Tag Archives: Olds

Joy Across America – Oldsmobile Curved Dash

Leave a Reply

Ransome E Olds founded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897.

Oldsmobile Curved Dash, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

In 1901 Ransome had a choice of prototype vehicles to put into production when a fire destroyed all but one and so fate determined that his assembly line would manufacture the Curved Dash like the 1904 example seen here.

Oldsmobile Curved Dash, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

The 20mph Curved Dash powered by a 5hp single cylinder motor was to become the first car to be assembled on a production line with interchangeable parts.

Oldsmobile Curved Dash, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

Joy Rainey and her partner Trevor Hulks had planned to take today’s featured 1904 Oldsmobile Curved Dash on a journey across America when fate intervened and cancer took Trevor in 2010.

Oldsmobile Curved Dash, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

In 2013 Joy a regular hillclimb competitor decided to undertake the journey from Oceanside California to Ormond Beach in Florida in tribute to her partner and to raise funds for Cancer Research.

Oldsmobile Curved Dash, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

She completed the 2,600 mile trip in thirty two days in May 2013.

Oldsmobile Curved Dash, Race Retro, Stoneleigh

Joy has published a book “Joy Across America” about her adventure which is available from her website linked here.

Thanks for joining me on this “Joy Across America” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Faster Than A Ferrari – Cadillac Coupe de Ville

Leave a Reply

In 1971 Cadillac introduced the forth generation Coupe de Ville with hitherto record braking 62 inches of front shoulder room and 64 inches rear shoulder room. Novel features included windscreen wiper blades that were hidden from view belw the bonnet / hood line when not in use.

Cadillac Coupe de Ville, Classics at the Castle, Sherbourne

A 375 hp 7.7 litre / 472 cui V8, carried over from the third generation Coupe de Ville, with three speed automatic transmission powered the 4,900lb vehicle that measured 225.8 inches from stem to stern.

Cadillac Coupe de Ville, Classics at the Castle, Sherbourne

Legend has it that the third placed Cadillac Coupe de Ville of Ron Herisko in the 1971 Cannonball Run, by dint of traveling a further distance between New York City and Redondo Beach, California had manged to average 82 mph for the journey as against the 80 mph Dan Gurney and Brock Yates averaged in their Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. In 1972 Steve Behr, Bill Canfield and Fred Olds won the Cannonball out right driving a Cadillac Coupe de Ville.

Thanks for joining me on this “Faster Than A Ferrari” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share