33 HUPMOBILE

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After the 35 Rolls-Royce experience my dad got the bug to restore an old car. He found a mostly derelict 1933 Hupmobile rumble seat coupe near St. Louis and bought it. He later bought a second earlier model Hupmobile sedan which was used for parts. He rebuilt both engines and sold the earlier one.

Let me tell you how he "ran me over" some years ago? At that time the chassis was bare and he was sitting on a pre-war wood beer case for a seat and wanted to take me for a ride down the driveway (100 feet). I sat on the frame on the right side and away we go in reverse. He stops the car with the emergency brake (the brakes didn't work even then) and started back toward the garage. There was no nut holding the steering wheel on. (Starting to sound like a candidate for a Darwin award?) When we get toward the garage he pushes on the none-to-efficient brake pedal and pulls back on the steering wheel. You can guess the rest. The wheel comes off in his hands and he about falls over backwards. He catches his balance and simply steps off the car which is still running and in gear. I am along for the ride now with no pilot and the garage is coming up. I have presence of mind enough to close the hand throttle but then I made my strategic error and tried to stop the car by dragging my right foot not thinking about the car being in gear. The car catches my calf with the running board mount and drags my leg back under the mount which turns my foot upside down and tears the top front of my shoe off in the gravel. The car is unconcerned about such a minor drag and keeps going relentlessly for the garage while I am doing my best to keep from going under the rear wheels or chassis or something. We all get to the garage at the same time....engine, car and me. My dad is standing half way down the driveway looking foolish and still holding the steering wheel. The car, in slow motion, pushes the tool chest into the welding machine into the oxy-acetelene tanks into more general debris when the car gives a big hickup and dies. Nothing damaged but me. The running board mount left a semi-permanent two inch crease in my right calf which took about a day to resume normal shape although very black and blue. The top of my right foot was somewhat shredded also and I had a one-shoe pair of shoes.

After nearly countless years (at least 25) the machine was ready to roll again. With the help of our friend Marv and dad's neighbors they prepared the car for its maiden voyage. The first trip (see shot taken out of the car) was made without benefit of foot brakes while the passenger/cameraman operated the emergency brake as well as recording the event on digital "film" for posterity. Some considerable amount of work later the foot brakes were made operational although they pulled to the extent that the car made a sudden left hand turn upon application. That was more-or-less sorted out and the happy band of car restorers went to their first show and captured a 2nd in class...whatever that means since the "classes" were unclear. Perhaps there was a class for cars with names starting in "H" and there was a Hudson in attendance. Nevertheless, a good time was had by all.  The car, in fact, has been entered in two shows and has come away with some "wood" both times.  Few people have ever heard of a Hupmobile let alone seen one.  Most of the competition is of the Ford, Chevy, Plymouth flavor so the car is a rarity.  With a little more preparation we are confident that it will be a contender at some of the bigger shows in the area.  Bring on St. Louis, Missouri and Springfield, Illinois.  The blue Hupmobile is coming to a neighborhood near you.

There have been a variety of episodes in driving since then.  And the hood sides and running boards have been installed.  There is a picture showing "Barney Oldfield" hunched over the steering wheel in preparation for an outing.  There is another of the windshield cranked open to let the summer breezes blow through and the hornets enter the car to drive the occupants to distraction.   That is one of the only two stop signs present in the major portion of dad's town that is coming up. Stoplights are unnecessary although a speed bump or two might be a good idea. It takes a lot of work and time to finish these projects.  The hood sides were a major issue.  Dad is shown in his "sad sack" pose contemplating the fitting of the left hood side before repairs and painting had been completed.

And here are three more pictures taken on another outing.  The first is taken across the street from the high school that my dad and I both attended (although not at the same time).  The second shows the car parked in front of my dad's sister's house (behind the picture).  And the third (my favorite) shows the view from the passenger's seat driving to the East on the main drag in Benld, Illinois.  On the left is a brick church and rectory.  Just to the rear of the car and on the left side of the street is the site of one of the oldest Shell stations in the region and the place where the local mechanics kept our ancient vehicles running while we were in high school.  Don't you just love the "flying H".

Here are some more recent pictures taken at car shows: