Vehicle Description
Now this 1931 Hupmobile coupe is a neat little number. First, it's
unusual; when was the last time you saw one? Secondly, it's been
very cleverly upgraded with a modern V6 powerplant, but not so
modified that we'd call it a hot rod. No, this is a car with its
soul intact and it's simply had a heart transplant, and we like it
a lot.
Hupmobile was a well-regarded brand in the early days of motoring,
combining style and value in a way that put it on par with makes
like Oldsmobile and Buick. The stylish lines of this '31 Hupp
certainly make it easy to see why it would have been a popular
choice in the 1930s. The sleek coupe bodywork almost looks chopped,
but no, that's factory steel in its original proportions. The
upright grille looks impressive and the handsome two-tone green
over black paint job is very period correct. It's nicely finished
even though the paint is a few years old, suggesting high-quality
workmanship. Sure, it's got a few signs of use, but this is a car
that's going to attract a lot of attention and generate a lot of
questions every time you take it out of the garage. Dual sidemounts
add big car elegance and a fold-down trunk rack adds a rakish look.
There's only one taillight because that's how they did things in
1931 and while the running boards aren't exactly authentic, we do
like the warm look of natural wood against the black fenders.
The interior is quite handsomely appointed in tan patterned cloth
that seems period-perfect for this tidy coupe. The vertical pleats
and buttons are right for the era as well, and they thoughtfully
kept the original seat frame intact so it feels right when you're
behind the wheel. Speaking of the wheel, it, too, is original, as
are all the gauges, which, remarkably enough, are working with the
upgraded powertrain. The most visible change is the fact that
there's no clutch pedal and the shifter is a Lokar unit, but most
folks will never notice. It's all in very nice shape with a period
vibe that we find very appealing and we respect the builder's
dedication to keeping as much of the Hupmobile equipment intact as
possible. There's also a nicely finished rumble seat that's good
for two passengers and it's surprisingly comfortable once you're
situated back there.
Instead of the Hupp's original six, there's a late-model GM 2.8
liter V6 with throttle body fuel injection, and the installation is
really quite well done. The modern powerplant makes plenty of power
and torque to move the heavy coupe, and with all that modern
hardware, it's bulletproof reliable. It's nice to see they went the
extra mile to make it blend in with green engine enamel, and the
original radiator is now cooled by a very effective electric fan,
meaning that this sucker never runs hot. The brakes were likewise
upgraded with a dual master cylinder with power assist, but they're
the original drums and the factory live axle still hangs on leaf
springs up front. The transmission is a GM automatic so no worries
about reliability there, and it appears that they somehow got it to
connect to the original Hupmobile rear end. There's a custom
exhaust system that has a nice 6-cylinder growl that doesn't stand
out too much and a fresh gas tank hangs out back. Factory wire
wheels are just gorgeous in cream and carry right-sized 18-inch
Lester wide whitewall tires.
Not a hot rod but maybe a very clever resto-mod, this is an unusual
and unusually handsome coupe that's eminently usable thanks to a
nicely done engine transplant. Call today!
