Apperson

The company was founded by the brothers 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 horizontal four.

In 1904, Apperson offered 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 US$6000. The vertical-mounted straight-4, situated at the front of the car, produced 40 hp (29.8 kW). A 4-speed transmission was fitted. The steel-framed car weighed 2800 lb (1270 kg). The wheel base was 96 inches. The Apperson offered electric lights, a novelty for the time, and used a modern cellular radiator. The 25 hp (18.6 kW) version weighed 1800 lb (816 kg) and sold for US$3500. In 1906 the company cataloged a 95 hp (71 kW) four at $10,500. The next year the first of the famed Jackrabbit speedsters rolled off the line; this was a 60 hp (45 kW) that sold for $5000. For a time, the entire range was known as the "Jack Rabbit" - in 1913 a 32.4 hp (24 kW) four and a 33.7 hp (25 kW) six were listed, and a 33.8 hp (25 kW) 90-degree V-8 of 5.5 L (5502 cc/335 in 3) followed in 1914.

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:"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 proprietary with six cylinders of 3.2 L (3243 cc/197 in 3) appeared in 1923, and a Lycoming eight-cylinder was offered beginning in 1924.

By 1924, Apperson and 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.

For specifications on various Apperson models: • Apperson Six Sport Sedan • Model — production — cylinder — horse power — wheel base — serial numbers • A — 1902–1903 — 2 — 16–25 bhp (11,8–18,4 kW) — 2590 mm • B — 1903 — 2 — 20 bhp (14,7 kW) — 2590 mm • A — 1904–1905 — 4 — 40 bhp (29 kW) — 2743–2896 mm • B — 1904–1905 — 4 — 24 bhp (17,6 kW) — 2590 mm • Special — 1905 — 4 — 50 bhp (37 kW) — 2896 mm • A — 1906–1907 — 4 — 55 bhp (40 kW) — 2921–2946 mm • B — 1906–1907 — 4 — 45 bhp (33 kW) — 2845–2896 mm • C — 1906 — 4 — 35 bhp (26 kW) — 2642 mm • D — 1906 — 4 — 95 bhp (70 kW) — 2642 mm • Special — 1907 — 4 — 96 bhp (71 kW) — 2794 mm • K Jack Rabbit — 1908–1909 — 4 — 55 bhp (40 kW) — 2896 mm • M — 1908–1909 — 4 — 35–40 bhp (26–29 kW) — 2705–3023 mm • S — 1908 — 4 — 55 bhp (40 kW) — 2896 mm • I — 1909 — 4 — 40 bhp (29 kW) — 3251 mm • O — 1909 — 4 — 30 bhp (22 kW) — 3023 mm • 4-30 (Jack Rabbit) — 1910–1911 — 4 — 30–32,4 bhp (22–23,8 kW) — 2896–3023 mm • 4-40 — 1910–1911 — 4 — 40 bhp (29 kW) — 3099 mm • 4-50 — 1910–1911 — 4 — 50 bhp (37 kW) — 3251 mm • Jack Rabbit — 1910 — 4 — 50 bhp (37 kW) — 2946 mm • 4-45 — 1912–1915 — 4 — 32–45 bhp (23,5–33 kW) — 2896–3048 mm • 4-55 — 1912–1913 — 4 — 55 bhp (40 kW) — 2997 mm • 4-65 — 1912 — 4 — 65 bhp (48 kW) — 3251 mm • Light 4-45 — 1914 — 4 — 32 bhp (23,5 kW) — 2946 mm • 6-45 — 1914–1915 — 6 — 29–38 bhp (21,3–28 kW) — 3099–3251 mm — 6300 to 6400 and 10000 to 12000 • 6-55 — 1914 — 6 — 43 bhp (31,6 kW) — 3251 mm • 6-48 — 1915 — 6 — 29 bhp (21,3 kW) — 3200 mm • 6-16 — 1916 — 6 — 29 bhp (21,3 kW) — 3251 mm — 15000 to 17000 • 8-16 — 1916 — 8 V — 31 bhp (23 kW) — 3251 mm — 12000 to 13000 • 6-17 / 6-18 — 1917–1918 — 6 — 29,4 bhp (21,6 kW) — 3302 mm — 15000 to 17000 • 8-17 / 8-18 / 8-19 — 1917–1919 — 8 V — 31–33,8 bhp (23–25 kW) — 3302 mm— — 13000 to 15000 • Anniversary / 8-20 — 1920 — 8 V — 60 bhp (44 kW) — 3302 mm • 8-21 / Beverly — 1921–1922 — 8 V — 70 bhp (51 kW) — 3302 mm • 6-23 / 6-24 / 6-25 / 6-26 — 1923–1926 — 6 — 46 bhp (34 kW) — 3048 mm • 8-23 / 8-24 / V-Type Eight — 1923–1925 — 8 V — 60–70 bhp (44–51 kW) — 3302 mm • Straightaway Eight / Eight — 1925–1926 — 8 — 60–65 bhp (44–48 kW) — 3048–3302 mm