Now Chartering the North American Chapter of
the ACHAFR (Antique, Classic and Historic Automobiles Fellowship of Rotarians.
Click the logo below for information
Antique Cars make SOLID INVESTMENTS you can enjoy now!
We are Collectible Car Enthusiasts! Although we are not
dealers, we are collectors who understand and promote the hobby of collecting
and restoring antique cars of all types and eras!
We buy investment
cars for
the future that we can enjoy TODAY. One "project car" at a time, we
search for classics and rare automobiles that are uncommon and beautiful.
Our specialty is 1900-1940's.
A Classic
Car is Always in Style, and Hobbies
make Solid Investments!
Our Featured Car.....
1904
Oldsmobile Gypsy Runabout
Replica
created in 1950's and on display at
Walt
Disney World's Epcot "World of Motion" Pavilion
The Curved Dash Oldsmobile is credited as the first
high-volume mass-produced gasoline
automobile. It was introduced by the
Oldsmobile company in 1901 and produced through 1907.
425[citation
needed] examples were produced the first year,
2500 in 1902, with over 19000 built in all.[1]
It was a
runabout model, could seat two passengers, and sold for
US $650 ($16,000 in 2007). While competitive, due to
high volume, and below the
Ford US $850 ($20,100 in 2007) "Doctor's Car",[2]
Western in 1905 produced the Gale Model A, an
open roadster, for sale at US $500 ($12,300 in 2007), the
Black went as low as $375 ($9,230 in 2007),[3]
and the
Success hit the amazingly low US $250 ($6,150 in 2007).[4]
The flat-mounted water-cooled single-cylinder engine,
situated at the center of the car, produced 4 hp (3 kW),
relying on a brass
gravity feed
carburetor. The transmission was a semi-automatic design
with two forward speeds and one reverse. The low speed
forward and reverse gear system are a
planetary type (epicyclic). The car weighed 850 lb
(386 kg) and used Concord springs.
The car’s success was partially by accident - in 1901 a
fire destroyed a number of other models before they were
approved for production, leaving the Curved Dash the only
one intact.[5]
(Wikipedia)
In 1904 Olds sold his interest in the company and started
the Reo Motor Company. The Olds Motor Company became part of General Motors
in 1908. The runabout was the most popular car of the era.
This car was a "Merry Olds" produced by American Air
Products, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Serial Number 481157 and has the initials on
the side plaque of T.O.
Disney sent inventory to auction when they close Epcot's
World of Motion January 2, 1996. This car may be the
red one pictured to the left, in the center, in front of the policeman. Much
more research is being done!
Among the new autos rolling off the nation's assembly lines this
week are two sporty but little-known models with features that no
other U.S. cars can match. The cars: 1901 Oldsmobiles, enjoying a
jaunty revival in the era of the tail fin and the power brake. The
cars are manufactured a scant five miles apart in Ft. Lauderdale,
Fla. by American Air Products Corp. (whose slogan is "The Backward
Look") and by Starts Manufacturing Co. They began producing the cars
last year as specialty items and display models for auto dealers and
stores. But the antique Oldses caught on so well with merchants,
college boys and antique-car buffs that American Air has upped
production to a planned 2,200 this year, and Starts Manufacturing
plans to double present production to 100 cars per month.
American
Air's "Merry Olds" comes in two models (roadster and wagon), is an
almost exact duplicate of the 1901 model right down to its
bicycle-type wheels, chain drive, steering tiller and three elegant
brass lamps. It can reach speeds of 35 m.p.h. with its 4 h.p.
air-cooled engine, gets more than 60 miles to the gallon. Cost:
$1,495 f.o.b. Ft. Lauderdale.
Starts's Olds is a fancy product that is two-thirds the size of
the old Olds, comes in black, golden yellow, and fiesta red, has an
automatic gear shift. Speed and gas mileage are similar to its
rival. Cost: $1,195 f.o.b. Ft. Lauderdale.
Among the new autos rolling off the nation's assembly lines this
week are two sporty but little-known models with features that no
other U.S. cars can match. The cars: 1901 Oldsmobiles, enjoying a
jaunty revival in the era of the tail fin and the power brake. The
cars are manufactured a scant five miles apart in Ft. Lauderdale,
Fla. by American Air Products Corp. (whose slogan is "The Backward
Look") and by Starts Manufacturing Co. They began producing the cars
last year as specialty items and display models for auto dealers and
stores. But the antique Oldses caught on so well with merchants,
college boys and antique-car buffs that American Air has upped
production to a planned 2,200 this year, and Starts Manufacturing
plans to double present production to 100 cars per month.
