General Information

Serial #

8302 07087

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

TUBULAR STEEL FRAME/ CHROMED FRONT & REAR FENDERS, HANDLE BARS, FUEL TANK/ METAL PARTS/ RUBBER TIRES, HANDL GRIPS/ LEATHERETTE SEAT/ HEADLIGHT LENS IS GLASS

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

127.0 cm

Width

68.6 cm

Height

88.9 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Motorized Ground Transportation

Category

Motorcycle vehicles

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

RUPP

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Ohio

City

Mansfield

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Rupp Manufacturing, Inc. was founded in 1959 by Mickey Rupp, with 8 employees housed in a 3,000 sq. feet facility, in Mansfield, OH. In 1960, Rupp expanded their production to making mini-bikes. In 1964, Rupp created a few snowmobile prototypes, and by 1965, became a snowmobile manufacturer making 500 machines that year. By 1969, Rupp employed over 400 people in a 180,000 sq. feet facility, producing a multitude of recreational machines including mini-bikes, ATVs and go-karts, and five models of Sno-Sport snowmobiles. By 1971, Rupp employed 850 people, and featured a research center, administration building, all-purpose proving grounds, a styling building, and even had some automatic computerized operations. In addition, owner Mickey Rupp served as a director of the International Snowmobile Industry Association. In 1972, fueled by a soft market created by a couple of years of poor snow conditions, Rupp's profits dwindled and the company began to lose money. In 1973, Mickey Rupp was forced to sell the company which was facing bankruptcy. In 1976, Rupp seemed to be poised to make a major comeback with the introduction of snowmobiles with liquid cooled Xenoah powerplants. The 1976 liquid cooled Nitro model was tested by SnowSports magazine and "was the top performer or close to it in every speed run." Despite the popularity of the new models, Rupp continued to experience financial difficulty. In the Spring of 1977, the ownership of Rupp filed for bankruptcy and enlisted help from Arctic Cat. In the Spring of 1977, the ownership of Rupp filed for bankruptcy and enlisted help from Arctic Cat. Rupp Manufacturing, Inc. closed in 1978.

Function

GENERAL TRANSPORTATION

Technical

The Rupp TT500 was Rupp's first entry into the minibike market.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

MFR PLATE ON RIGHT REAR ENGINE CASE PAINTED WHITE READS: `MODEL H50-65151H/ SERIAL 8302 07087'/ STAMPED INTO HEADLIGHT CASE IS: `RUPP 13076/ SAE M67'/ RED, WHITE & BLUE CIRCULAR STICKER ON FUEL TANK TOP HAS: `HOLLEY' IN CENTER & `HIGH PERFORMANCE EQUIPPED' AROUND EXTERIOR'/ RED & YELLOW: `RUPP TT-500' STICKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF FUEL TANK/ RIGHT SIDE OF FUEL TANK HAS AN: `STP' STICKER ON IT/ `RUPP' IN WHITE ON REAR OF SEAT

Missing

N/A

Finish

PAINTED BLUE FRAME/ CHROMED FRONT & REAR FENDERS, HANDLE BARS, FUEL TANK, HEADLIGHT CASE/ ENGINE CASE PAINTED WHITE/ BLACK SEAT, TIRES, HAND GRIPS

Decoration

N/A