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). 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:"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 Six Sport Sedan Modelproductioncylinderhorse powerwheel base serial numbersA 1902–19032 16–25 bhp (11,8–18,4 kW)2590 mmB19032 20 bhp (14,7 kW)2590 mmA 1904–19054 40 bhp (29 kW)2743–2896 mmB 1904–19054 24 bhp (17,6 kW)2590 mmSpecial 19054 50 bhp (37 kW)2896 mmA1906–19074 55 bhp (40 kW)2921–2946 mmB1906–1907445 bhp (33 kW)2845–2896 mmC 19064 35 bhp (26 kW)2642 mmD 19064 95 bhp (70 kW)2642 mmSpecial19074 96 bhp (71 kW)2794 mmK Jack Rabbit1908–1909455 bhp (40 kW)2896 mmM 1908–19094 35–40 bhp (26–29 kW)2705–3023 mmS19084 55 bhp (40 kW)2896 mmI19094 40 bhp (29 kW)3251 mmO 1909430 bhp (22 kW)3023 mm4-30 (Jack Rabbit) 1910–19114 30–32,4 bhp (22–23,8 kW)2896–3023 mm4-401910–19114 40 bhp (29 kW)3099 mm4-501910–19114 50 bhp (37 kW)3251 mmJack Rabbit19104 50 bhp (37 kW)2946 mm4-451912–19154 32–45 bhp (23,5–33 kW)2896–3048 mm4-551912–19134 55 bhp (40 kW)2997 mm4-6519124 65 bhp (48 kW)3251 mmLight 4-4519144 32 bhp (23,5 kW)2946 mm6-451914–19156 29–38 bhp (21,3–28 kW)3099–3251 mm 6300 to 6400 and 10000 to 120006-5519146 43 bhp (31,6 kW)3251 mm6-4819156 29 bhp (21,3 kW)3200 mm6-1619166 29 bhp (21,3 kW)3251 mm 15000 to 170008-1619168 V31 bhp (23 kW)3251 mm 12000 to 130006-17 / 6-181917–19186 29,4 bhp (21,6 kW)3302 mm 15000 to 170008-17 / 8-18 / 8-191917–19198 V31–33,8 bhp (23–25 kW)3302 mm—13000 to 15000Anniversary / 8-2019208 V60 bhp (44 kW)3302 mm8-21 / Beverly1921–19228 V70 bhp (51 kW)3302 mm6-23 / 6-24 / 6-25 / 6-261923–19266 46 bhp (34 kW)3048 mm8-23 / 8-24 / V-Type Eight1923–19258 V60–70 bhp (44–51 kW)3302 mmStraightaway Eight / Eight1925–19268 60–65 bhp (44–48 kW)3048–3302 mm
References
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.,