Oldsmobile Curved Dash

Advert for the Oldsmobile Curved Dash in Country Life (1905). The starter crank is clearly visible on the side under the seat.

Oldsmobile Curved Dash / Straight Dash
Production period:	1901-1907
Class :	Small car
Body versions :	Phaeton

Oldsmobile Curved Dash was the first automobile series from Olds Motor Works and was the first automobile to be mass-produced , even before the Ford Model T. The Curved Dash was the brand's only model from 1901 to 1904 and also the best-selling car in the world. The series includes the models R , 6C , B and F , which were produced in succession . From 1906 there was also an Oldsmobile Straight Dash with a straight front.

The series was manufactured until 1907 and discontinued without a direct successor.

prehistory

Vehicles were manufactured under the Oldsmobile brand in Lansing from 1897, initially by the Olds Motor Vehicle Company, which was founded on August 21, 1897. Car construction did not progress at first and by 1898 only a dozen vehicles were built. On May 8, 1899, the Olds Motor Works were founded.

Another eleven prototypes were built between 1899 and 1900, including electric vehicles . In a major fire in the factory halls on March 9, 1901, all existing prototypes were destroyed except for a small car with a single-cylinder engine . This model was produced after the factory was restored.

technology

Chain drive on the Oldsmobile Model R (1903)

The Curved Dash had a built-in under the driver's seat lying, water-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine , the cm³ of 1.564 Displacement a power of 4.5 hp (3.3 kW) at 600 min ^-1 pulled. The double-bearing crankshaft held the flywheel , the planetary gear and the clutch for the higher gear. A ball bearing attached to the chassis took up part of this load. Another example of the multifunctionality of many components can be seen on the chassis; long, lengthways arranged leaf springs connect the axles and are at the same time the side members of the chassis and the suspension. The axles are rigidly attached to the ends of the springs. The front and rear track was 1423 mm.

The engine power was transmitted to the differential on the rear axle via a two-speed gearbox and a single chain . The brake pedal acted on an outer band brake on the transmission. The carburetor was operated by an accelerator pedal installed next to the brake pedal (otherwise a hand lever was common!). The gear change (2 forward gears, 1 reverse gear) was initially carried out using an externally mounted lever.

Was steered by a steering lever ("cow tail") from the right seat.

year for year

The Olds Motor Works were among the first car makers which not only regionally competed their products, but switched listings across the United States. In addition, the Curved Dash was shown at fairs in the Midwest and the management knew how to use races, record drives and other special occasions for themselves. The Oldsmobile Pirate racing and record-breaking car was derived from the Curved Dash .

The slogan "For an Oldsmobile all roads are the same" was used in the advertising.

Model R (1901–1903)

Curved Dash Model R.
Oldsmobile Model R (1902)
Production period:	1901-1903
Body versions :	Phaeton
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.6 liters (3.3 kW)
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	1676 mm
Empty weight :	294 kg

The R model was launched in the summer of 1901.

It was a runabout with a wooden body, two seats and an unusually curved front of the vehicle. This peculiarity earned the car the name "Curved Dash". It quickly became popular as the Curved Dash . On request, it could be equipped with a third seat, which was mounted behind the bench against the direction of travel and offered space for an adult or two children. Other options were a convertible top, various lights and fenders.

The R model has only one gear brake. It can therefore be easily identified from the other models in the series due to the lack of brake drums. The car was equipped with 28 × 3 ″ wire-spoke wheels with pneumatic tires - similar to a bicycle - as standard. However, customers could choose between seven different wheel variants, including wooden spoke wheels. The hood and fenders cost extra.

The only available color combination was black for the body with cherry red accents and gold trim on the body, chassis and wheels.

Around 6,850 cars were built in three years.

