Apperson
{{Short description|Defunct US automobile manufacturer}}
{{For|the British writer and editor|George Latimer Apperson}}
Image:Apperson Chummy Restored By Louie Floyd Apperson.jpg
The Apperson was a brand of American automobile manufactured from 1901 to 1926 in Kokomo, Indiana.
Company 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.
Apperson 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).{{cite web|author=Dusan Ristic-Petrovic |url=http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/Misc%20Brochures/Autos%20of%201904%20Booklet/Autos%20of%201904-10.html |title=Image: Miscellaneous Brochures and Data/Autos of 1904 Booklet/Autos of 1904-10 |publisher=Oldcarbrochures.com |date= |accessdate=2012-10-07}} 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.
Roadplane 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:[https://patents.google.com/patent/USD48359 "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
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
For specifications on various Apperson models:
- Apperson Model A {{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.105712459&seq=13 |title= Model A|date=1905-01-19|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1905) |access-date=2025-03-03}}
- Apperson Model B {{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.105712459&seq=12 |title= Model B|date=1905-01-19|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1905) |access-date=2025-03-03}}
- Apperson Model C {{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022474673&seq=16 |title= Model C|date=1906-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1906) |access-date=2025-03-08}}
- Apperson Model D {{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022474673&seq=19 |title= Model D|date=1906-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1906) |access-date=2025-03-08}}
- Apperson Model Special {{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.105712459&seq=14 |title= Model Special|date=1905-01-19|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1905) |access-date=2025-03-03}}
- Apperson Six Sport Sedan
- Apperson Model M {{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022474699&seq=113 |title= Model M|date=1908-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1908) |access-date=2025-03-21}}
- Apperson Model O {{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015036836156&seq=250 |title= Model O|date=1909-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1909) |access-date=2025-03-23}}
- Apperson Model 4-30 {{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022474715&seq=135 |title= Model 4-30|date=1910-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1910) |access-date=2025-03-23}}
- Apperson Model Jack Rabbit 4-30 {{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022474723&seq=101 |title= Model Jack Rabbit 4-30|date=1911-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1911) |access-date=2025-03-27}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|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}}
{{Kokomo, Indiana}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Indiana
Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States
Category:Companies based in Kokomo, Indiana
Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1902
Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1926
Category:1902 establishments in Indiana