Crapper Motors

2009-Present Crapper Motors Logo.

### Key People

 Franciscus Krapvoort / Crapper, Elijah M. Crapper, William B. Crapper, Elijah J. Crapper II, Scott M. Crapper, Aiden B. Crapper, Jacob T. Crapper, Veronica L. Crapper. Justin K. Crapper

**Crapper Motors**, or CM for short, is an American automaker headquartered in Flushing, MI. It was founded in 1926 by Elijah M. Crapper. CM owns Coronet Carriages Ltd. and Hawthorne Motorcars Inc.. The CEO of Crapper Motors is currently Scott M. Crapper, Elijah's great-grandson.

## History of Crapper Motors and Origins of the Name

Crapper Motors was founded in 1926, by Elijah M. Crapper.

Franciscus T. (Thobias) Crapper was the father of Elijah Crapper, founder of Crapper Motors. In an interview with Elijah during his life, he recalled always being fascinated with his father's job in the carriage taxi business. He was fascinated with the carriage designs, how they moved, how they worked. With the invention of the automobile in the early 1900s, he knew he wanted to become an automobile maker. Elijah was around 10 at the time, in 1903. Thus this was also the start of a popular rival company in 1903, starting the sale of automobiles to people around the world, effectively ending the horse-drawn carriage era. This put Franciscus out of a job in 1904. Elijah and his father had a very good relationship, and his father helped him to get to his goal of becoming an automaker, and even collaborated on early designs of Elijah's automobiles, such as what would become the Crapper, Elijah's first automobile. Franciscus was very proud of Elijah.

Franciscus Krapvoort married his wife, on August 23, 1861. They tried having kids for many years but were unsuccessful.

## The Crapper Family in the 1800s - Early Family Beginnings & Name Origins

The Crapper Family first started as descendants of Netherlands, whose name was spelled "Krapvoort".

Franciscus T. Krapvoort was born on October 23, 1840. He grew up very poor, in the Netherlands. He later became a farmer. On August 23, 1861, he married his wife, Hilda E. (Elisabeth) Bakker, who was born on September 5, 1841. They tried having kids for many years but were unsuccessful. They both ran away together and immigrated to the United States in 1868. Elijah was 28 at the time, and Hilda 27. It is thought that their name was either misheard, misread, or just simplified by immigration officers, to, "Crapper".

Franciscus got a job in the carriage taxi business in 1880, at age 40. He would build horse carriage taxis.

Franciscus and Hilda finally became parents on April 16, 1893, when Elijah Crapper was born. Unfortunately, this happened very late in Franciscus' life, at age 52, and would only go on to live another 20 years, until 1912, when Elijah was 19. He and Hilda were both incredibly happy, and loved their son very much.

## The Crapper Family in the 1900s - Family Struggles and Automobile Development

Elijah Crapper was known to be fascinated with his father's carriage taxi business. He was fascinated with the carriage designs, how they moved, how they worked. With the invention of the automobile in the early 1900s, Elijah knew he wanted to become an automobile maker. Elijah was around 10 at the time, in 1903. Thus this was the start of a popular rival company in 1903. These early cars were beginning to be sold, and soon in 1904, put Franciscus out of a job, as it effectively ended the horse-drawn carriage era. Elijah and his parents all were very poor, however they had saved up enough to put Elijah into school and get him into a college.

## The Crapper Family in the 1910s - Early Concepts and Family Beginnings

Elijah Crapper and his father, Franciscus, had a very good relationship. He and his father would work on and even collaborate together on early designs of Elijah's automobiles, including the Crapper. Together they started building the car in 1911, when Elijah was 18. Unfortunately, Franciscus died on August 1, 1912, at age 71.

