and how someone did a lot of work on a perfectly good coupe, by modifying the doors and door windows drastically, when the owner overheard me, and quickly pointed out the error of my thinking. "This is a 1935 Hupmobile. Ford sold the dies to Mr. Hupp, and the beltline/doors, etc., were modified by Hupp. They only made about 700 of these, and only 9 are known to exist." Interesting. I apologized for my ignorance, and now fully appreciate what a rare car it is....
Looks like they used a cabriolet door. I did a google image search and the stock front end makes it look much less like a ford than the ford grill this car now has on it.
Yep, a lot of factory mods there: notice three door hinges, the topmost one being on the beltline. It looked like the window regulators and door opening mechanisms were the same as Ford.
Yeah, this is a Hupp W-517; like the 1934 Hupp W-417, it was built with a Murray body on a four spring 117" wheelbase frame w/ a flat-head six, as compared to the Ford at around 112" WB. These coupes, along with the Model W four door sedans, were the lowest priced Hupps out of seven different model lines. They were based on the Murray supplied bodies that Ford used in '33 and '34. Hupp placed around #14 in national sales figures for 1934, and including all seven of their models, only built about 10,000 cars total. Most of the W-417's were probably the sedans. The beige coupe is a W-417, the blue coupe and grey sedan are W-517's. Later, Kinky6
The first one pictured has had a Ford firewall added to the Hupp body. The doors are exactly like Ford Cabriolet's with the three hinges. And it's on a Ford frame obviusly. When I was kid there were stories of one of those "weird '33 coupes with the cabriolet doors" somewhere here in Iowa. Never saw it. But I have a hard time believing there are only 9 left in existence now. I wouldn't be surprised to find most have been converted to Ford front sheetmetal though.
That's what he did with that grille shell and little blue oval on it. Why he wants people to think it's a Ford. Other wise *sarcasim* he'd put a nice tractor grille on it. Poor car really needs a propper grille (and maybe fenders)
Me three! In all my days, never heard of these Hups. I REALLY like the "hardtop" treatment of the doors. Way cool with the windows down and cruising. Too bay someone doesn't make some of these window / regulator kits, eh? Gary
Nope, he didn't add that firewall to the Hupp body, it was made that way. I have an unrestored 34 W-417, same firewall. The origional frame was much heavier than the Ford frame. Back around '92 or so, Street Rodder did a feature on a 34 coupe like this from Kentucky; the guy added Ford front fenders, hood and grille, painted it red w/ white scallops. I saw it in Knoxville. Hupp's total production for all models in '34 was only 10,000, so its a safe bet not many survived. One of nine from '35? Who knows? Later, Kinky6
Yep our day is complete as we have learned an interesting thing today. Those are good looking and hell for interesting bodies
is it weird if i actually knew this already? theres a small show at a convilecent home and a guy there has a white one with a deuce grill. luckly there was a plaque telling me what it was.
Great looking cars in my eyes. Don't know why anyone would put a Ford grill on a rare car thou. My old neighbor has two 35 Hupmobiles sedans(one Streetrodded and one original) and told me that Linda Vaughn has one also.
Was thinkin the same thing Chris. As a dyed in the wool 34 guy, I'm REALLY missing the beautiful 34 Ford sail panel detail and door tops. The Hupp roof looks like a cap. Just imagine; 34 Fords coupes could have come this way from the factory if the Ford design team settled for "good enough" and was allowed to get lazy.
Basically Murray body put a 3 window roof on a 1934 Cabriolet body with a Hupp specific firewall and mounted it on a 117" wb Hupp chassis with a straight six L head and Hupp hood grille and fenders....
My neighbor has an original Huppmobile on display at the museum just north of the square here in Benton,Il. The museum is an old Ford Garage that has been restored by the local historical assoc. Lots for cool original machines in there and a couple period cars. The Hupp is a great example or an real original car from the day. Nice to see a few here.
So Weasel thought that I'd be interested in this thread, I am . I have both a W417 and a Ford 3W Coupe. Both of these vehicles were tooled by Murray Body Corp so they are in a sense sisters. The body of the W417 is indeed a complete cabriolet from the top of the windsheild down, The top is a modified"stretched"3 window roof with ford windsheild,rear window and window garnish molding. The side windows are modified cabriolet units with chrome frame work which shows up in the 1st post of this thread. This has been discussed in the 33-34 Coupes thread back in 2007. These cars are extremely rare, It's not often one pops up for sale and I think that their survival rate was actually pretty low due to the fact that most Ford guys used them for parts cars. Take a very good look at the running boards,fenders and grille on the Hupp. They're incredible! Peaked rears a full 2 years before Ford or Cord were doing it. A floating running board that turns as it gets to the front fender and fianally the cool head lights! I posted my 34 for comparison so look em over. Very cool cars!
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