Rupp Industries
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| Private company | |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Founder | Mickey Rupp |
| Defunct | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Mansfield, Ohio,U.S. |
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Key people
|
Mickey Rupp, founder, former CEO |
| Products | go-karts, snowmobiles, minibikes, dirt bikes |
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Number of employees
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400 (1971) |
Rupp Industries was a Mansfield, Ohio based manufacturer of go-karts, minibikes, snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles founded by Mickey Rupp in 1959. Rupp Industries operated from 1959 until bankruptcy in 1978. Rupp vehicles are known for their performance and bright red coloring, particularly the snowmobiles and off-road vehicles. They have since become extremely collectible.
Rupp Industries was born in 1959 when Mickey Rupp began assembling and selling go-karts from his basement. Originally Rupp Manufacturing, the name Rupp Industries was adopted by 1971. In that year Rupp employed 400, with 23 engineers in the R&D department and sales in the millions. In addition to their popular go-karts, Rupp began producing minibikes and snowmobiles in the early 1960s.
Mickey Rupp sold the company in 1973 when it ran into financial trouble. Although the company would continue to produce dirt bikes, minibikes and snowmobiles, they would never regain financial stability and by 1978 went bankrupt.
Mickey Rupp began assembling go-karts in his basement in the late 1950s. Rupp made many contributions to the design of go karts, including the step frame and a new braking system that augmented driver control and kart stopping power. Rupp karts featured single or dual engine models with behind seat mounted fuel tanks. Rupp would eventually introduce a kart with four wheel independent suspension.
The first Rupp karts introduced were called Dart Karts. Rupp also produced the A-Bone, A-Bone Deuce (both pictured to the right), Lancer, Monza Jr. and later the J Dart Kart. Rupp manufactured karts as late as 1968. The karts have become highly collectible and have a large following.
Following the success of their go-karts, Rupp began manufacturing mini bikes beginning in 1962 until the mid 1970s. Models included the Dart Cycle, Continental, Roadster, Scrambler, Hustler, Chopper, Black Widow, Enduro, Roadster 2, Swinger, Sprint, Digger, Goat, Ram, TT-500, XL-500, XL-350 and others. Rupp minibikes were made in a variety of styles with various features, including varying engine sizes, lighting kits and color options. Rupp offered upgrades to their bikes as well, including speedometers, luggage racks, lift bars, horns, mud flaps and crash bars.
The first Rupp minibikes were called Dart Cycles and were made starting in 1962. They featured a 2 1/2 HP, 4-cycle Lauson horizontal shaft engine with a Fairbanks-Morse clutch (an optional 3 HP was available for an extra charge). The bikes came with front suspension and rear drum brakes. They were advertised in Cycle World and other magazines.
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Wikipedia