While there are cars that are inextricably tied to the last days of a company, there is only one model that I know of that played a role in the end of three. This 1939 Hupmobile Skylark is located in Dallas, Texas, and is listed here on eBay for $7,500. Credit for this rare find belongs to Larry D. Thanks!
While European fascism continued down the path that would lead it inevitably into conflict with the western democracies and the Empire of Japan prepared to enter into the second decade of its conquest of eastern Asia, the United States continued to suffer the lasting effects of the Great Depression. The economic disaster had already forced the closure of a number of smaller American manufacturers, with luxury brands particularly vulnerable, and in 1937, Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg would cease production.
Norman DeVaux at Hupmobile knew that his company was not far behind. Yet the demise of Cord presented an opportunity: the marriage of the stylish coachwork of the Cord 810/812 with a more conventional rear-wheel drive layout and manual transmission. The tooling was purchased in February of 1938 and alterations to the distinctive coffin nose were penned by John Tjaarda. Graham-Paige would handle production of the body of the new car while fielding their own version, the Hollywood. With this, the Hupmobile Skylark was born. Though accounts indicate that orders poured in, fabricating the complex bodies was more difficult than anticipated and the task was ultimately delegated to Hayes. The delays caused those same orders to be canceled. While Graham-Paige would build over 1,400 Hollywoods through 1940, the Skylark saw fewer than 400 examples. In the end, the car was not a success for either manufacturer; both would end production before the year was out.
The seller of this Skylark indicates that this car was one of the original thirty or so prototypes put together by Hupmobile prior to the start of production. These cars would have toured the auto show circuit before being sent to dealers to drive orders for the new car. This would make this particular car an exceptionally rare piece of automotive history. It’s in rough shape, but one must take into account the decades spent in a California barn. Condition aside, the car is not complete, and the rarity of this model, and even that of its Graham-Paige sibling, means that if a restoration is undertaken there will be a lot of fabrication. A worthy project, to be sure, but not for the faint of heart– or thin of wallet.
I have drawings of this car, and related Hupp, Cord, Dusenberg papers which we found in personal papers of Norman DeVaux…
Steve, If true you have such documents curious as to why they are not in a collection such as the Detroit Library or a museum?
I’m sure the A-C-D Museum would be interested.
Found them in a suitcase which belonged to one time GM and Durant exec Norman DeVaux who had a daughter that lived near me for years.. When they were clearing her estate out I saw some car photos tumbling out of a dumpster and grabbed an armload.. of stuff including the old suitcase. Chance find I suppose. Not everything winds up in a museum you know.. The landfill often gets the best stuff.
Hupp commenced production,then ran out of money.De Vaux approached Graham,who agreed to build Skylarks and Hollywoods.There was a delay in transferring the tooling etc to the GP factory,which effectively killed the project.I had a ’41 Hollywood Supercharged -quick car!Also have a ’39 Hupp E.
Great looking cars for the year, Cord was so far ahead of anything of the time. Then Hupmobile couldn’t keep this wonderful design in production. The body lines just flow!
Is that a supercharger on top of the engine (which appears to be laying on its side)?
The Skylarks weren’t Supercharged.Most of the Hollywoods were.
Love to see this car restored as new, but I’m sure it would cost three or four times what it’s worth. Hope someone does it anyway.
Methinks the missing parts would have to be fabricated, verrrry expensive!
Weld up the rear doors and windows, make a sedan delivery rear door, 426 Hemi and auto, great phantom street rod
Tube frame it.
Yuck.
I’ve purchased historic cars that had fallen into the wrong hands and returned them to normal.
Its very rarity makes it an American icon which should be restored to its original glory by maybe an automotive museum with deep pockets.
Taking a close look and considering how many of these cars were made presents a sizable challenge to restore. The shots of the underside reveal the need for some significant assessments involving the degree of corrosion related thinning. Let me know if I am wrong, because I am unfamiliar with how they attained rigidity of the body. It appears to be unit body construction, ie: no contiguous frame. Hence my concern for the corrosion down there. Restoration of a prototype is difficult work and extremely costly, research and sourcing needed parts, sometimes machining/fabricating your own, can take years. Shortfalls in the condition of the body can be solved by an expert body shop. All add up to big $$$$, but if you have the “scratch” and an itch for this kind of work go to it. Otherwise restomod it or call up Jay Leno and see if he is interested.
Bob, I would think that there is enough of it left to place in a museum as it is along with a Cord for comparision.
I would measure the wheel base and find a newer car or truck with a frame that has the same wheel base, put the body on it, get all the electrical and everything hooked up from the modern day chassis, and you’ve got a cruiser!
Their was one on Facebook market place for sale in Ohio . It had motor problems it had a flat head 6 in it.it was all together. it was a sweet looking ride ,it had mag wheels on it ,3 speed on the column. cloth interior, only wanted $6500. for it.
This was a very appealing car in its day. I can imagine it restored and looking like a work of art – – – it would seem almost any color would look great on it.
I agree with others who have pointed out what a huge effort and cost restoration would be…
Since I have not won the lottery, it will not be me.
Good luck to the buyer…
I think this is an attractive car and the price for what it is isn’t too bad when one considers what idiots were and are paying for rat rods with sketch build quality, thrown on parts and just rusty junk. You seen one seen them all.
This is a world apart. I would however want to question exactly how the seller comes to the conclusion that this car is a prototype? If there is concise documention it’s one thing. I do not think it would really matter one way or another. It is still a rare car that has a very good body all things considered again compare it to another.
I would be up in the air about adding a new non original drivetrain. It takes the magic from what this car really is.
There seems to be enough left of the car to build a nice street rod out of. Here in Omaha we have a old building that was a Huppmobile dealership that still says Huppmobile across the top and i believe the building is now being restored.
My personal educated guess is this is a leftover Cord 810 body that came along with the deal for the body dies. The dash panel was stamped for Cord instruments, and modified for Hupp instruments. This appears to have wiper arms above the windshield, like the Cord. The Hupp had wipers at the base of the windshield. Cord 810 taillights were on the trunk lid, while the Hupp cars had the taillights on the panel between the trunk lid and the fenders. This car has taillights in the trunk lid, so at least the trunk lid is from a Cord.
The trans tunnel is flat sheet steel that has been made using a simple brake to make the bends. As the Cord had no trans tunnel, this hand made tunnel also suggests a modified Cord-produced body. I’ll bet if the underside of the body is carefully examined, you will find it still has evidence of the original body to chassis mounts for the Cord chassis.
It’s certainly a possibility the car WAS one the Hupp company cobbled up & used for visiting dealerships, and it’s clear it was very early production. This will need more research, and I would contact the Hupp club for any info they might have. Certainly an interesting vehicle. If this was available 30 years ago, I would be interested.
Considering the unlikely ability to find the missing “Skylark only” parts, this may well be a candidate for an interesting street rod, and hopefully the original Cord body will be maintained. This is one of only a few body shells that would not benefit from a chopped top.
Some of you have NO idea of what this car could and is capable of!!!!!! do some checking and see one that was street rodded (two tone brown) and is OFF the hook!!!!! and is absolutely beautiful and a work of art.. I own 2 Graham Hollywoods and been following these auto’s for decades.
I have huppmobile headlights ,and two wooden spoke wheels whippits any ideas who would be interested?