1921 Hupmobile Model R-5 Tourer

This is something a little bit different! How about a 1921 Hupmobile Model R-5 Tourer finished in Cream with Black Leather interior! She is a very rare Right Hand Drive Example! She is showing 57k on the clock and has been all over the world only to arrive in the UK in the early Nineties! She has only had 4 owners in the UK and had a £10k engine rebuild a few years ago! A load of vintage fun for not very much money!

The turn of the 19th Century was a time when the United States' fast-growing auto industry attracted talented engineers in droves. One such was Robert Craig Hupp, whose early career had included spells with Olds, Ford and Regal. Introduced at the Detroit Auto Show in February 1909, the first Hupmobile was a racy-looking two-seater runabout on an 86" wheelbase - the Model 20 - that was powered by a 20hp four-cylinder engine and priced at $750. Production began in the US auto industry's - and Robert Hupp's - hometown of Detroit, Michigan in March 1909. Output totalled a little over 1, 600 cars by the year's end and more than trebled the following year.

In November 1910 a Hupmobile tourer set off on an around-the-world trip, visiting 26 countries, and on its return to Detroit in January 1912 had covered some 48, 600 miles, garnering much valuable publicity. By this time Robert Hupp had left the company following a disagreement with his business partners. Nevertheless, Hupmobile's success continued unabated, aided by the introduction in 1912 of a new 32hp four-cylinder car on a 106" wheelbase, the Model 32. 11, 649 were sold in 1913 alone and the Model 32 would remain a fixture of Hupmobile's range until the 1916 line-up was announced. For many years Hupmobile, like Dodge and Chevrolet, built nothing but four-cylinder cars, the last of the line being the Model R manufactured from late 1917 through to 1925.

From comparisons with the cataloged Series R for this year, this appears to be a nice example of the Five Passenger Touring model. Our car was built in 1921 in the USA to Right Hand Drive Specification, and found its way to New Zealand on the 16th February 1925 and was first registered there to a Mr. George Bridget of 494 Armagh Street in Linwood, Christchurch. She spent most of her life there before arriving in the UK over 34 years ago in 1992. She has only had 4 owners since then, easch of whom has cherished "Harriet the Hup" and there are invoices on file for a full engine rebuild and extra work totally £10k a few years ago. She runs and drives very nicely stil and is surprisingly easy to use! All in all, a lovely vinatge Tourer, very useable and easy to maintain, and surprisingly easy to drive! Loads of fun on a sunny day taking everyone to the pub but she also has full wet weather gear if needed!