Today, only enthusiasts remember the Oakland automobile brand. But in its time this manufacturer produced quite powerful, comfortable and not so expensive cars.
1910 Oakland Model 24 is a good example of this. The engine power of this car was 1 hp higher than that of the 1909 Cadillac Model 30, which cost almost twice as much. At the same time, the Oakland car was considerably lighter and was equipped with a gimbal torque transmission. This made the Oakland easy to climb hills.
Price and value of the 1910 Oakland Model 24.
1910 Oakland Model 24 was the basic model of the company. In 1910 it was possible to buy an Oakland automobile for 1,000 dollars. By comparison, the aforementioned Cadillac Model 30 cost $1,800. The more expensive 1909 Packard Model 18 cost $3,000 and developed 30 horsepower.
The Oakland was not an expensive car, yet it was equipped with a very powerful engine, even next to the premium cars of its time.
Exterior and photo of the 1910 Oakland Model 24.
The curb weight of the Oalkand car is 748kg. The stretched roof at the rear has a large square shaped window. This makes maneuvering in reverse much easier. At that time, many cars were equipped with a small oval shaped window.
The front headlights work by burning gas. In order to light the headlight, – it must be opened with the help of special latches. Gas is supplied to the headlights from a special cylinder, which is installed on the right footrest of the car. Headlight brightness can be adjusted using a special regulator in the passenger compartment.
The side lights and the tail light work on kerosene. Wheels with wooden spokes were the norm for the time. The fuel tank has a rounded, oval shape and is mounted just behind the passenger compartment.
The klaxon is in the shape of a ram’s horn. These Oakland cars are similar to the Packard. On the radiator grille you can see a large inscription Oakland. The grille and headlights are brass plated. At that time, production cars were not yet equipped with an electric starter, and you can see a crooked starter lever sticking out of the grille.
Today it seems very unusual, but you can see from the photo that the license plate is made of leather.
Interior and equipment of the 1910 Oakland Model 24.
The steering wheel in this Oakland is mounted on the right side. This was the norm for American cars of those years. The parking brake and transmission lever are outside the cabin, which was also the norm for the time.
Although it is not an expensive car, but the steering wheel rim and front panel are finished with wood. I didn’t show it in the photo, but there is a plaque under the seat with the Oakland logo and basic data of this car. The sofa is also comfortable – you can see it in the photo.
Engine and specifications of the 1910 Oakland Model 24.
The engine block of the Oakland Model 24 is molded in two parts, – each of which has 2 cylinders. With a displacement of 201 cubic inches (3.3L), the engine produces 24 horsepower. In the photo you can notice Champion spark plugs, which were used in other American cars of those years. You can also notice a special, glass bulb in the underhood. This bulb is built into the oil system line and serves as an indicator that the engine is getting enough lubrication.
With this engine and a three-speed, manual transmission, the Model 24 has a top speed of 45 miles ( 72 kilometers per hour). The brakes are on the rear axle only, of course they’re drum brakes.
As we said above, it is a powerful, comfortable and not too expensive car. Despite these qualities, this car was not in too high demand. And this fact is not clear to me, because the car had if not everything, then very much for a great success. Perhaps it is connected with not very good work of dealers – I do not know.
Leave a Reply