There were hundreds of car makers in the early 1900s and Hupmobile was one of the few that survived for very long. Could one of these cars have really survived for over 100 years with its original upholstery and paint? Most of the old barn finds like this Hupmobile listed on eBay are older restorations but this Model 32 appears unrestored and mostly original. It even runs and drives. The top is new but much of the rest appears to have somehow have survived for 105 years. The Model 32 was first built with an all steel body before the company switched to a more conventional design. If this is a steel bodied car it would help explain how it survived. It’s located nearby in Lodi, California. The opening bid of $21,500 is unmet.
In 1913 right-hand drive was still common. It was only when the left-hand drive Ford Model T became popular that left-hand drive became standard. The switches in the middle of the dash control the throttle, spark advance and choke. That’s a speedometer on the right with an odometer and trip odometer.
The upholstery is said to be original. It’s hard to imagine how it could survive over 100 years.
The radiator hoses and that strap are replacements, of course, but the rest appears original. That little 4 cylinder engine was rated at 32 HP.
It certainly looks the part of an old car. The headlights are acetylene, but there’s no acetylene generator so that must be an acetylene tank on the running board. Prestolite Electric’s first product was an acetylene tank to replace the acetylene generators used to power headlights. Instead of having to fill the tank with water and the bottom container with calcium carbonate and wait all the driver had to do was to turn on the tank and “press to light” or “Prestolite”, the name of the company. Hopefully, there’s a buyer who will appreciate the originality of this Hupmobile. It’s a bit of history that needs to be saved.
David I agree 1000 % this car and others of the pre W.W II era need to be restored and cherished as a important part of America’s automotive heritage, hopefully some one preserves this icon of the Brass era, and thanks for the lesson regarding the origin of prestolite
A little closer to pre-WW-I era, but that would still make it pre-WW-II, hmmmmm? But a required preservation nonetheless. Neat.
Technically it’s calcium carbide. Very cool fact about prestolite
WHaaaaaaa !?!? You had to start your own headlights and no high beams!!? That would hospitalize my grandkids with their foo-foo headlights.
Speaking of hospitalization, Prestolite no doubt that “Press-to-blow-up” would have had a negative marketing impact. These things were notorious for fires. Especially in coal mines.
Wow, that’s quite a find!
Thanks, David, for posting.
Thanks for catching that!
(I hope this Hupmobile is saved as it is)
Very cool. Drop the big block of your choice in that baby, add some wide-assed rear slicks, head out to the drags on Sunday, and Bob’s yer uncle! Nice!
No, not really, just kidding. It’s great to see a survivor like that.
This would be fun to cruise the back roads with. Digging the “non skid” tires too….Cool ride.
The original leather I’ve seen in cars of this vintage seem to take years of abuse with no problem. Maybe the cows were tougher then, like most everything. Today’s leather is pretty thin.
I’m sure that they were using full hides back then, not split or even shaved.
I’m just agog. I always enjoy your posts David, but I’m always hoping for something like this. Thanks.
Elegant old beast ain’t she !
Hi Al,
Well those headlights leave a little to be desired. More practical like a model T. Most of the “elegant” brass cars are fetching 250k +.
Awesome find. Keep it like it is and on weekends go to the park and take kids for rides.
What’s more conventional than a steel body?
Back then almost all car bodies were built over wooden sub frame pieces similar to how a Morgan is still built. This being an all steel is quite unusual for the time. My dad was born in 1913 and while he passed away in 1990 I think that the fact that this car is still around is fantastic.
I didn’t know that it didn’t have steel over a wooden frame.
I say “Detail – detail – detail” and preserve…very cool
find,how rare to find something that complete of that age..!
This sure would draw a crowd…anywhere..!
Calling Jay Leno!
Pretty fine automobile for the early days of auto.
Bob
auto museum , auto museum
No auto museum! Buy it, tune the engine, lube it and drive it. Brass cars need more public exposure to keep them out of museums. Join the Horseless Carraige club and tour! These cars were hand built when America had over 100 automobile manufacturers and probably less than half our population. We now have 4, anyone see a problem?