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Oldsmobile 1897 - 1900
Related links... Model Archive
1897 1898
Curved Dash Prototype
Oldsmobile Innovations

1887
R.E.Olds builds his first horseless carriage. It is a three wheeled steam powered vehicle. (At this time, steam and electric powered carriages were more common than combustion based engines, which were more complex and harder to control.).


1893
Olds becomes the first American automobile exporter. He ships a four wheeled steam powered vehicle to a purchaser in India. The vehicle is never delivered however, becuase the ship sinks en route.


1896
R.E.Olds receives a patent for a 'vapor' (gasoline) engine.

1897
Olds publicly offers for sale his first gas powered vehicle.

Olds motor vehicle company is formed August 21, 1897.


1900
Just 1 in every 9,500 Americans owned an automobile. 40% were steam powered; 38% were electric; and just 22% were powered by gasoline burned in an internal combustion engine.
Above: Only known photo of an early Oldsmobile Electric taken at Belle Island Park, Michigan.

 1899 1900
Curved Dash Prototype
 Curved Dash Prototype
Electric
Gasoline Trap
Scrapbook
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