Join the North American Chapter of
the ACHAFR (Antique, Classic & Historic Automobile Fellowship of ROTARIANS)
Click the logo above for more
information!
Antique Cars make SOLID INVESTMENTS you can enjoy now!
We are Collectible Car Enthusiasts!
WE ARE NOT DEALERS, we are COLLECTORS who understand and promote the hobby of collecting
and restoring antique cars of all types and eras!
We buy investment
cars for
the future that we can enjoy TODAY. One "project car" at a time, we
search for classics and rare automobiles that are uncommon and beautiful.
Our specialty is 1900-1940's.
A Classic
Car is Always in Style, and Hobbies
make Solid Investments!
1904
Oldsmobile Gypsy Runabout
Replica created
in 1958 and on display at
Walt
Disney World's Epcot "World of Motion" Pavilion
The 1901 to 1904
Oldsmobile Curved Dash was
the first mass-produced car[citation
needed], made from the first automotive assembly line, an
invention that is often miscredited to
Henry Ford
and the
Ford Motor Company. (Ford was the first to manufacture cars on a moving
assembly line.) After Olds sold the company in 1899, it was renamed Olds Motor
Works and moved to a new plant in Detroit. By March 1901, the company had a
whole line of models ready for mass production. Unfortunately, a mistake by a
worker caused the factory to catch fire, and it burned to the ground, with all
of the prototypes destroyed. The only car that survived the fire was a Curved
Dash prototype, which was wheeled out of the factory by two workers while
escaping the fire. A new factory was built, and production of the Curved Dash
commenced.
It was a
runabout model, could seat two passengers, and sold for
US $650 ($16,000 in 2007). While competitive, due to
high volume, and below the
Ford US $850 ($20,100 in 2007) "Doctor's Car",[2]
Western in 1905 produced the Gale Model A, an
open roadster, for sale at US $500 ($12,300 in 2007), the
Black went as low as $375 ($9,230 in 2007),[3]
and the
Success hit the amazingly low US $250 ($6,150 in 2007).[4]
The flat-mounted water-cooled single-cylinder engine,
situated at the center of the car, produced 4 hp (3 kW),
relying on a brass
gravity feed
carburetor. The transmission was a semi-automatic design
with two forward speeds and one reverse. The low speed
forward and reverse gear system are a
planetary type (epicyclic). The car weighed 850 lb
(386 kg) and used Concord springs.
The car’s success was partially by accident - in 1901 a
fire destroyed a number of other models before they were
approved for production, leaving the Curved Dash the only
one intact.[5]
(Wikipedia)
In 1904 Olds sold his interest in the company and started
the Reo Motor Company. The Olds Motor Company became part of General Motors
in 1908. The runabout was the most popular car of the era.
This car was a "Merry Olds" produced by American Air
Products, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Serial Number 481157 and has the initials on
the side plaque of T.O.
Disney sent inventory to auction when they close Epcot's
World of Motion January 2, 1996. This car may be the
red one pictured to the left, in the center, in front of the policeman. Much
more research is being done!
TIME MAGAZINE November 3, 1958: "Among the new
autos rolling off the nation's assembly lines this week are two sporty but
little-known models with features that no other U.S. cars can match. The
cars: 1901 Oldsmobile, enjoying a jaunty revival in the era of the tail fin
and the power brake. The cars are manufactured a scant five miles apart in
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. by American Air Products Corp. (whose slogan is "The
Backward Look") and by Starts Manufacturing Co. They began producing the
cars last year as specialty items and display models for auto dealers and
stores. But the antique Oldses caught on so well with merchants, college
boys and antique-car buffs that American Air has upped production to a
planned 2,200 this year, and Starts Manufacturing plans to double present
production to 100 cars per month.
American Air's "Merry Olds" comes in two models (roadster and wagon), is an
almost exact duplicate of the 1901 model right down to its bicycle-type
wheels, chain drive, steering tiller and three elegant brass lamps. It can
reach speeds of 35 m.p.h. with its 4 h.p. air-cooled engine, gets more than
60 miles to the gallon. Cost: $1,495 f.o.b. Ft. Lauderdale.
Starts's Olds is a fancy product that is two-thirds the size of the old
Olds, comes in black, golden yellow, and fiesta red, has an automatic gear
shift. Speed and gas mileage are similar to its rival. Cost: $1,195 f.o.b.
Ft. Lauderdale."
American Air Products Corp. was
dissolved in 1963, only 5 years after creating these beautiful replica cars.
A
few of our past projects :
WE PROTECT OUR CASH –
WE BUY ANTIQUE & CLASSIC CARS FOR A MORE SOLID INVESTMENT!
We are always looking for a good TRADE!
Collectible Autos
Buy*Restore*Sell*Trade
Hobbies
make great investments as well!
An
Investment for the Future that we can Enjoy TODAY!
We can see where our money is...
right in our garage, safe and sound!
Call and
let us know what you are looking for.
We
travel to most major car shows and can sniff
out those great deals!
Members of:
Classic
Car Club of America
Antique, Classic, and Historic
Automobile World Fellowship of Rotarians
We are Collectible Car Enthusiasts!
WE ARE NOT DEALERS, we are COLLECTORS who understand and promote the hobby of collecting
and restoring antique cars of all types and eras!
(Wikipedia)
The
cars: 1901 Oldsmobile, enjoying a jaunty revival in the era of the tail fin
and the power brake. The cars are manufactured a scant five miles apart in
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. by American Air Products Corp. (whose slogan is "The
Backward Look") and by Starts Manufacturing Co. They began producing the
cars last year as specialty items and display models for auto dealers and
stores. But the antique Oldses caught on so well with merchants, college
boys and antique-car buffs that American Air has upped production to a
planned 2,200 this year, and Starts Manufacturing plans to double present
production to 100 cars per month.
.jpg "1930 LaSalle")
Hobbies
make great investments as well!
Rotary Club of Tampa - Hyde
Park
