Hupmobile Four Trivia Question of the Week: 1. Born June 25, 1925, this actress was perhaps best known for her TV role as mother of Timmy Martin on the CBS series Lassie. What was her name? 2. A popular hit song from 1925 had lyrics that went something like this: ‘If you knew _____, like I know _____’. Fill in the blanks and can you name the popular male vocalist who made this song a hit? 3. Here’s one for you history buffs, of which the FIN MAN is not included. What was the name of the man who announced on January 3, 1925, that he was taking dictatorial power over Italy and began using the title ‘II Duce’? 4. And, while we’re on the subject of world leaders, who was president of the United States in 1925? He was the first president to have his inauguration broadcast on radio.
Answers to the trivia questions may be found on the FIN MAN's web site at http://www.thefinman.com.

‘Detroit iron’ was once a buzz phrase commonly used by many automobile magazines and overheard at gatherings of car guys in reference to the ‘Big 3’ auto makers and the products proudly produced in the ‘motor city.’ These days that term is rarely heard with the possible exception of collectible auto shows where examples of Detroit’s relics are displayed for all to admire. Perhaps more appropriate in today’s market would be ‘Tokyo plastic’ or ‘Seoul poly carbonate,’ more accurate descriptions the cars that many of our fine, upstanding American citizens have chosen to grace their driveways.
Back in the ‘good ol’ days’ Hupmobile was true, red white and blue, ‘Detroit Iron’ through and through. Known for their dependability, the Hupmobile was chosen as Detroit’s first police car and the marque was known for their frequent participation in endurance trials across the nation and around the world.
Robert C. Hupp gained experience in the automobile industry working for Olds, Ford and Regal– all Detriot-based auto manufacturers back in ‘the day’. Eager to go into business for himself, Hupp built an experimental car in the fall of 1908. The Model 20, as it was dubbed, was powered by a four cylinder, water-cooled engine and embodied a number of advanced features typically not found in cars which targeted the lower price class. These included a high tension magneto and a two-speed, sliding gear transmission... features normally found only on higher priced automobiles. Just one week after completing his experimental model, Hupp formed the Hupp Motor Car Company and jumped into the burgeoning new automobile industry with both feet. Having formed an executive team with some very experienced and ambitious industry leaders, the company became an overnight success. But, in a very similar situation to that which Ransom E. Olds had found himself in just a few years earlier, the aggressive corporate executive team at Hupp Motor Company in short order became too much for Robert Hupp to handle and he soon found himself forced out of his own company.
Fin Man friend, co-worker and coal miner’s daughter Catherine Young of Gillespie, Illinois, says her father James P. Young (who’s last name defies his 1910 vintage) remembers his parents owning a 1925 Hupmobile when he was just a boy of fifteen. Knowing how the laws (or lack of same) were in the early 1900s, young James more than likely was spending time behind the wheel of that Hupmobile in 1925 and may have even logged a few miles on the car his parents owned PRIOR to the ‘Hup’! UPDATE: Since the print version of this story was released, I have learned additional information about Catherine’s father James Young. Though ninety-eight years young, James still remembers that he did indeed drive the Hupmobile. As a matter of fact, he says that he took his wife Mary (Catherine’s mother), who he refers to as ‘Honey,’ on many a date in the Hupmobile. James’ father was a manager for Superior Coal Company which operated many mines in the area surrounding Staunton, Illinois, about forty miles northeast of St. Louis. That Hupmobile logged a lot of miles in and around Wilsonville and Mt. Clare, Illinois where James and his parents moved to on August 16, 1926 when James was sixteen... and I believe him because that’s what he said this evening when I called to get more details. He also related that although his mother and father lived in Illinois, his mother travelled to Cowdenbeath, Scotland at the time of James’ birth just so that he could be born in their homeland. (He jokingly regrets that he could never run for President of the United States since he was not born in this country.) James family was originally from Cowdenbeath which, coincidentally is a coal mining area of Scotland. James would go on to work in the local mines of Illinois for Superior Coal Company at number 3 in Mt. Clare and number 4 in Wilsonville.
The 1925 Hupmobiles were produced in three series. The Models R-14 and R-15 were smaller, riding a 115" wheelbase and were powered by a 39 horsepower, in-line four cylinder engine. These cars were available in five body styles including a 2-passenger roadster, 2-passenger coupe, 3-door, 5-passenger ‘touring’ car (soft top); 5-passenger club sedan and 5-passenger sedan, like the one James Young’s parents owned. The Model E-1 was slightly larger, riding a 118.25 inch wheelbase and were powered by a 60 horsepower, in-line eight cylinder engine. The E-1s were priced about four to five hundred dollars more than the R-14 and R-15 models and were available in the same body styles, less the ‘Club’ sedan. Options, as one might imagine, were sparse back in those days and limited, for the most part, to things like bumpers; step plates; an outside mirror; tire covers; Motometers (radiator caps with thermometers built in) and such. No eight track tape players or anything so high tech.
James parents had to shell out around $1,800.00 of hard earned money for the privilege of ownership when they purchased the Hupmobile back in 1925. That equates to about $22,500.00 in ‘08 dollars... near what you would pay for a Ford or Chevy today. So, as you can see, the extras features mentioned earlier really were a plus for this price level of automobile. And, although Hupmobile was considered an ‘entry level’ car in 1925, compared to the likes of Cadillac, Duesenberg and other high end luxury models, it was, nonetheless ‘pricey’ by comparison to other makes. The Youngs could have purchased a similar Chevy for just under $1,000.00 and a 1925 Ford Model T would have set them back a mere $300.00 or so. But, that reputation for ruggedness and dependability was what convinced most Hupmobile buyers to shell out the extra money up front. Roadside repairs were no fun back in the early 1900s! Just ask James Young. When he told Mary’s dad that he was late getting her home because he had a flat tire, he probably meant it. But if he had said the Hupmobile ‘broke down’, Mary’s dad would probably have raised an eyebrow in disbelief!

The FIN MAN is available for your group’s special occasion and is currently booking dates for December, 2008 and all of 2009. During his appearances, he presents an overview of the collector car hobby plus a detailed look at American cars from the fifties and sixties. His program includes a fascinating Power Point presentation with images of collectible automobiles and various associated nostalgia and Americana. Guests also have the opportunity to play "FINS for FUN," the video game he produced in 1987 which inspired his nickname, in which players compete to identify the year, make and model of cars from tightly cropped photos of fins and taillights. Those who score the highest win auto-related prizes donated by supporting Fin Man sponsors. For more information, click on this link: http://groups.msn.com/the-fin-man/seminaragenda.msnw.

Bruce Kunz is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians, the St. Louis Chapter of the Buick Club of America and the Monte Carlo Owners Association of America. He welcomes your comments and suggestions. To e-mail him, click here > mailto:the_fin_man@msn.com.
Bruce Kunz- a.k.a. "The FIN MAN"