We'd buy that: 1936 Hupmobile

Want to cheat the wind and look good doing it? Try a Hupmobile in just the right condition and with lots of documentation.

This 1936 Hupmobile we found for sale on Facebook Marketplace reflects the novel and unique aerodynamic styling introduced on Hupmobiles in 1934. They were splendid looking cars with faired-in headlamps, three-piece windshields, and tire-carrying fastback models. The overall wind-cheating looks are attributed to two celebrities of automotive design: Raymond Loewy and Amos Northup. As good looking and innovative as the mid-1930s Hupmobiles were, there was a lot of drama behind the scenes at the company. While management fought over control, Hupmobile (aka Hupp) sales declined. It didn’t help that at this time, all surviving car makers were still trying to recover from the economic devastation of the Great Depression, especially independents such as Hupp. When the dust cleared in the Hupmobile board room in late 1935, there wasn’t much left of the company to fight over. As a result, Hupmobile ceased building its 1936 models in December 1935, making this 1936 example extremely rare. (There was no new 1937 Hupmobile, but new six- and eight-cylinder models did arrive for 1938.)

This 1936 Hupp two-door sedan is such a rare find, we’ve never seen another in our travels to AACA shows, concours events and other car shows around the country. From the pictures, the car looks to be a solid and complete car. According to the seller, it’s rust-free and been stored in a museum for 50 years. Museums are generally great for keeping cars dry and intact, but such lengthy storage means it probably deserves a thorough mechanical inspection before hitting the road again. (The seller states it will need brake work.) However, the ad says the six-cylinder runs smooth and “like a top” and if the 13,000 miles showing on the odometer reflect the actual mileage, there’s no reason to think it doesn’t run like a watch. And since it hasn’t been body-off-frame restored, you won’t be afraid to drive it.

The seller says he’s the second owner and the car includes the title from the original owner, and a lot of the car’s service records are included in its documentation. The car carried a base price of about $835 when new ($15,400 in today’s dollars), so with the car’s current $11,500 asking price being below the rate of inflation, can you really go wrong? You’re certain to be the only one at the next cruise-in or car show with a 1936 Hupp.

Afraid to own an orphan? Don’t fret – The Hupmobile Club is an active group with an Old Cars Golden Quill Award-winning publication (The Hupp Herald), a website and a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hupmobileclub/