Five, six, seven, eight. Wayne Graefen, the CarPort’s Texas Ranger, has found himself a new Hupmobile, an eight-cylinder 1938 model. Discovered in San Angelo, Texas, the car was solid, straight, presentable, and running, hindered only by lack of brakes. The Hupp caps needed only a bit of polish to shine.
The Hupmobile, we all remember, was the brainchild of Robert Craig Hupp, the early models characterized by high, bug-like headlamps and a tall radiator neck. This 1917 tourer was owned by Vitagraph star Antonio Moreno (here with starlet Edith Storey). Hupmobiles of the 1920s were sturdy, stylish cars, enlivened by one of the first straight eights in 1925. Like many, they embraced disk wheels as well as the common wood-spoke artillery type. Distinguished owners included Chicago socialite Lucy Blair Linn.
Designer Raymond Loewy’s first automotive gig was at Hupmobile, and his influence was apparent by the early 1930s. The 1934 Aerodynamic models were so streamlined that one could get a speeding ticket while standing still. Sales dwindled, though, down to just 74 in calendar 1936. A new model for 1938 had better luck, all of 1,890 cars, but just 197 were Model H eights like Wayne’s, sold only as four-door sedans. Hupp’s last gasp came with the Skylark in 1939-40, an unsuccessful attempt to partner with Graham in use of Cord 810 dies.
Wayne and friends journeyed to San Angelo last Saturday to retrieve his new treasure. With his friend Geoff at the wheel the car was hauled aboard a trailer, then tied down for the trip home to Kerrville. The 1938 Hupps are interesting for their faired headlamps and high-mounted taillights. Of note was an “alligator” hood, convenient hand brake and comfortable footroom. Wayne says that when cleaned up, if he squints a little – or a lot – the car looks almost like a fresh restoration. It does look grand, but a bit of work will be needed before the trunk is ready for luggage, the dashboard for driving and the seats for passengers in period dress.
