Oldsmobile Curved Dash: Difference between revisions

| image = Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout 1904 2.jpg

| name = Oldsmobile Runabout

| production = 1901–1907<br />About > 19,000 built

| predecessor =

| successor = [[Oldsmobile ModelSeries 2040]]

| class = Entry-level car

| assembly = [[Lansing Car =Assembly]], [[DetroitLansing, MIMichigan|Michigan]]<ref>[{{Cite web |url=http://detroit1701.org/Ransom%20Olds%20Plaque.html |title=Location of Curved Dash factory] |access-date=2016-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206032206/http://detroit1701.org/Ransom%20Olds%20Plaque.html |archive-date=2017-12-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

| platform = =

| body_style = [[Runabout (car)|Runabout]]

| engine = {{convert|95|cuin|cc|abbr=on}} horizontal one-cylinder{{Sfn|Rogliatti|1973|pp=270–271}}

| wheelbase = =

| length = =

| width = =

| height = =

| weight = =

| aka = Model 6C<br>Model B<br>Model = F<br>Model 6R

| related = =

| designer = =

The gasoline-powered Oldsmobile '''Model R''', also known as the '''Curved Dash Oldsmobile''',<ref>The name comes from its curved dash or [[dashboard]], like that of a sleigh. See the photo and caption on page 130 of the ''[[Popular Science]]'' article listed under External Links below.</ref> is credited as being the first [[mass-produced]] [[automobile]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-01-26 |title=SOME MILESTONES OF THE AUTO AGE |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/26/automobiles/some-milestones-of-the-auto-age.html |access-date=2023-06-02 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> meaning that it was built on an [[assembly line]] using [[interchangeable parts]]. It was introduced by the [[Oldsmobile]] company in 1901 and produced through 19071903; 425 were produced the first year,{{Sfn|Posthumus|1977|p=48}}<!--[[G.N. Georgano]], ''Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930''. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985), says 400.--> 2,500 in 1902, and over 19,000 were built in all.<ref name=Georgano1985>{{harvnb|Georgano|1985|p={{Page needed|date=October 2014}} }}</ref> When [[General Motors]] assumed operations from [[Ransom E. Olds]] on November 12, 1908,<ref>[{{Cite web |url=https://history.gmheritagecenter.com/wiki/index.php/1908,_Oldsmobile_Joins_the_Infant_GM |title=Oldsmobile Joins GM] |access-date=2016-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828064048/https://history.gmheritagecenter.com/wiki/index.php/1908,_Oldsmobile_Joins_the_Infant_GM |archive-date=2016-08-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> GM introduced the [[Oldsmobile Model 20]], which was the 1908 [[Buick Model 10]] with a stretched wheelbase and minor exterior changes.<ref>[{{Cite web |url=https://history.gmheritagecenter.com/wiki/index.php/1908,_GM_Creates_a_New_Oldsmobile_from_Buick_Parts_and_Engineering |title=1908 Oldsmobile Model 20 introduction] |access-date=2016-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828062149/https://history.gmheritagecenter.com/wiki/index.php/1908,_GM_Creates_a_New_Oldsmobile_from_Buick_Parts_and_Engineering |archive-date=2016-08-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

It was a [[runabout (car)|runabout]] model, could seat two passengers, and sold for [[USD|US$]]650. While competitive, due to high volume, and priced below the US$850 two-seat [[Ford Model C]] "Doctor's Car",{{Sfn|Clymer|1950|p=37}} it was more expensive than the [[Western Tool Works (automobile company)|Western]] 1905 Gale Model A roadster at US$500. The [[Black Motor Company|Black]] sold for $375,{{Sfn|Clymer|1950|p=61}} and the [[Success Automobile Manufacturing Company|Success]] for US$250.{{Sfn|Clymer|1950|p=32}} It was built as a city car for short distance driving, while the larger [[Oldsmobile Model S|Model S]] could carry four passengers and could travel longer distances.