Model 6C (1904)

Curved Dash Model 6C
Oldsmobile Model 6C (1904)
Production period:	1904
Body versions :	Phaeton
Engines:	Petrol engine : 1.9 liters (5.1 kW)
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	1676 mm
Empty weight :	approx. 300 kg

The successor was presented in April 1904. The car looked similar but had been improved in many ways. It was a bit bigger and also had a bigger engine. The single cylinder lying had 1,931 cc displacement and developed 7 hp (5.2 kW) at 600 min ^-1 . He received a new carburetor from Holley . Instead of the single outer band brake on the gearbox, there were now two on the two rear wheels. In the middle of the model year, the series was switched to the more effective drum brakes. Wooden spoke wheels of the same size were now standard equipment, and all wheels were now fitted with mudguards as standard.

Engine of a 6C

The wooden body was still painted black, the accents were now fiery red. It appears that some dark green vehicles with red accents have also been delivered.

About the replacement of the model and the future model policy, there was a dispute between RE Olds and his financiers Samuel L. Smith and his sons Frederick and Angus, whereupon Olds withdrew from the company.

After 2,234 copies, the 6C model was discontinued in December 1904.

Models B (1905–1906) and F (1907)

Curved Dash / Straight Dash Models B and F
Oldsmobile Model B (1905)
Production period:	1905-1907
Body versions :	Phaeton
Engines:	Petrol engine : 1.9 liters (5.1 kW)
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	1676 mm
Empty weight :	approx. 310 kg

Model B appeared in January 1905 and was again significantly improved. In particular, parts of the drive have been reinforced. The engine received improved cooling and a new flywheel. The handbrake now worked on the differential instead of the gearbox; otherwise this corresponded to that of the model 6C. While the axles were suspended from the tips of a spring element in the previous models , the leaf springs were now modified so that the axles were connected to all spring elements; the axles have also been reinforced. In 1906, the car received standard weather protection with celluloid windows .

Oldsmobile Model B Straight Dash (1906).

In addition to the “Curved Dash”, the “Straight Dash” appeared with a straight, straight splash guard.

While a production figure of 6,500 for all models (including Touring Runabout , Light Tonneau and Side Entrance Touring ) is known for 1905 , only 100 vehicles of the Model B, partly as Curved Dash, partly as Straight Dash, were produced in 1906.

In 1907 the essentially unchanged Model B was offered as Model F. The technical data corresponded to those of the previous year's model. It is not known how many of the 1,200 Model F Oldsmobiles produced that year were.

Pricing

The list price of US $ 650 for the base model could be kept for the entire production period. Only in 1904 was it briefly raised to US $ 675. The mentioned weather protection of the model B was added to the basic equipment at the New York Motor Show in November 1906. At this point, the Curved Dash was practically no longer advertised. Curved Dash and Straight Dash were offered for the same price.

In 1908 the cheapest Oldsmobile cost about three times the Curved Dash at US $ 1900 . This high price policy got Olds Motor Works in trouble.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ conceptcarz.com / Oldsmobile Surrey (English)

Web links

Commons : Oldsmobile Curved Dash  - collection of images, videos, and audio files

swell

• Beverly Rae Kimes (eds.) And Henry Austin Clark, jr .: The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805–1942 , 2nd edition, Krause Publications, Iola WI 54990, USA (1985), ISBN 0-87341-111-0 ( English)
• GN Georgano (Ed.): Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars, 1885 to the Present ; Dutton Press, New York, 2nd edition (hardcover) 1973, ISBN 0-525-08351-0 (English)
• The Automobile of 1904 ; Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly (January 1904), Americana Review, 725 Dongan Ave., Scotia NY (USA); (English)
• Beverly Rae Kimes: Pioneers, Engineers, and Scoundrels: The Dawn of the Automobile in America. Published by SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Permissions, Warrendale PA 2005, ISBN 0-7680-1431-X (hardcover). (English)
• Madsen, Axel: The Deal Maker: How William C. Durant made General Motors , John Wiley & Sons, Inc., ISBN 0-471-39523-4 (pbck) (English)