Elijah, grieving his father's death, went off to college in 1913, struggling at first, but then later flourished. Unfortunately, during his time in college, a freak accident caused a fire in his shed, destroying all of his and his father's work at the time, as well as the early Crapper model. After he graduated in 1916, at age 23, he met the love of his life, Edna, on October 10, 1916. He regained happiness more and restarted work on the Crapper in 1917. Elijah and Edna married on February 24, 1918. Elijah first thought about starting a car company in 1919. They had their first child, their son William, who later became CEO and Owner of Crapper Motors, on July 11, 1919. They had two more children, Diana Crapper on November 22 1921 and James Crapper on March 23, 1922.

Elijah remembers the last words he and his father spoke together.  Elijah spoke to his father, telling him how he will be known throughout the world and that his father would be proud of him someday. Franciscus responded with, *"My son, I already am."*.

Elijah would go on to dedicate the Crapper to his late father, when he founded Crapper Motors another 14 years later, and started production of the Crapper in another 4.

## Crapper Motors and the Crapper Family in the 1920s - Founding of CM and Beginnings

1920 marked the start of Elijah's wants to start a car company. He first thought about this in 1919. He took out a loan in 1925, and finally founded Crapper Motors, on July 18, 1926, at age 33. He finally finished planning of the Crapper in November 1928, with production of the car starting on October 15, 1929.

## Crapper Motors and the Crapper Family in the 1930s - Beginning Struggles and Sales

In 1930, Elijah Crapper, 37 at the time, finally released the first car from Crapper Motors: the Crapper, produced from 1929 until 1937. Planning of the car took 19 years, starting in 1911 when Elijah was 18. He was very proud of the car, but sales were rough, and struggled with the Great Depression. Elijah almost lost the company in 1932, and barely pulled through, with sales increasing in 1935 and 1936, however the Crapper suffered too much, and unfortunately was cut short of production in 1937. An extra 25 cars were sold in 1938 and 1939, to people in need, for a lower price. This alone was how the company survived in the last years of the 1930s, without any cars to produce. In late 1939, Elijah was able to install better equipment into his factory, including a basic assembly line. The Crapper was the first and only car to be fully hand-made by Crapper Motors.

## Crapper Motors and the Crapper Family in the 1940s - WWII and Post-War Breakthrough

The 1940s, as with all car manufacturers, was a rough time. Crapper Motors, which just started producing the Station-Wagon in June 1939, starting to sell in 1940, and the Crapper-Coupe being produced in 1941 and sold in 1942, right before production ended for the war. The Station-Wagon was the first completely "new" vehicle planned by Elijah, being planned first in May 1939. Some Station-Wagons were produced as war vehicles, sold for military use or for doctors. Production ended in 1945, extras were also sold during the war for people in need of a vehicle. Production of the Crapper-Coupe resumed in 1946, until 1948.

Elijah planned the Crapper 50, a car considered one of the most beautiful cars produced by Crapper Motors, in 1948. Production started in 1948, and ended in 1952. The car was sold from 1949 until 1952. It was massively popular, becoming one of the best selling cars of the time. Elijah Crapper was very happy, finally seeing a car that sold well, knowing he could continue the company.

## Crapper Motors and the Crapper Family in the 1950s - "Golden Age" of Crapper Motors

The 1950s were the mark of the first generally good period for Crapper Motors. Many successful cars were sold during this period. An aging Elijah Crapper, 57 in 1950, started to think about expanding the company. He did just that on August 15, 1959, at age 66, signing a deal to start a Euro Crapper Motors.

The Euro Crapper Motors was run and owned by Elijah’s Dutch Relatives, and still is, run by Krapvoorts.

The Crapper 50, a successful car from 1949, stopped production in 1952, bringing way to the rocky start of the mainly unsuccessful Doppelgänger in 1953, and then the very successful Interstate in 1953, followed by the Vermontia in 1957. These vehicles were praised for their design, somewhat strengthening Crapper Motors as a successful company.

In 1951, Elijah paid off his debt from the loans he got to found Crapper Motors. In 1953, he bought Coronet Carriages Ltd..

