The Apperson Automobile & The Apperson Brothers Automobile Co.

Apperson
The Apperson Brothers Automobile Co.
Kokomo, Indiana
1902-1924
In 1889 Elmer Apperson and Edgar Apperson opened the Riverside Machine Works in Kokomo, Indiana. They were very successful in the next few years. In 1893 Elwood Haynes also of Kokomo approached the Apperson brothers about building a automobile with a Sintz marine engine. By July of 1894 the first
Haynes-Apperson Automobile was built.

The Apperson brothers and Elwood Haynes had a falling out and split to form their own car companies by 1902.

1902 Apperson Model A Touring Car

The Apperson Bros. Automobile Co. was established in November 1901. The first Apperson (Model A) was completed in July 1902, built on a 102 inch chassis, chain driven and equipped with a 2 cylinder Sintz engine that was rated at 16 horsepower. The early 2 cylinder Apperson’s were followed by a Model A and Model B Touring cars also equipped with chain driven 2 cylinder engines. The Model A developed 25 horsepower and the Model B 20 horsepower.

1905 Apperson Canopy Top Touring Car

The Apperson Brothers Automobile Co. built 4 cylinder automobiles in 1904 and again in 1905 and 1906. All were Touring cars with 24, 30, 40, 50 or 55 horsepower engines. The 1904, 1905 and 1906 Apperson’s were expensive automobiles that sold for $3500.00 to $5500.00.


1907 Apperson Jack Rabbit

In 1907 the Apperson Brothers were only making 2 to 3 automobiles per week and hired A. G. Seiberling (Haynes Automobile Co.) to increase production. The most famous of the early Appersons was the Jack Rabbit Racer or Special which was introduced in 1907. It was a 2 passenger roadster, equipped with a four cylinder 60 horsepower (100 inch wheelbase) or a 96 horsepower (110 inch wheelbase) engine. Features included a four speed transmission, 34 inch wheels and tires, Hess-Bright ignition systems and a 20 gallon round gas tank. It had a guaranteed top speed of 75 miles per hour.
1908 Appersons included a Model M, Model K and a Model S. Four cylinder 35 and 50 horsepower and six cylinder 55 horsepower engines were used. 1909 Appersons consisted of Model O, Model M, Model I and Model K Jack Rabbit. Only 4 cylinder
engines were used in 1909 Apperson models and they had horsepower’s of 35 and 50.


1910 Apperson Jack Rabbit Touring Car

1910 Apperson production consisted of new model designations such as 4-30, 4-50, 6-40 plus the Jack Rabbit. Four cylinder and six cylinder engines were used on large 115 inch, 122 inch and 128 inch chassis. For 1911, 1912 and 1913 all Apperson’s were called the Jackrabbit’s. Most were Touring Cars. However Roadsters, Town cars and Coupes were also made. By 1914 the Jackrabbit name was dropped the following models were designated Light 4-45, 4-45, 6-45 and 6-55. Four and six cylinder engines were used rated at 32 to 43 horsepower. In 1915 models included the 4-45, 6-45, and 6-48 with four and six cylinder engines.
Touring car, roadsters and coupes were built.

1916 Apperson Chummy Roadster Advertisement

In 1916 a V-8 engine rated at 31 horsepower was used in the model 8-16 Apperson. Both a Touring Car and Roadster were produced. The 1916 Apperson model 6-16 used a six cylinder engine with 29 horsepower. The four cylinder engines were dropped from the line in 1916. 1916 was Apperson’s peak year with 2,000 units produced. The same models were built in both 1917 and 1918 with larger V-8 engines that developed 33.8 horsepower. In 1919 only a four passenger Tourster and a seven passenger Anniversary Touring car both equipped with the new Apperson V-8 engine.


1920 Apperson Eight – With 80 Less Parts

In 1920 Elmer Apperson died at the age of 58 while in Los Angeles, CA and a down hill slide began for The Apperson Brothers Automobile Co. In 1923 The Apperson Brothers Automobile Co. had to seek outside capital for the first time in its history. In 1924 The Apperson Brothers Automobile Co. was reorganize as The Apperson Automobile Co.


1923 Apperson Model 8-24 Five Passenger Sedan

Model A Fords For Sale