American
Air's "Merry Olds" comes in two models (roadster and wagon), is an
almost exact duplicate of the 1901 model right down to its
bicycle-type wheels, chain drive, steering tiller and three elegant
brass lamps. It can reach speeds of 35 m.p.h. with its 4 h.p.
air-cooled engine, gets more than 60 miles to the gallon. Cost:
$1,495 f.o.b. Ft. Lauderdale.
Starts's Olds is a fancy product that is two-thirds the size of
the old Olds, comes in black, golden yellow, and fiesta red, has an
automatic gear shift. Speed and gas mileage are similar to its
rival. Cost: $1,195 f.o.b. Ft. Lauderdale.
TIME MAGAZINE November 3, 1958: "Among the new
autos rolling off the nation's assembly lines this week are two sporty but
little-known models with features that no other U.S. cars can match. The
cars: 1901 Oldsmobiles, enjoying a jaunty revival in the era of the tail fin
and the power brake. The cars are manufactured a scant five miles apart in
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. by American Air Products Corp. (whose slogan is "The
Backward Look") and by Starts Manufacturing Co. They began producing the
cars last year as specialty items and display models for auto dealers and
stores. But the antique Oldses caught on so well with merchants, college
boys and antique-car buffs that American Air has upped production to a
planned 2,200 this year, and Starts Manufacturing plans to double present
production to 100 cars per month.
American Air's "Merry Olds" comes in two models (roadster and wagon), is an
almost exact duplicate of the 1901 model right down to its bicycle-type
wheels, chain drive, steering tiller and three elegant brass lamps. It can
reach speeds of 35 m.p.h. with its 4 h.p. air-cooled engine, gets more than
60 miles to the gallon. Cost: $1,495 f.o.b. Ft. Lauderdale.
Starts's Olds is a fancy product that is two-thirds the size of the old
Olds, comes in black, golden yellow, and fiesta red, has an automatic gear
shift. Speed and gas mileage are similar to its rival. Cost: $1,195 f.o.b.
Ft. Lauderdale."
American Air Products Corp. was
dissolved in 1963, only 5 years after creating these beautiful replica cars.
1938 Packard
V-12 Club Sedan Model 1607
SOLD!
Appraised Value $113,500
This fine and exceptionally
rare (27 built- 1 of less than a handful exist) Club Sedan. Engine #
A600277
Recognized
by the Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) as a Full Classic
1136 Twelve Club Sedan
SERIES:
16th
YEAR:
1938
WB:
134
MODEL/CHASSIS:
1607
CARBURETOR:
Stromberg EE-3
ENGINE:
474
CYLINDERS:
12
HP:
175
WEIGHT:
5,520
MSRP:
$4,255
TOTAL PRODUCTION:
566*
PASSENGERS:
5
GND VOLTAGE:
+6
TIRE SIZE:
8.25 x 16
GENERAL INFORMATION:
The Twelve shared the same changes as the Super Eight, it also
used the same chassis. The 132-, 139- and 144-inch wheelbases
were no longer offered.
Packard was founded by brothers
James Ward Packard , William Doud Packard and his partner George Lewis
Weiss in the city of Warren OH. James Ward believed that they could
build a better horseless carriage that the Winton cars owned by Weiss
(An important Winton stockholder) and James Ward, himself a mechanical
engineer, had some ideas how to improve on the designs of current
automobiles. By 1899, they were building vehicles. The company, which
they called the Ohio Automobile Company, quickly introduced a number of
innovations in its designs, including the modern steering wheel and
years later the first production 12-cylinder engine.
While Ford was producing cars
that sold for $440, the Packards concentrated on more upscale cars that
started at $2,600. Packard automobiles developed a following not only in
the United States, but also abroad, with many heads of state owning
them.
