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Article: Rising from the Ashes; 1904 OLDS CURVED DASH RUNABOUT.(NEWS)
- Article from:
- AutoWeek
- Article date:
- February 23, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: BOB TOMAINE
IF NOT FOR A FIRE, outside investors and one prototype, the Olds Curved Dash Runabout might have been just an interesting vehicle rather than a step in the mass production of affordable cars.
Olds Motor Vehicle Works was established in 1897 after Ransom Eli Olds experimented with steam- and gasoline-engine models, but it produced few cars over the next year. Olds persuaded Samuel Smith to invest $200,000 and incorporated Olds Motor Works in 1899. After a dozen more experimentals, sales were to start in 1901, but fire destroyed the Olds factory in Detroit.
Olds had been advertising, so with plans and a salvaged gasoline ...