## Crapper Motors and the Crapper Family in the 1960s - Increased Prosperity

The 1960s were the start of the struggles for Crapper Motors. With the Interstate and Vermontia models going out of production, new models came into production, such as the Breezeville, with a first generation from 1960 to 1964, and a second from 1965 until 1969, and the Ibo from 1961 until 1966. These cars were considered some of the last "decently" designed cars by Elijah Crapper. In 1961, Elijah first fell ill, at age 68.

During the late 60s, mainly 1968, Elijah started to show William Crapper (and to an extent, Elijah Crapper II) how to run the business, and taught William some company secrets, preparing to pass over ownership of the company and the CEO role to him. He continued this into the 1970s until his death in 1976.

## Crapper Motors and the Crapper Family in the 1970s - Economic Downturn & Struggle

The 1970s were known to be the roughest period for Crapper Motors. After the successful 1970-1974 Crapper Motors Disco, Elijah M. Crapper fell into ill health in April 1975. William Crapper took over as the temporary owner of Crapper Motors during this time, and later authorized the Crapper Motors Flamingo to start production in September 1975. He was predetermined to be the next owner of Crapper Motors in May 1975 by Elijah Crapper. This car was considered the car that saved Crapper Motors from bankruptcy and failure, becoming an immediate hit and icon among buyers. Elijah Crapper continued to decline in health during 1975, but later recovered in February-March 1976, returning back to work and once again assuming the role as owner of the Crapper Motors company. However, he unfortunately later died that year on June 22, 1976, once again causing distress to the company. William Crapper took over as owner of the company on July 8, 1976. Throughout 1974 to 1976, Elijah and William both worked on the next vehicle of Crapper Motors: the Crapper Motors Punter. The Second Generation of the Flamingo, being sold first in 1978 after the First Generation ended production the previous year, 1977, the new Flamingo also is known as a car that helped to save Crapper Motors, also being the only car sold during the rest of the 2 years of the 1970s, with the exception of the Clover. After the death of Elijah Crapper, William Crapper continued to work on the Punter from 1976 until 1979, and production started in February 1980.

## Crapper Motors and the Crapper Family in the 1980s - Increased Popularity and Sales

Crapper Motors in the 1980s was known to make unique and popular cars, such as the 1980-1988 Crapper Motors Punter, 1983-1991 Crapper Motors Metron (Specifically the First Generation, 1983-1987 Models), 1984-1988 Crapper Motors Flamingo, and the 1987-1992 Crapper Motors Rigen, among others. William Crapper was known to help set in stone the success of Crapper Motors, and furthering the risk of collapse, instantly producing hit modern cars, as compared to Elijah Crapper, whose age impaired his ability to design modern, new, exciting cars.

#### Linda Olson

Linda Olson, daughter of Diana Crapper, was known to do ads for Crapper Motors during the mid to late 1980s. This was during and after her successful band, *The Book Burners*, was started in 1972, which was a successful rock / pop band. The band faded out in 1983. They got back together for several months some years later to record one final album, *Farewell*, in July 1987. They officially announced their disbandment in January 1988.

Albums:

* Highway - 1972
* Cutting Corners - 1974
* The Book Burners - 1975
* Love - 1978
* Final Hour - 1980
* Bite the Bullet - 1982
* Farewell - 1987

Linda continued recording solo material until 1996.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s Crapper Motors was known for rounded, block-like car styling. This was most evident in models such as the 1989-1993 Crapper Motors Flamingo, the popular 1988-1991 Crapper Motors Metron, the 1989-1996 Crapper Motors Mango, and the 1990-1996 Crapper Motors Rentis.

### Assumed Ownership of other Brands

In 1988, Crapper Motors bought Hawthorne Motorcars Inc.. Hawthorne was to be sold off, and the two main bidders were B.C.CO and Crapper Motors. After B.C.CO's failed Empennage prototype, Crapper Motors eventually won the bid with their Gryphon prototype. Elijah J. Crapper II designed the car.

