile convinced the company to move to larger premises and production grew to 5,340 units in 1910. The original Runabout was joined by Torpedo and enclosed Three-Passenger Coupe body styles. A record-setting around-the-world trip by a Hupmobile Model 20 that left Detroit with a three-man crew on November 10, 1910, and returned there on January 24, 1912, was rewarded with strong export sales. The reputation grew and early Hupmobiles were regarded as reliable and well-engineered.

While the record-setting trip was still underway, in September of 1911, Robert C. Hupp left the Hupp Motor Car Company. He went on to start three other automotive ventures but never matched the success achieved with his original Hupmobile design.

In 1912, Hupmobile introduced the Model H (also known as the Model 32) and eventually succeeded the Model 20 in 1915. This was the same year the company acquired the American Gear and Manufacturing Company of Jackson, Michigan. Among the assets of the newly acquired company was an individual named DuBois 'Pink' Young who would ultimately become president of the Hupp Motor Car Corporation (in August of 1926), as the firm was renamed following the American Gear acquisition. Charles Hastings became president in 1917 and under his direction came several new models and body styles. Among them was the Series R which would remain in production through 1924. The peak of Model R production was in 1923 with 38,279 units constructed.

Through 1924, Hupmobile vehicles were powered by four-cylinder engines. In 1925, the company introduced an eight-cylinder model named the Series E. Additional mechanical improvements included balloon tires and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. A year later, the four-cylinder model was dropped and a six-cylinder model was added to the lineup, complete with four-wheel mechanical braking. In 1928, Hupmobile vehicles came with four-wheel Steeldraulics and all-new styling by Murray's designer, Amos Northup. The combination of attractive styling and mechanical prowess earned Hupmobile a total of 65,862 sales. sales fell slightly a year later to 50,579 units.

In 1932 a Hupmobile named the 'Hupmobile Comet' was driven by Russell Snowberger at the Indianapolis 500 to a fifth-place finish.

Styling updates were applied by Raymond Loewy in 1931, and the Aerodynamic Hupmoibles with styling by Loewy arrived in 1934. Design cues included a three-piece windshield, faired-in headlights, and tire-carrying fastback body styles.

Following management issues, and being crippled by the effects of the Great Depression, Hupmobile production was suspended in late December of 1935. They applied for a Federal Reserve loan but after it was denied, began selling off its assets and some of its plants to raise capital. A new six- and eight-cylinder Hupmobile arrived in 1938 and wore new styling that was devoid of the previous aerodynamic design.

1935 Hupmobile
The Hupmobile lineup for 1935 included the Series 517-W resting on a 117-inch wheelbase and powered by a six-cylinder engine delivering 91 horsepower. Body styles included a sedan priced at $700 and a sedan tourer that was $50 higher. The Series 518-D was a four-door sedan on a 118-inch wheelbase and powered by the engine of the Series 517-W. The Series 521-J had a 121-inch wheelbase, a 100-horsepower six-cylinder engine, and body styles that included a coupe, sedan, and victoria. Prices ranged from $1,115 for the victoria to $1,905 for the sedan.

The Series 521-O and Series 527-T were both eight-cylinder models with 120 horsepower. The Series 521-O had a 121-inch wheelbase and the Series 527-T used a 127.5-inch platform. Series 521-O body styles included a coupe, sedan, sedan tourer, victoria, and victoria tourer priced at approximately $1,200. The Series 527-T was priced at $1,400 for the sedan, coupe, and victoria.

The Hupmobile vehicles of 1934 and 1935, wearing Raymond Loewy designs, were attractive, comfortable, and reliable. They were known as the Hup Aerodynamics and renowned for their rounded lines, sloping grilles, headlights that faired in the fenders, and split 'sea gull' front bumpers. New for 1935 were the small 'mouse ear' vents on the hood sides and the mesh-type grille.

Hupmobile produced approximately 9,346 vehicles in 1935.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2021