Vehicle Description
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 rotted34x3 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 165ci4 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.
