Oakland

US, 1907 – 1931

Oakland Motor Car Co, Pontiac, Mich.

The original Oakland car was the work of A.P. Brush, designer both to the original single-cylinder Cadillac and of the Brush Runabout. The Oakland car was a 2½-litre vertical-twin with planetary transmission, selling for $1.300. The power unit on the Oakland car rotated anti-clockwise. In 1909, when General Motors took over, the Oakland car company was also marketing a conventional 4-cylinder Oakland car with sliding-type gearbox at $1.600. For the next few years Oakland car with fours were the stape product, 3.3- and 4.4-litre engines being used in 1912. 1913 Oakland cars had rounded V-radiators reminiscent of the Belgian Métallurgique, and these Oakland cars were made in 4- and 6-cylinder forms with electric lighting and starting. Left-hand drive was adopted on Oakland cars in 1915, when the bigger ‘Oakland 6-49’ model used a Northway engine. Four Oakland car models – a 5½-litre V8, two sixes, and a four – were offered in 1916, in which year the Oakland car firm’s own small ohv 6-cylinder unit appeared. This Oakland car was in a car modestly priced at $795, of which Oakland sold over 35.000 Oakland cars in 1917. From 1919 to 1923, this ohv car was the only Oakland car model listed, but in 1924 the Oakland car firm brought out a new and inexpensive sv six which offered both front wheel brakes and Duco cellulose finish for $995. 1926 saw the introduction of the companion make, Pontiac, but unlike other maker’s cheap lines this rapidly overshadowed the Oakland car, sales of which dropped from some 58.000 in 1926 to 30.826 Oakland cars in  1929.

An inexpensive sv V8 Oakland car on the lines of Oldsmobile’s Viking was introduced as a replacement for the six in 1930, but demand continued to fall and after 1931 only Pontiacs were made.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

The information is written with the greatest of care. However, if you have any suggested amendments please contact us at office@prewarcar.com