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).[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
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
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:
| 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
- 1 2 Dusan Ristic-Petrovic. "Image: Miscellaneous Brochures and Data/Autos of 1904 Booklet/Autos of 1904-10". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Model A". Hand book of automobiles (1905). 1905-01-19. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
- ↑ "Model B". Hand book of automobiles (1905). 1905-01-19. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
- ↑ "Model Special". Hand book of automobiles (1905). 1905-01-19. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
- ↑ "Model C". Hand book of automobiles (1906). 1906-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
- ↑ "Model D". Hand book of automobiles (1906). 1906-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
- ↑ "Model M". Hand book of automobiles (1908). 1908-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
- ↑ "Model O". Hand book of automobiles (1909). 1909-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
- ↑ "Model 4-30". Hand book of automobiles (1910). 1910-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-23.
- ↑ "Model Jack Rabbit 4-30". Hand book of automobiles (1911). 1911-01-15. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ↑ "Apperson serial numbers". Auto data book 1922. 1922-01-01. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
- 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
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