Hupmobile Model R History

Production of the Model R began in October 1917, giving Hupmobile a refined four-cylinder that would anchor the range for nearly a decade. Early cars used an inline-four of roughly 183 cubic inches; later sub-variants displaced around 196 cubic inches producing 39–47 horsepower, a meaningful step for a mid-price touring car. The lineup was wide: touring, phaeton, roadster, coupe, opera coupe, and sedan — open and closed bodies across the full postwar buyer spectrum.

The Model R era spanned the postwar seller's market and the roaring twenties. Total production exceeded 100,000 units across the run, with the company reaching annual outputs in the high tens of thousands during the early 1920s. Late R-series cars (R-14 and R-15 sub-variants, built through mid-1925) received four-wheel brakes and balloon tires, keeping the car competitive as buyer expectations rose.

In 1925 Hupmobile introduced the straight-eight Series E and retired the four-cylinder entirely, betting its future on buyers who wanted more refinement and prestige. The Model R's long, profitable run had funded that gamble; it had been the backbone on which the whole company was built.