1920 Apperson 8-20

During Apperson’s production run of 30 years, thousands of automobiles bore the name Apperson. However, the story of this particular car is unique. This vehicle belonged to Edgar Apperson and was essentially a rolling test laboratory. Each year Edgar added a new feature to test before it went into production cars. For example, it has a pre-selecting transmission with steering wheel mounted controls that was added in 1920. This was put into production in 1923. When the company went into receivership in 1926 this car was sold to the factory sales manager, Leo Williams. It was kept in the family until the 1980’s. In 1985, Edmund and Jean Orser of Billings, Montana, donated the car to the museum. The wheelbase measures 130 inches. This car sold new for $2,950.