Oldsmobile Series 28

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The Oldsmobile Series 28, also known as the Autocrat, was a mid-level four seat passenger car produced by GM's Oldsmobile Division for 1911 and 1912. It was based on the top-level Oldsmobile Limited (Series 23, 24, 27) while using a four-cylinder engine, and was manufactured in Lansing, Michigan. [1] [2]

History

The Series 28 was equipped with a large side-valve, in-line 471 cu in (7,718 cc) four-cylinder engine developing 40 bhp. The bore and stroke was 5 by 6 inches (130 mm × 150 mm) and the cylinders were cast in pairs. It had a wheelbase of 124–126 in (3,150–3,200 mm) based on the bodystyle offered of a touring car, roadster or a 4-door sedan. For 1912 it was renamed the Series 32 with minor appearance changes. Due to the retail price of US$3,500 ($109,925 in 2022 dollars [3] ) for a choice of the touring sedan or runabout while the closed body limousine was US$5,000 ($157,036 in 2022 dollars [3] ) 1911 saw 1000 vehicles manufactured and in 1912 there were 500 which placed it as a contender against the Packard Four, and made Oldsmobile the top model in GM's catalog against the Cadillac Model A and Buick Model 10. [4] The Autocrat replaced the Oldsmobile Series 22 and was replaced by the Oldsmobile Six as the mid-level model. [4]

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The Buick Six was a top level automobile produced by GM's Buick Division which was first introduced in 1914, and was the senior vehicle to the Buick Series B Four. It was an all new platform which was shared with the Oldsmobile Six and was the first Buick to implement a steering wheel on the left side, and electric starter provided by Delco Remy along with an electric lighting system and electric Klaxon horn. The gearshift and emergency brake were relocated to a central position inside the vehicle, an approach used on all GM products for 1914. It continued to use the patented overhead valve engine implemented by Walter Lorenzo Marr while the cylinder head was not removable until later developments. The engine displacement was 331 cu in (5.4 L) and the wheelbase was 130 in (3,302 mm). The first year Buick Six was only offered as a touring sedan for US$1,985.

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The Oakland Model A was the first four-cylinder engine offered by the Oakland Motor Company in 1907, which became a division of General Motors in 1909. The Model A was developed and manufactured from former Oakland Motor Company sources while the engine was provided by Northway Motor and Manufacturing Division of GM of Detroit. The Model A was available in several body styles and prices ranged from US$1,300 to US$2,150. Once Oakland became a division of GM, Oldsmobile and Buick shared bodywork and chassis of their four-cylinder models with Oakland. Manufacture of the Oakland was completed in Pontiac, Michigan. Oakland (Pontiac) wouldn't use another 4-cylinder engine until 1961 with the Pontiac Trophy 4 engine.

References

  1. Georgano, G.N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN   1-57958-293-1.[ page needed ]
  2. Clymer, Floyd (1950). Treasury of Early American Automobiles, 1877-1925. New York: Bonanza Books.[ page needed ]
  3. 1 2 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Kimes, Beverly (1996). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805–1942 (third ed.). Krause publications. pp. 1061–1088. ISBN   0-87341-478-0.