The flat-mounted, [[water-cooled]], single-cylinder engine, situated at the center of the car, produced {{convert|5|hp|kW|abbr=on}},{{Sfn|Rogliatti|1973|pp=270–271}} relying on a brass [[gravity feed]] [[carburetor]]. The transmission was a semiautomatic design with two forward speeds and one reverse. The low-speed forward and reverse gear system is a [[planetary gear|planetary]] type (epicyclic). The car weighed {{Convert|850|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and used Concord springs.<ref name="kimes1996">{{Citationcite book |last1=Kimes |first1=Beverly |title=Standard catalog of American Cars 1805–1942 needed|date=October1996 2014|publisher=Krause publications |isbn=0-87341-478-0 |pages=1061–1088 |edition=third}}</ref> It had a top speed of {{Convert|20|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Sfn|Sedgwick|1962|p=36}}

The car's success was partially by accident; in 1901, a fire destroyed a number of other modelsprototypes before they could be approved for production, leaving the Curved Dash as the only one intact. As workers were attempting to move the prototypes out of the burning building, they were only successful at rescuing one prototype, the Model R Curved Dash.{{Sfn|Wright|2000}}

* {{cite book|last=Clymer|first=Floyd|authorlinkauthor-link=Floyd Clymer|title=Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-19251877–1925|location=New York, NY US|publisher=Bonanza Books|year=1950|ref=harv}}

* {{cite book|last=Georgano|first=G. N.|authorlinkauthor-link=G.N. Georgano|title=Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-19301886–1930|location=London, UK|publisher=Grange-Universal|year=1985|ref=harv}}

* {{cite book |last=Posthumus |first=Cyril |authorlinkauthor-link=Cyril Posthumus |others=John Wood, illustrator |title=The story of Veteran & Vintage Cars |url=https://archive.org/details/storyofveteranvi0000unse |url-access=registration |chapter=The Motoring Boom |edition=Phoebus 1977 |origyearorig-year=1977 |year=1977 |publisher=Hamlyn / Phoebus |location=London |isbn=0-600-39155-8 |pages=36–49[https://archive.org/details/storyofveteranvi0000unse/page/36 36]–49 |quote=The 1901 output was 425 cars, and this figure rose to 2100 in 1902, 3750 in 1903, and 5000 in 1904. |ref=harv}}

* {{cite book |last=Rogliatti |first=Gianni |editor-last=Posthumus |editor-first=Cyril |editor-link=Cyril Posthumus |title=Period Cars |year=1973 |publisher=Hamlyn |location=Feltham, Middlesex, UK |isbn=0-600-33401-5 |ref=harv}}

* {{cite book |last=Sedgwick |first=Michael |authorlinkauthor-link=Michael C. Sedgwick |year=1962 |title=Early Cars |publisher=Putnam |ref=harv}}

* {{cite web|url=http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=28 |last=Wright|first=Richard A.|title=detnews.com &#124; Michigan History |publisher=Apps.detnews.com |date=2000-03-08 |accessdateaccess-date=2009-06-27|deadurlurl-status=yesdead|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328031707/http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=28|archivedatearchive-date=2013-03-28}}

{{commons category|Oldsmobile Curved Dash}}

* [http://www.schs-museum.org/pictures/museum/earlytr.jpg 1905 Oldsmobile Image (Suffolk County(NY) Historical Society Museum)]{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

* {{cite journal|url={{Google books|nCEDAAAAMBAJ|''Popular Science'' December 1951|page=RA1-PA29|plainurl=yes}}|last=Soule|first=Gardner|title=From Coast To Coast In An Old Old Olds|pages=129–132, 258|journal=[[Popular Science]]|date=December 1951|volume=159|issue=6|editor-last=Torrey|editor-first=Volta|publisher=''Popular Science'' Publishing|location=New York, NY US}} – large 1951 article on a 1904 Olds making a coast to coast trip with detailed photo of subject

[[Category:Rear_midRear mid-engine,_rear rear-wheel-drive_vehiclesdrive vehicles]]