Into the late 1980s, mainly 1989, the ownership of Crapper Motors started to become turbulent. Elijah Crapper II was known to be obsessed with the company, and in October 1989 his wife threatened to divorce him. He began to realize the importance of being there for his family and stayed on for another year to figure out where the company should move forward. Elijah left the company on August 27, 1990.

## Crapper Motors and the Crapper Family in the 1990s - Early Struggles and Success

During the 1990s, Crapper Motors was known to make unique, as well as popular, cars, such as the 1994-2002 Crapper Motors Frenzy, 1992-1998 Crapper Motors Punter, the (somewhat popular) 1988-1991 Crapper Motors Metron, The 1987-1992 Crapper Motors Rigen, the 1989-1996 Crapper Motors Mango, and the 1990-1996 and 1997-2002 Crapper Motors Rentises. Most of the company's popularity can be attributed to the unique styling brought about by Scott Crapper, the owner of Crapper Motors at the time. Scott Crapper became owner of Crapper Motors on October 28, 1990, after Elijah Crapper II stepped down in 1990 to spend more time with his family.

Scott Crapper was known to hate being the owner of Crapper Motors during his beginning time in the company, however in 1991 his father Elijah Crapper II helped to show Scott all the money he could potentially be making from the company. Scott later grew more towards liking the company and by 1992-1993 was the proud owner of Crapper Motors. His contributions launched Crapper Motors into popularity never seen before, solidifying the company as a successful icon.

No Crapper Motors cars were made during 1991 when Scott was first owner, but as he grew to like the company in late 1991, he started to plan his first car, the second generation Crapper Motors Punter, released in 1992. The car ended up being a success.

CM later released the Frenzy in 1994 to critical acclaim. On the other hand, the Mango was discontinued in 1996 as popularity of the Frenzy began to rise.

The final generation of the Crapper Motors Flamingo was released in 1994, which ran until 1999.

## Crapper Motors and the Crapper Family in the 2000s - Growing Success, Popularity, and Uniqueness

Scott Crapper continued to capitalize on the success of Crapper Motors in the 2000s, releasing several new and popular cars, including the Crapper Motors C-1 and C-2 in 2008 and 2009, respectively. On January 17, 2001, William Crapper died due to natural causes. His death eventually led to the release of the Crapper Motors Aubergine in April 2001.

In 2002, the first generation Frenzy was discontinued, and the new second generation was released in 2003, running until 2009.

## Crapper Motors and the Crapper Family in the 2010s - Continued Success

During the 2010s, Scott Crapper continued to design popular cars. Such cars included the LASAGNA, Escargot, RAVIOLI SE, and Caviar. Crapper Motors took over Thiccboi on September 18, 2018.

By October 23, 2019, all Thiccboi employees left Crappers Motors.

## Crapper Motors and the Crapper Family in the 2020s - Struggles with the Pandemic and Chip Shortage

During the early 2020s, Crapper Motors struggled during the COVID-19 Pandemic, as well as the chip shortage. This caused a decreased output of cars, and lowered sales. The company was still successful however. On May 12, 2020, Elijah J. Crapper II died due to complications with COVID-19, when he was 73.

In 2022, Crapper Motors started to ease on mask mandates and COVID-19 restrictions. The Everest was released as the first new car of the 2020s by CM. Later in June 2022, a Fourth Generation Punter was announced and released.

## CEOs / Owners

* Elijah M. Crapper [1926-1976]
* William B. Crapper [1976-1984]
* Elijah J. Crapper II [1985-1990]
* Scott M. Crapper [1990-2032]
* Aiden B. Crapper [2032-2067]
* Jacob T. Crapper [2067-2081]
* Veronica L. Crapper [2081-2087]
* Justin K. Crapper [2087-2134]

## See Also

* List of Crapper Motors vehicles
* Crapper Motors Euro