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.[2][3][4][1] 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[5] of Detroit. The Model A was available in several body styles and prices ranged from US$1,300[1] ($44,084 in 2023 dollars [6]) to US$2,150[1] ($72,909 in 2023 dollars [6]). Once Oakland became a division of GM, Oldsmobile and Buick shared bodywork and chassis of their four-cylinder models with Oakland.[1] Manufacture of the Oakland was completed in Pontiac, Michigan.[1] Oakland (Pontiac) wouldn't use another 4-cylinder engine until 1961 with the Pontiac Trophy 4 engine.
History
The following year the Model A was renamed the Model 40 with a 112 in (2,845 mm) wheelbase while the coachwork choices remained, and by 1910 the four-cylinder was installed in two different body styles with a choice of four different wheelbases with individual model names. The Model 24 roadster had a 96 in (2,438 mm) wheelbase while the longer Model M roadster had a 122 in (3,099 mm) wheelbase. The touringsedan came as Model 25 with a 100 in (2,500 mm) wheelbase, the Model K with a 102 in (2,600 mm) wheelbase, and the Model 33 with a 106 in (2,700 mm) wheelbase.
For model year 1912 the choice of wheelbases offered were reduced to three and the naming conventions were standardized. The Model 30 used a 96 in (2,400 mm) wheelbase and was roadster or touring sedan. The Model 40 added a closed body coupe using a 112 in (2,800 mm) wheelbase, and the Model 45 used a 120 in (3,000 mm) wheelbase and offered either a four- or seven-passenger touring sedan or closed body limousine. Prices for the limousine were listed at US$3,000[1] ($94,717 in 2023 dollars [6]) which placed it as a competitor with Oldsmobile and Cadillac of the same year.[1]
Model year 1913 saw a fourth choice wheelbase added. The choices were the Model 35 with a 112", the Model 42 with a 116", the Model 45 with a 120" and the Model 40 with a 214". The Model 45 Limousine was still listed at US$3,000 while the longest wheelbase was the Model 40 and was a touring sedan only.[1]
1914 saw an elimination of a wheelbase choice with the Model 43 using a 116" and two closed body choices of a coupe or sedan or a touring sedan, the Model 35 and Model 36 both using a 112" and coachwork choices of roadster, cabriolet or touring sedan.[1]
The last year a four-cylinder engine was offered was for 1915 and 1916 using a 112" wheelbase as the company switched to a straight-six, while the first Oakland V8 was offered in 1915, sourced from the Northway Engine Division of GM.[1] As Oakland began to positioned as the entry-level GM product, prices for the Model 37 and Model 38 using a 112" wheelbase were documented at US$1,050[1] ($29,400 in 2023 dollars [6]) and offered a choice of touring sedan, roadster or speedster for the same price.[1]
1910 Oakland Model 24 roadster
1910 Oakland Model 25 touring sedan
1915 Oakland Model 37 speedster
References
^ abcdefghijklmnKimes, Beverly (1996). Standard catalog of American Cars 1805–1942 (third ed.). Krause publications. pp. 1050–1053. ISBN0-87341-478-0.
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