Apperson
Defunct US automobile manufacturer
The Apperson was a brand of American automobile manufactured from 1901 to 1926 in Kokomo, Indiana.
01Company history
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.
02Apperson cars
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). A 4-speed transmission was fitted. The steel-framed car weighed 2800 lb (1270 kg). The wheel base was 96 inches. 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.
03Roadplane models introduced
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.
04Final production
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.
05Apperson production models
For specifications on various Apperson models:
| Model | production | cylinder | horse power | wheel base | serial numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1902-1903 | 2 | 16-25 bhp (11,8-18,4 kW) | 2590 mm | |
| B | 1903 | 2 | 20 bhp (14,7 kW) | 2590 mm | |
| A | 1904-1905 | 4 | 40 bhp (29 kW) | 2743-2896 mm | |
| B | 1904-1905 | 4 | 24 bhp (17,6 kW) | 2590 mm | |
| Special | 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 | 1906 | 4 | 35 bhp (26 kW) | 2642 mm | |
| D | 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 | 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 | 1909 | 4 | 30 bhp (22 kW) | 3023 mm | |
| 4-30 (Jack Rabbit) | 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 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 |
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Apperson”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Apperson (1901).jpg by Cyclopedia of automobile engineering : a general reference work ... / prepared by a staff of automobile experts, consulting engineers, and designers of the highest professional standing ; illustrated with over fifteen hundred engravings v. 1, Public domain
- 1916-apperson.jpg by DougW at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Apperson Chummy Restored By Louie Floyd Apperson.jpg by The original uploader was ArcticTern at English Wikipedia., Public domain
- 1920 Apperson advert.jpg by Don O'Brien from Piketon, Ohio, United States, Public domain
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana, 1916, Plate 0023.jpg by Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana, 1916, Plate 0017.jpg by Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain
- Apperson Brothers Model B Touring Car 1905.jpg by Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers, Public domain
- Apperson Model O (1909).jpg by The American cyclopedia of the automobile; or, Motor cars and motoring self-taught; a work of reference & self instruction / by Thomas H. Russell and Charles P. Root, assisted by a corps of experts v.4 Met-Rep, Public domain
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