1908 Oldsmobile Series 20 4 Passenger Touring Sedan
A brief history of Oldsmobile:
1864: Ransom E. Olds was born in Geneva, Ohio. His family moves to Lansing when he is 16.1887: R.E. Olds develops a steam-powered car.
1893: Olds' steam-powered car becomes the first American car sold abroad " but the ship sinks on the way to India and the car is lost.
1896: Olds builds a gas-powered car and starts motoring around Lansing.
1897: Olds and Lansing business people start the Olds Motor Vehicle Co. and build four cars. The Lansing-based manufacturer is the first company organized specifically to produce cars in quantity.
1899: Olds' second company, Olds Motor Works, moves to Detroit.
1900: The Oldsmobile name is first used.
1901: Detroit plants are destroyed by fire and Olds returns to Lansing.
1905: The Curved Dash Oldsmobile is immortalized by the song "In My Merry Oldsmobile."
1908: Oldsmobile joins the newly organized General Motors Co. as one of its first two operating divisions. The other is Buick.
1916: Oldsmobile uses the first V-8 engine.
1927-29: Olds employment grows to 7,000 with 12 new buildings.
1935: One millionth Olds is built.
In 1908 Oldmobile joined the newly organized General Motors Company and assumed operations from Ransom E. Olds on Nov 12th 1908. At that time GM introduced the Series 20 model, which was essentially a 1908 Buick Model 10 that incorporated a stretched wheelbase and minor interior changes. For consignment, quality restoration for this 1909 Oldsmobile Series 20 tourer and this car presents well in maroon red with a black canvas top for accenting. In an era when cars were still more like carriages, this car shows as such and is in excellent condition. A convertible top gives you the option to drive in bad weather albeit without front doors or side coverings, and acetylene lamps give you light to travel at night, not often done in 1909. Our consignment is a real fully restored piece of early motoring history.
Note: While we believe this to be a Series 20 from 1909, the vehicle is titled as a 1908. Please research proper titling procedures for your country, state, province, county or local municipality.
Exterior
Beautifully preserved steel painted in snappy maroon red makes up the undulating bodywork of this early automobile. An abundance of brass is on from the radiator surround to the lighting, horn, and on back for a tail light. The lighting comprises a pair of acetylene brass headlamps, cowl mounted brass oil lamps and a single brass oil fired tail lamp. The headlamps are fueled by a carbide generator on the left running board. Maroon painted undulating fenders hang off of either side and have a black rubber covered running board to connect them. With a cowled hood, walnut firewall and no front door design, the exterior shows nicely curved metal seat surrounds on top of a styled box if you will, much like a sleigh or buggy of the day. On top is a nice black canvas convertible top which moves up and down with ease. On the driver's running board is a tank for the acetylene gas to power the lighting on the exterior and a small tool box is on the passenger's running board. Beautiful 34-inch wood spoked wheels are painted maroon with some brass hubs and are wrapped in like lightly dry rotted 34x3 1/2 rubber.
Interior
Simple but beautiful harkening back to the carriage days, the seats are upholstered in diamond-pattern black buttoned leather. They have dual curves for the back supports and padded rounded over seats. A large wood rimmed steering wheel with brass spokes reaches for the driver via a polished brass column. It fronts a brass trimmed walnut stained wooden dashboard which houses what looks like the control panel for a furnace rather than a car. It has brass gauges with white face dials, one of which is an eight-day clock and the other the speedometer. A square varnished wood box resides here as well and covers the mechanicals for the brass Remy switch controller. In the back, doors swing open for the rear seat passengers who are greeted with smooth black leather door paneling and a brass and wood grab bar attached to the rear of the front seat tub helps with the entrance. Industrial square pattern metal flooring is on the front floors and remains very clean with a few pedals to drive this complex machine. For the rear seat riders we see lightly faded black carpeting.
Drivetrain
Lifting the cowled hood and we see a cast iron 165ci 4 cylinder engine capable of 22hp powering this car. It shows open valve springs and more brass for the piping. A 1-barrel carburetor feeds it fuel and a 3-speed Selective Sliding gear transmission is also on, albeit shifted from nearly outside the driver's seat tub. All very nicely restored and looking good.
Undercarriage
Also wonderfully restored presenting in all maroon steel supporting black painted oak wood floor boards. Buggy spring suspension are in the rear and up front we see a traditional leaf spring. Mechanical drum brakes are noted on the back, but these are for the parking brake only as the foot brake is actually connected to the crankshaft.
Drive-Ability
While no attempt to start the car was made, we can confirm the engine does turn over by hand and makes compression. As with any car out of long term storage, some TLC will be in order.
A natural for Brass Era tours, this is an archetypal Oldsmobile from the company's first year after joining GM. Compared to the Model T this Olds makes the Lizzy look like a Yugo! A nicely restored example, in need of a little TLC, but then is ready to go and show.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
