Apperson

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For the British writer and editor, see George Latimer Apperson.
1916 Apperson Jack Rabbit Touring Car
Apperson Chummy Roadster
1920 Apperson advertisement
Apperson north plant (1916)
Apperson south plant (1916)

The Apperson was a brand of American automobile manufactured from 1901 to 1926 in Kokomo, Indiana.

Company history

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The company was founded by the brothers Edgar and Elmer Apperson shortly after they left Haynes-Apperson; for a time they continued to use a FR layout-mounted flat-twin engine, following it with a horizontal four.

Apperson cars

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In 1904, Apperson offered vertical fours in two models. The 1904 Apperson Touring Car was a touring car model. Equipped with a tonneau, it could seat 6 passengers and sold for US$6000. The vertical-mounted straight-4, situated at the front of the car, produced 40 hp (29.8 kW).[1] A 4-speed transmission was fitted. The steel-framed car weighed 2800 lb (1270 kg). The wheel base was 96 inches.[1] The Apperson offered electric lights, a novelty for the time, and used a modern cellular radiator. The 25 hp (18.6 kW) version weighed 1800 lb (816 kg) and sold for US$3500.

In 1906 the company cataloged a 95 hp (71 kW) four at $10,500. The next year the first of the famed Jackrabbit speedsters rolled off the line; this was a 60 hp (45 kW) that sold for $5000. For a time, the entire range was known as the "Jack Rabbit" - in 1913 a 32.4 hp (24 kW) four and a 33.7 hp (25 kW) six were listed, and a 33.8 hp (25 kW) 90-degree V-8 of 5.5 L (5502 cc/335 in3) followed in 1914.

Roadplane models introduced

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In 1916 the company announced production of the "Roadplane" six and eights. The term "Roadplane" did not refer to a specific model but was a marketing concept devised by Elmer Apperson that was applied to the "Chummy Roadster" and the "Touring" car. Elmer took the unusual step of patenting the "Chummy Roadster" design (see:"U.S. Patent 48359").

The "Silver-Apperson", designed by Conover T. Silver, was launched in 1917; the model was known as the "Anniversary" after 1919. A sedan proprietary with six cylinders of 3.2 L (3243 cc/197 in3) appeared in 1923, and a Lycoming eight-cylinder was offered beginning in 1924.

Final production

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By 1924, Apperson and Haynes were both losing sales; a rumored remarriage came to naught, and Apperson folded for good despite the introduction of four-wheel brakes on the 1926 models.

Apperson production models

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For specifications on various Apperson models:

Model production cylinder horse power wheel base serial numbers
A [2] 1902–1903 2 16–25 bhp (11,8–18,4 kW) 2590 mm
B 1903 2 20 bhp (14,7 kW) 2590 mm
A [3] 1904–1905 4 40 bhp (29 kW) 2743–2896 mm
B [4] 1904–1905 4 24 bhp (17,6 kW) 2590 mm
Special [5] 1905 4 50 bhp (37 kW) 2896 mm
A 1906–1907 4 55 bhp (40 kW) 2921–2946 mm
B 1906–1907 4 45 bhp (33 kW) 2845–2896 mm
C [6] 1906 4 35 bhp (26 kW) 2642 mm
D [7] 1906 4 95 bhp (70 kW) 2642 mm
Special 1907 4 96 bhp (71 kW) 2794 mm
K Jack Rabbit 1908–1909 4 55 bhp (40 kW) 2896 mm
M [8] 1908–1909 4 35–40 bhp (26–29 kW) 2705–3023 mm
S 1908 4 55 bhp (40 kW) 2896 mm
I 1909 4 40 bhp (29 kW) 3251 mm
O [9] 1909 4 30 bhp (22 kW) 3023 mm
4-30 (Jack Rabbit)[10][11] 1910–1911 4 30–32,4 bhp (22–23,8 kW) 2896–3023 mm
4-40 1910–1911 4 40 bhp (29 kW) 3099 mm
4-50 1910–1911 4 50 bhp (37 kW) 3251 mm
Jack Rabbit 1910 4 50 bhp (37 kW) 2946 mm
4-45 1912–1915 4 32–45 bhp (23,5–33 kW) 2896–3048 mm
4-55 1912–1913 4 55 bhp (40 kW) 2997 mm
4-65 1912 4 65 bhp (48 kW) 3251 mm
Light 4-45 1914 4 32 bhp (23,5 kW) 2946 mm
6-45 1914–1915 6 29–38 bhp (21,3–28 kW) 3099–3251 mm 6300 to 6400 [12] and 10000 to 12000
6-55 1914 6 43 bhp (31,6 kW) 3251 mm
6-48 1915 6 29 bhp (21,3 kW) 3200 mm
6-16 1916 6 29 bhp (21,3 kW) 3251 mm 15000 to 17000
8-16 1916 8 V 31 bhp (23 kW) 3251 mm 12000 to 13000
6-17 / 6-18 1917–1918 6 29,4 bhp (21,6 kW) 3302 mm 15000 to 17000
8-17 / 8-18 / 8-19 1917–1919 8 V 31–33,8 bhp (23–25 kW) 3302 mm— 13000 to 15000
Anniversary / 8-20 1920 8 V 60 bhp (44 kW) 3302 mm
8-21 / Beverly 1921–1922 8 V 70 bhp (51 kW) 3302 mm
6-23 / 6-24 / 6-25 / 6-26 1923–1926 6 46 bhp (34 kW) 3048 mm
8-23 / 8-24 / V-Type Eight 1923–1925 8 V 60–70 bhp (44–51 kW) 3302 mm
Straightaway Eight / Eight 1925–1926 8 60–65 bhp (44–48 kW) 3048–3302 mm

References

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  1. ^ a b Dusan Ristic-Petrovic. "Image: Miscellaneous Brochures and Data/Autos of 1904 Booklet/Autos of 1904-10". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  2. ^ "Model A". List of automobiles showing year, model, type of body, horsepower, list price and collision insurance ratings 1916. 1916-01-01. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  3. ^ "Model A". Hand book of automobiles (1905). 1905-01-19. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  4. ^ "Model B". Hand book of automobiles (1905). 1905-01-19. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  5. ^ "Model Special". Hand book of automobiles (1905). 1905-01-19. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  6. ^ "Model C". Hand book of automobiles (1906). 1906-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
  7. ^ "Model D". Hand book of automobiles (1906). 1906-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
  8. ^ "Model M". Hand book of automobiles (1908). 1908-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
  9. ^ "Model O". Hand book of automobiles (1909). 1909-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  10. ^ "Model 4-30". Hand book of automobiles (1910). 1910-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
  11. ^ "Model Jack Rabbit 4-30". Hand book of automobiles (1911). 1911-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
  12. ^ "Apperson serial numbers". Auto data book 1922. 1922-01-01. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Apperson vehicles.
  • Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly (January, 1904)
  • Madden, W.C. (2003) Haynes-Apperson and America's first practical automobile : a history, Jefferson, N.C. ; London : McFarland & Co., ISBN 0-7864-1397-2