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A Face To Remember: 1935 Hupmobile Model D

The mid 1930’s were a swinging good time with the art deco movement making paces, and streamline designs coming to the automobile. Although not quite streamlined, this 1935 Hupmobile Model D has a face like no other. Appearing somewhat menacing, as if built for an evil doer of the era, this classic has weathered the storm of time fairly well. Described as “98% complete” this one seems complete enough to be restored to its former glory. Half way through the auction and still hanging at the opening bid of $6,250, this Hupmobile is just waiting for you to scoop it up at the opening bid price. Find it here on ebay out of Ringgold, Georgia.

Beneath the long sleek engine covers hibernates a heart that likely hasn’t pumped in decades. Although possibly having been dormant for many years, this Hupmobile looks to have lived a semi-pampered life after retiring from a daily use. The 245 cubic inch inline 6 offered a whopping 91 horsepower back in 1935. Currently in unknown condition, the engine ran many years ago, and the car was actually driven to where it was stored. Dry indoor storage should have been fair enough to the engine where with some time and patience, it could likely be revived. Looking over the engines exterior condition, and the engine bay itself, again, this Hupmobile looks to have benefitted greatly from living indoors, as there is little rust.

With suicide doors in the front, and typical doors in the back, this Hup is cool. The interior at first glance may look a little chaotic, but upon a closer examination of the pictures, there is still hope for this car. There is no visible rust, but the wood sections of the floors are gone, and need to be replaced. The front bench is missing its seat bottom, although perhaps the seller may have these missing items? The dash and gauge cluster are nice enough to use, as is the steering wheel. Although many of the door panels are present, the driver side one is missing. It appears this Hup’s original color scheme was a black exterior with a blue interior.

Covered in a matte black finish, the body of this Hupmobile is very nice, considering many other cars of this age have become rust mounds. There is no visible rot in this car, and there are only a few spots where surface rust is visible. There is light surface rust on top of the hood and radiator housing, as well as on the roof and on the spare tire cover. The only significant rust that can be seen are in the running boards, which is to be expected. The running boards have some thin spots, as well as some holes, but they seem manageable. You may have noticed there are 4 different size wheels and tires on this car, but the seller has the original steel wheels, and they have been blasted and powder coated. I would love to see everything that the seller has for this Hupmobile as any missing part for this car will be difficult to find. With some minor blemishes, and a mostly complete exterior, this Humobile almost seems too good not to restore, but the seller mentions the words “hot rod.” What would you do with this rare and unique faced Hupmobile?

Comments

  1. Avatar motoring mo

    Look at the car from the side and you’ll see that rear passengers sit ahead of the axle. It’s gorgeously proportioned and although not nearly as radical as a Chrysler of the time, still turned heads!

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  2. Avatar steve

    Im not really into pre-war cars, I respect them, and know how important they are to history. They are just not my particular brand of scotch. That said this thing is badd azz, and has a BEAUTIFUL front end. I would rod the crap out of this, 3 inch chop, modern suspension, remove and blend the spare tire sheetmetal, carbon fiber running boards, and as far as driveline goes????? Skys the limit…….maybe viper v-10????????? OK guys start throwing the rotten fruit….lol

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    • Avatar steve

      edit for profanity…..sorry

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    • Avatar doug6423

      You have a good point Steve. There are plenty of pre war cars that are already saved. Time to convert the remaining ones into something that can be driven and enjoyed. I love to see these converted so they can be driven everyday and enjoyed by a new generation. You can’t find this type of styling in modern cars and makes a statement wherever it’s driven.

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      • Avatar duaney

        All of these old cars are historical artifacts, and it’s just wrong to “convert” for the personal satisfaction of one individual, then the original car is lost for all time to come. It’s somewhat less horrifying to “convert” a common Ford or Chevy, since, yes, there are many original examples around. But a car like this Huppmobile, super rare, and super unique, has to be preserved and restored. I’ve never seen one in person, and this example might be the only one of it’s kind left in existence.

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      • Avatar Yellowjax Member

        All though I don’t agree once you own it you can do with it whatever you want. I’m not a hot rod guy.

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    • Avatar Loco Mikado

      Here

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  3. Avatar Ed P

    Continental designed and built engines for many of the independent makes. Does anyone know if the 245 I-6 has Continental roots?

