In 1963 and 1964, Rupp supplied go-karts and minibikes to Sears, successfully selling through the company’s widely appreciated Sears Catalog. The 1963-style Rupp Dart Cycle minibike was sold up until 1964 in the Sears Catalog as the sought-after “Sears Cycle.” By 1969, Rupp employed more than 400 people in an 180,000-square-foot facili ty, producing a mul t i tude of recreational machines including, but not limited to, minibikes, ATVs and go-karts, followed by five distinguished models of Snow-Sport snowmobiles. The earliest example in the Rare Rupp Collection offering headed for Las Vegas is a first-year 1969-model roadster boasting a frame-off restoration using OEM parts wherever possible, and the bike retains its original seat, tires and fenders. In 1970, Rupp sales topped $30 million, and owner Mickey Rupp was honored as one of the “Outstanding Young Men of America.” Rupp produced 35,000 snowmobiles that same year, while also continuing to build its signature cycles, and the collection in Las Vegas features a red roadster example from the 1970 model year as well. By 1971, Rupp was employing 850 people and had invested in a research center, administration building, all-purpose proving grounds, a styling building, and even had some automatic computerized operations. The Rupp group coming to Vegas includes a hard-to-find, matching pair of scramblers from this busy year for Rupp, and both are restored in their original bold green finish. In total, the Rare Rupp Collection comprises five special examples of the company’s now-classic creations, which include models ranging from years 1969 to 1972. All have received frame-off, complete cosmetic restorations while still retaining several original parts, including motor, frame, seat and tires. The original factory color was also used during the restoration to preserve the originality of each model. In addition to the aforementioned Rupps, the last Rupp in the collection is the famed “Black Widow.” Considered by many Rupp enthusiasts to be the holy grail of minibikes and an essential piece in anyone’s collection, it has also received a meticulous frame-off restoration while keeping key original components, such as the seat, tires and fenders, in place. This Rupp, like so many other special vehicles Rupp produced with consistency, is a truly rare and difficult model to find in today’s marketplace. Take some time to browse through this Rare Rupp Collection and reminisce about the old days of minibike-cruising. If nothing else, it’s sure to be a great trip down memory lane—and for the motivated movers and shakers out there, this is also an excellent opportunity to make a few more of those great Rupp memories in the seat of a new-to-you classic example. 100 // MECUM.COM
