1924 Hupmobile recently restored by Champ Bond after having the engine used to power a ski lift for about 25 years.
These pictures taken at 1992 Fisher Family Reunion which coincided with the Haines, Oregon Fourth of July parade, in which Champ was the Grand Marshal. NOTE THE "DOG BONE" RADIATOR CAP WITH MOTOMETER. THIS WAS STOLEN WHILE WE WERE ALL IN ELBERT'S HOUSE HAVING LUNCH!
Hupmobile - left side. Note again special Hupmobile radiator cap with "MotoMeter" thermometer that was stolen later in the day while the car was parked unattended.
Hupmobile - right side
The pictures from this reunion that I have will be placed in an physical Album, so I won't bother to enter the name of each person in the picture -- OK just once L>R: John Bond, Dan Pettit, Ryan Pettit. Just the Hupmobile pics were scanned in for this research oriented slide show.
Champ Bond -- Grand Marshal of the 1992 Haines 4th of July parade.
Perhaps this is the "special starting procedure" I need to learn about from John Bond -- Champ's eldest of 4 children.
Champ Bond and son John Bond. Believe Champ was about 80 years old at this time.
Fast forward to 2008 (16 years later). The Hupmobile is stored in a garage in Sumpter, Oregon. Here Champ's second eldest, Anne, displays a sign found in the back seat.
A lot of work needs to be done to make the Hupmobile "Museum Quality", but it's surprisingly in tact as it sits. This would be a contemporary of the Ford Model-T (1908 through 1927).
Condition of radiator and headlights. There was also a nice brass radiator cap and thermometer that was stolen while it was parked unattended for a few minutes.
Original Hupmobile logo still on radiator even after this vehicle was stored as a pile of parts for several decades.
According to this source, Champ's Hupmobile is a Model-R (1918-1925). Being a 1924 version it is the second to last year they made this model.
Interior as it now sits in storage in Sumpter.
Note minimal guages!
Throttle and spark advance are on the steering wheel. Note turn signal added by Champ.
Champ put in new seats. Unfortunately the back seat now has a "mouse hole" in it. Note rear view mirrors added by Champ.
Top and folding mechanism are in good shape. Champ may have replaced original wood stays with metal (need to research).
Windshield is foldable.
Unusual Hupmobile engine configuration. Hupmobiles were famous for their rugged well made engines that lasted a long time. At this time I don't know how long it's been since the engine was run. I need to give John a call, as we never got around to discussing details at the reunion.
Not sure if the Aoogah horn shown here is a Champ enhancement or not. I did not see an engine crank laying around, so did not try to turn the engine over to see if it's "free".
Plenty of space in the engine compartment for working. Note wooden floor boards made by Champ.
All of the wheels but one are still inflated. Sometime during the Model-R's production run, the wheels were changed from spoke to solid metal.
The similarity to a Model-T can be seen here.
Note the missing original "Dog Bone" brass radiator cap, that had a MotoMeter installed in it.
Not sure why champ added the turn signals. Perhaps to make it street legal.
I could find very little rust anywhere, even underneath. The steel frame is painted black. It looks like Champ hand painted the car with a brush.
Extra stop light in the spare tire is a Champ enhancement. It actually has the word "STOP" when it lights up!
On both sides there are hand made signs that say "19 HUPMOBILE 24". It is also embossed on both running boards.
Extra "stop" light.
Champ's daughters Cathy and Anne are happy to know the Hupmobile will get the care and attention it deserves! [Note yet another side-car Champ made for the little Honda's seen here.]
This is a restored 1924 Hupmobile Model-R "Touring" with solid wheels exactly like Champ's. Hopefully his will one day look this nice. Note pin-stripes on fenders. The red car in the background is a 1935 Hupmobile.
Another 1924 Touring, but with spoke wheels. Good example of appearance with top down. Is this going to be a good parade car or what! The molded aluminum "steps" on the running board are available from a supplier of replica parts in Australia. But at about $600 for the set, I don't think I'll get any!
Yet another example of a 1924 Hupmobile Touring car.
1922 Model-R Touring. Nice color!
This is a Hupmobile "Winged" radiator cap that was used on some of the Model-R's. This one currently is up for sale on Ebay. The bid was $36. I entered a max bid of $300, and the bid jumped to $305 -- so somebody wants it more than I do! (P.S. This went for $360)
This is the back side the MotoMeter portion which is an add-on to the actual cap. I have found brass dog bone caps for Model T's and A's for $25 that I hope to adapt, and brand new Motor Meter replicas for $46, but with the word "Ford" instead of an "H". I plan to take one apart and put an H inside.
I purchased this radiator cap + motometer on Ebay for $205, so now have one for the car, which will hopefully be retrieved from Sumpter, OR in April 2009. 5/19/09: doesn't fit - both cap and radiator have outside threads, different diameters!
Motor Number 172458. Has 18 head bolts, but Atwater Kent R-A distributor. 4 water outlets. Appears to be an R-12 engine with cast iron pistons.
Serial Number 122979. According to "The Hupmobile Story" this makes it a 1923. However it has a 1924 115" wheelbase, 1924 instrument panel arrangement, and 1924 engine with 18 head bolts.
My uncle, Champ Bond, sitting on hood of his Hupmobile, circa 1930 when he was 17 years old. Other fellow is believed to be friend Buzz Aldrich. This was a camping/fishing trip as noted by "BOUND TO KECH EM".
I am indebted to John Mallinak of Carl Junction, MO, for selling me his copy of this book, which can no longer be purchased retail. This is issue 175 out of 750 limited edition copies. Already it has been learned from the book that Champ's Hupmobile is really a 1923 Model R-12, based on it being serial number 122979 (engine number 172458).