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    • Avatar Jerry HW Brentnell

      pretty shure thats what we have here! and if you look hard enough there are lots of continental engines out there as they were used in lots of non car machinery such as fork lifts, welders, inboard boats etc me I would do this old girl up to look like new and drop a late model 6 cylinder engine and power train in it and brakes and enjoy the stuffing out of it! no hot rod! just make it drivable and haul the odd bride to her wedding in it!

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  4. Avatar geomechs Member

    I’ve always been enamored with this style of Hup. Twenty years ago I might be tempted to take this on. I would discourage doing anything but a full restoration; there just aren’t enough of them. I’m pretty sure that Hupmobile built it’s own engines. I remember seeing a block at the machine shop and it had Hupmobile cast right on the side. Of course a custom order could have specified that too.

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    • Avatar Ed P

      I wonder if Hupp had the engineers to design an engine from scratch?

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  5. Avatar Ck

    Wow this is kool !!The suicide doors are doing somthing for me .This is screaming Hot Rod .I know there aren’t alot of these left,but this needs a V8 and Flames.I WANT IT!!! Can one of you guys buy it for me?PLEASE!!!This weeks Barn Finds have been awsome so many kool cars to pick from.I haven’t been paying much attention the past few weeks my son had basketball playoffs .Gotta say I missed it.

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  6. Avatar Red'sResto

    With that front end this would be a great candidate for a Mad Max movie. Just replace that front bumper with some spikes…

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  7. Avatar doug6423

    Another perfect car to gut and customize!!! GTA all the way!!

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  8. Avatar Bill

    What would i do? i think you summed it up. “…Appearing somewhat menacing, as if built for an evil doer of the era…” This is what Professor Fate would have bought in ’35 for his nefarious schemes. Paint it Black as night, Subtle skull and cross bones here and there… hub centers perhaps…. maybe adjust the stance and drive that baby. Certainly improved brakes and possibly driveline are a good idea, but keep it looking period correct.

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  9. Avatar Grafton g

    It’s sad when one of these proud machines falls to the rodder or the chopper. They are beautiful the way they were meant to be. If I could afford it I would buy it and restore. Sadly it will likely end up destroyed.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Slotblog

    These cars are quite rare as restored vehicles, so my preference is that is what would happen. Nothing wrong with a rod at all, but I hate to see a rare and historic car where few have survivied be modified.

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  11. Avatar John Hess

    Leave it visually correct, upgrade the brakes, drive line, wireing & lites, possible the front seats W/buckets, A turbo 4 or V-6 should move it OK, don’t know it’s weight except I bet its heavy. Keep the wheels as close to original as possible
    belted WWW tires then cruise.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Paul B

    The reason this car looks so interesting is that it was an early Raymond Loewy design, expressing his “MAYA” principle — Most Advanced Yet Acceptable. It is graceful and streamlined without being as radical as the Chrysler Airflow. We’re more familiar with Loewy’s later efforts, particularly the 1953 Studebaker and the 1963 Studebaker Avanti. This car had the misfortune of being made by a small company and released in the depths of the Great Depression. It’s a historically significant car and I hope this example is preserved as stock in appearance at least. Do a search and also check out the 1934 Hupmobile “Aerodynamic” — the same car as this 1935, but with a three-piece windshield that predated the curved wraparound windshields to come. I think these Hupmobiles are very handsome.

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  13. Avatar Ck

    Ok so I know that Not restoring this car is Killing some of you guys .But to restore this car would cost a fortune .At least if its turned into a Hot Rod It would driven. In a perfect world this car would be brought back to the day she rolled of the assembly line .Look I’m 53 and I don’t remember these cars at all.They just weren’t around when I was growing up.Sadly the people that do remember these cars are up in years and can’t or don’t want to take on a restoration project.So you have to ask yourself is it better to Hot Rod it or junk it?

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    • Avatar Grafton g

      I don’t remember this when I was growing up either. Doesn’t make it any more restoration worthy. Yes my son and I restored it

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      • Avatar Ed P

        Nice job.

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    • Avatar Steve Hupp

      I bought this car to make it a hot rod. I have another one that is in much better condition that I just keep running and driving until I have the time to restore it. I hope to have a hot rod and an restored original before I die.

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  14. Avatar Paul B

    @Ck I definitely get that. I don’t remember these on the road either, and I’m old enough that I don’t want to take on a big restoration — of any car. It would be better to save this even with modern running gear and a few appearance mods than to just let it go to the steel recyclers, or sit moldering away.

