Editing Apperson

{{Short description|Defunct US automobile manufacturer}}
{{For|the British writer and editor|George Latimer Apperson}}
[[Image:1916-apperson.jpg|right|thumb|1916 Apperson Jack Rabbit Touring Car]]
[[Image:Apperson Chummy Restored By Louie Floyd Apperson.jpg|right|thumb|Apperson Chummy Roadster]]
[[File:1920 Apperson advert.jpg|thumb|1920 Apperson advertisement]]
The '''Apperson''' was a brand of [[United States|American]] [[automobile]] manufactured from 1901 to 1926 in [[Kokomo, Indiana|Kokomo]], [[Indiana]].

==Company history==
The company was founded by the brothers [[Edgar Apperson|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 [[flat-4|horizontal four]].

==Apperson cars==
In 1904, Apperson offered [[straight-4|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 [[USD|US$]]6000.  The vertical-mounted [[straight-4]], situated at the front of the car, produced 40&nbsp;hp (29.8&nbsp;kW).<ref name="oldcarbrochures.com">{{cite web|author=Dusan Ristic-Petrovic |url=http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/Misc%20Brochures/Autos%20of%201904%20Booklet/Autos%20of%201904-10.html |title=Image: Miscellaneous Brochures and Data/Autos of 1904 Booklet/Autos of 1904-10 |publisher=Oldcarbrochures.com |date= |accessdate=2012-10-07}}</ref>  A 4-speed transmission was fitted.  The steel-framed car weighed 2800&nbsp;lb (1270&nbsp;kg). The wheel base was 96 inches.<ref name="oldcarbrochures.com"/> The Apperson offered electric lights, a novelty for the time, and used a modern cellular radiator.  The 25&nbsp;hp (18.6&nbsp;kW) version weighed 1800&nbsp;lb (816&nbsp;kg) and sold for [[USD|US$]]3500.

In 1906 the company cataloged a 95&nbsp;hp (71&nbsp;kW) four at $10,500.  The next year the first of the famed Jackrabbit [[Speedster (automobile)|speedster]]s rolled off the line; this was a 60&nbsp;hp (45&nbsp;kW) that sold for $5000.  For a time, the entire range was known as the "Jack Rabbit" - in 1913 a 32.4&nbsp;hp (24&nbsp;kW) four and a 33.7&nbsp;hp (25&nbsp;kW) six were listed, and a 33.8&nbsp;hp (25&nbsp;kW) 90-degree [[V8 engine|V-8]] of 5.5&nbsp;L (5502&nbsp;cc/335&nbsp;in<sup>3</sup>) 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:[https://patents.google.com/patent/USD48359 "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 [[Property|proprietary]] with six cylinders of 3.2&nbsp;L (3243&nbsp;cc/197&nbsp;in<sup>3</sup>) appeared in 1923, and a [[Lycoming Engines|Lycoming]] eight-cylinder was offered beginning in 1924.

==Final production==
By 1924, Apperson and [[Haynes (automobile)|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 Model A <ref>{{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.105712459&seq=13 |title= Model A|date=1905-01-19|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1905) |access-date=2025-03-03}}</ref>
* Apperson Model B <ref>{{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.105712459&seq=12 |title= Model B|date=1905-01-19|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1905) |access-date=2025-03-03}}</ref>
* Apperson Model C <ref>{{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022474673&seq=16 |title= Model C|date=1906-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1906) |access-date=2025-03-08}}</ref>
* Apperson Model D <ref>{{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022474673&seq=19 |title= Model D|date=1906-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1906) |access-date=2025-03-08}}</ref>
* Apperson Model Special <ref>{{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.105712459&seq=14 |title= Model Special|date=1905-01-19|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1905) |access-date=2025-03-03}}</ref>
* [[Apperson Six Sport Sedan]]
* Apperson Model M <ref>{{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022474699&seq=113 |title= Model M|date=1908-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1908) |access-date=2025-03-21}}</ref>
* Apperson Model O <ref>{{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015036836156&seq=250 |title= Model O|date=1909-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1909) |access-date=2025-03-23}}</ref>
* Apperson Model 4-30 <ref>{{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022474715&seq=135 |title= Model 4-30|date=1910-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1910) |access-date=2025-03-23}}</ref>
* Apperson Model Jack Rabbit 4-30 <ref>{{cite web|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022474723&seq=101 |title= Model Jack Rabbit 4-30|date=1911-01-15|publisher= Hand book of automobiles (1911) |access-date=2025-03-27}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Apperson vehicles}}
* ''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., {{ISBN|0-7864-1397-2}}

{{Kokomo, Indiana}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Indiana]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Kokomo, Indiana]]
[[Category:1900s cars]]
[[Category:1910s cars]]
[[Category:1920s cars]]
[[Category:Brass Era vehicles]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1902]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1926]]
[[Category:1902 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:1926 disestablishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Indiana]]