In need of more capital, the
Packard brothers would find it when Henry Joy, a member of one of
Detroit's oldest and wealthiest families, bought a Packard. Impressed by
its reliability, he visited the Packards and soon enlisted a group of
investors that included his brother-in-law, Truman Newberry. In 1902,
Ohio Automobile Company became Packard Motor Car Company, with James as
president. Packard moved its automobile operation to Detroit soon after
and Joy became general manager and later chairman of the board. The
Packard's factory on East Grand Boulevard in Detroit was designed by
Albert Kahn, and included the first use of reinforced concrete for
industrial construction in Detroit. When opened in 1903, it was
considered the most modern automobile manufacturing facility in the
world and its skilled craftsmen practiced over eighty trades. The 3.5
million ft2 plant covered over 35 acres and straddled East Grand
Boulevard. It was later subdivided by eighty-seven different companies.
Kahn also designed The Packard Proving Grounds at Utica, MI.
Throughout the nineteen-tens
and twenties, Packard built vehicles consistently were among the elite
in luxury automobiles. The company was commonly referred to as being one
of the "Three P's" of American motordom royalty, along with Pierce and
Peerless. Packard's leadership of the luxury car field was supreme.
Entering into the 1930s Packard
attempted to beat the stock market crash and subsequent depression by
manufacturing ever more opulent and expensive cars than it had prior to
October 1929. The Packard Twin Six was introduced for 1932, and re-named
the Packard Twelve for the remainder of its run (through 1939). For one
year only, 1932, Packard tried fielding an upper-medium-priced car
called the Light Eight. As an independent automaker, Packard did not
have the luxury of a larger corporate structure absorbing its losses as
Cadillac did with GM and Lincoln with Ford. However, Packard did have a
better cash position than other independent luxury marques. Packard also
had one other advantage that some other luxury automakers did not; a
single production line. By maintaining a single line, and
inter-changeability between models, Packard was able to keep its costs
down. Packard did not change cars as often as other manufacturers did at
the time. Rather than introducing new models annually, Packard began
using its own "Series" formula for differentiating its model change-overs
in 1923. New model series did not debut on a strictly annual basis, with
some series lasting nearly two years, and others lasting as short a time
as seven months. In the long run, though, Packard did average
approximately one new series per year. By 1930, Packard automobiles were
considered part of the "Seventh Series". By 1942, Packard was in its
"Twentieth Series". There never was a "Thirteenth Series".
While the car sports an older
paint job now showing some age, it is sufficiently presentable as is.
The car is perfect as is for CARavans or touring. There is no purpose,
though, in turning this Packard into a trailer queen to be worshipped
and not used; all the hard, expensive work has been done, and now it
should be used and enjoyed.
Packard Autos 1899-1958
SOLD!
The 1923 Cadillac Victoria “Opera” Coupe
Appraised Value $120,000
Rare auto, only one left in
existence that we have found. Other may look similar, but this is a one of a
kind classic!
V-8 Engine runs great (ID
#61Q156)
Fuel
is fed to carburetor from pressurized fuel tank- no fuel pump,
·Upholstery in finest Mohair Velour
·Optional nickel plated lights
·Steering wheel is made of walnut and has no hinge
·132
inch wheel base
·Self
lubricating bushings were featured at many points in the brake and clutch
linkage
·New
piston-type grease cups featured at other lube points
·
Transmission lock was also provided
·The
camshaft was drilled to provide internal oil and to replace the oil tube
In
1996, the exterior paint was totally stripped, all metal work repaired, and
repainted to the beautiful condition you see it in today.
The rest of this car is 100% in original condition, except for the newer tires.
The Victoria
“Opera” Coupe
·The unique
floor plan of this fine vehicle is what gained its name as an “Opera” coupe. The
spacious backseat is uniquely designed to accommodate the full rounded “opera”
dresses that the ladies wore in that era.
·The
jump-seat next to the driver was designed to carry the “gate boy” who would
accompany the owners from the main house, through the various gates one finds on
a typical large farm, and once all gates were opened and closed as the car
passed through, the helper would wait at the last gate until his employer
returned in order to reopen and close each gate as they returned home.
A
few of our past projects :
WE PROTECT OUR CASH –
WE BUY ANTIQUE & CLASSIC CARS FOR A MORE SOLID INVESTMENT!
We are always looking for a good TRADE!
Collectible Autos
Buy*Restore*Sell
Hobbies
make great investments as well!
An
Investment for the Future that we can Enjoy TODAY!
We can see where our money is...
right in our garage, safe and sound!
Call and
let us know what you are looking for.
We
travel to most major car shows and can sniff
out those great deals!
(813) 880-9580
Members of:
Classic
Car Club of America
Antique, Classic, and Historic
Automobile World Fellowship of Rotarians