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  15. Avatar Allen Member

    Wait a minute you guys. You talk as if rodding and crushing are the only alternatives. Were that true, I too would choose rodding over crushing. But that’s not quite true. Why do we have to replace the drive-train? No it’s not an SBC, nor does it need to be. I’m not saying keep it completely original. But a mid-30s flathead six can still serve sufficiently in modern traffic. An overdrive or a more long-legged rear-end could boost the comfortable touring speed to 65 mph anyway, if it’s not there already. A conversion to front disc brakes would be a good idea. Yes, a professional concours restoration would be six-digits expensive. But what’s happened to the idea of “fixing it up”? Make the mechanical repairs as needed. Make sure the brakes and steering are solid. In other words, make the car safe. Make or repurpose a usable front seat, etc, so as to make the car drivable and enjoyable during the many years of searching for correct original parts. Enjoy driving the car – hundreds, or even thousands of miles to car events. Ultimately, this car deserves that concours restoration – and that time will come. A prospective owner need only observe that famous admonition from the Hippocratic Oath: “First, do no harm…”

    FWIW,
    Allen

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  16. Avatar Frank Molby

    Reminds me of the car I learned to drive in, and my current restro mod. It’s a 1935 Plymonth.

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  17. Avatar STEVE L HUPP

    Here she is now with an old friend.

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  18. Avatar Bill W

    Hupp had engineers on staff to develop engines and tool car bodies. Their engineering department was not very large, but it could handle what was needed. Back in those days engines were developed and then used over a number of years. Hupp engines used in the late 1930’s dated back over a decade and were all built by Hupp. No Continental engines..

    Like 1
  19. Avatar jim huck

    what is the reason for the cloth top?

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    • Avatar Gregw

      Often the sheet metal stamping technology of the time could not produce acceptable results for the area. So the manufactures put a soft top in place of sheet metal.

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    • Avatar Bill W

      The top is a waterproof fabric. Auto companies could not afford to stamp one piece steel tops, thus the tops used a wood frame with the fabric laid on top.

      The wooden frame with chicken wire laid on top and beneath the fabric top was used by some manufacturers as radio antennas. And many people think Pontiac came up with the first hidden radio antenna in 1969.

      Hupmobile introduced the first Aerodynamic in January, 1934, the T series (427-T) , on a 127″ wheelbase. It used Hupp’s 303.2-cid straight eight. This model had the three piece windshield. The 521-J was introduced using the T’s body but on a 121″ wheelbase and using the 245.3-cid Hupp six engine.

      A smaller Aerodynamic was introduced in January , 1935 – the 518-D Aero- dynamic, a model that was shorter and narrower than the T and J body as well as using a one-piece windshield. The engine was the 245.3-cid six.

      A smaller 521-O, based on the 518-D but with am eight cylinder engine arrived for April, 1935. The three-piece windshield models were dropped in the fall of 1935.

      Hupp was running low on cash and the smaller body was delayed for production as a result. To fill the gap, Hupp signed an agreement with Ford to have Ford supply Hupp with body panels for the Ford sedan and convertible coupe. Thus the 417-W arrived for 1934, with Hupp using a 117″ wheelbase to fit their 245.3-cid 6 cylinder engine (longer hood).

      The W series was dropped when the D series (Aerodynamic) was introduced. Hupp tooled up for a permanent roof for the W series and thus the Ford convertible coupe became a coupe.

      There was a 1934 or 1935 417-W/517-W here in Vancouver. Have not seen in a few years. The owner left the basic lines alone and updated the brakes, drivetrain, wheels, instruments and the like. It was a nice looking car.

      Instead I have seen a Ford with a Hupmobile coupe body. You can tell by the side windows – they do not have upper door frames as on the sedan.

      Hupp ran out of money in the fall of 1936, and closed the Detroit plant. The plant in Windsor was closed at the end of 1935. Hupp tried again for 1938 but the recession year resulted in very poor sales. The last Hupp was built in the Summer of 1940.

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      • Avatar jim huck

        wow! that was a good answer, thanks I learned a lot. I am in the process of buying a 1935 hup and I never knew anything about them. thanks

        Like 0
  20. Avatar hank meeske

    Hupmobile was destroyed by Archie Andrews with a long series of suicidal law suits and closed down production which killed the dealers, suppliers and workers. Andrews had already ruined Ruxton, Kissel and most everything he touched until he died in later 1930s to everyone’s relief. Hupp might have survived at least until WWII and then who knows if they had dealers and product as they were a pioneer company with a loyal customer base

    Like 0

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