Company overview
Hupmobile was a line of automobiles produced by the Hupp Motor Car Company from 1909 to 1939. The company began with Bobby Hupp and Charles Hastings, initially funded by investors including J. Walter Drake and Joseph Drake. Early models, such as the Model 20, were built in a small Detroit factory and quickly outgrew its space. In 1911, Hupp pioneered the use of all-steel bodies through a collaboration with Hale & Kilburn Company. Production increased significantly in 1910 and continued to grow, reaching over 65,000 units by 1928. The company acquired the Chandler-Cleveland Motors Corporation in 1928 to expand its manufacturing capabilities. Despite technical innovations like ‘free wheeling’ and the Evanair-Conditioner, Hupmobile faced challenges including stockholder disputes and a hostile takeover. The company introduced the Model K in 1932, designed by Raymond Loewy, and later acquired the tooling for the Cord 810 in an attempt to revive sales. Production of the Skylark, based on the Cord design, began in 1938 but was ultimately unsuccessful due to delays and canceled orders. Hupmobile ceased production in 1939, marking the end of an era for the Detroit automaker. Notable legacies include the founding of Greyhound Lines and the creation of the National Football League, with elements of Hupmobile’s design influencing later vehicles such as Lincoln Continental grilles and Buick models.
