Robert C. Hupp formed Hupp Motor Car Company in late 1908 with the financial assistance of several Detroit
businessmen. Robert Hupp was an automobile industry veteran, having worked for the Olds Motor Works, Ford
Motor Company, and the Regal Motor Car Company prior to starting the Hupp Motor Car Company. His idea was to
build a small, well-built and attractive car, and sell it at an affordable price. The first prototype was displayed at the
Detroit Auto Show in December 1908 and was very well received. Production started in early 1909, and increased
steadily through the next decade. By that time, though, Robert Hupp was no longer involved with the Hupp Motor
Car Company, having departed in 1911. By 1915, the Hupp Motor Car Company was succeeded by the Hupp Motor
Car Corporation.
In 1918, Hupp introduced the most significant product they ever produced – the Model R. It was a 4-cylinder car
available in several body styles, reasonably priced, reliable, durable and well made. It was a good value, and
Hupmobile produced well over 100,000 of these cars from 1918 through 1925, although most of the 1925 cars were
built in order to reduce the company’s inventory of parts for that vehicle inasmuch as Hupp was discontinuing four-
cylinder production. During this time, one of their sales slogans was “The Car of the American Family”.
