Oldsmobile Limited Prototype 1908, Estados Unidos

Oldsmobile Limited Prototype 1908, Estados Unidos
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THE OLDSMOBILE LIMITED: KING OF THE BRASS ERA

The Limited, as one historian put it, was not your father’s Oldsmobile, unless your father happened to be a Carnegie or a Vanderbilt. It has been called the most prestigious Oldsmobile of its era, but in reality it was the most prestigious car ever built under the name—a true world-beating luxury car developed to challenge Packard, Peerless, and Pierce-Arrow, then the “Three Ps” that signified the height of American motoring.

It was the latest evolution of an Olds that, in the Brass Era, had grown increasingly larger, more powerful, and bolder. In its initial 1910 form, it was based upon the prior Model Z, with the same 130-inch-wheelbase chassis and 505-cubic-inch, 60-horsepower T-head six-cylinder engine. Already, however, it had gained the stature that would make it famous, thanks to immense 42-inch wheels, among the largest fitted to any production automobile, making the Limited literally tower above its brethren.

The Limited was beautifully engineered and exquisitely built, but Oldsmobile soon saw the writing on the wall that less expensive models were the way of the future. It was produced for only three seasons, 1910 through 1912, and afterward Olds models grew progressively more modest, returning to the company’s roots.

Today the Limited is exactly that. Only thirteen examples have survived: a pair of 1910s, ten 1911s, and a single 1912, in addition to the early prototype offered here. Of this group, the vast majority are in either museums—including the Nethercutt Collection, and General Motors’ own Heritage Collection—or in long-term private ownership.

THE LIMITED PROTOTYPE

The example offered here is recognized as having been one of the two Model Z–based 1908 Limited prototypes and is the only one of these known extant today. According to the recollections of Mr. Pollard’s son, it seems to have been sold “out the back door” of General Motors to Barney Pollard via a well-connected friend. Mr. Pollard was one of the most famous names in early American collecting—and we do mean early, as he began gathering significant automobiles in the 1930s. He filled several Detroit warehouses with his finds, eventually stacking them on end and hanging others from the ceiling to maximize the use of space. To facilitate his vertical storage, many of the automobiles had their original bodies removed, and such appears to have been the case with this fascinating Oldsmobile. In this form the car was registered to Mr. Pollard by its engine number in 1978 and was eventually united with a later touring car body during its time in his collection.

The Limited was eventually acquired from a friend of the Pollard family by Ron Carey and Bob Sullivan of Washington State, who undertook a comprehensive full restoration at the hands of respected craftsman Allan Schmidt’s Horseless Carriage Restorations in Escondido, California. Unfortunately, the Pollard body, removed for restoration, was caught in one of the Southern California wildfires and destroyed. The coachwork was thus replaced with the present body, a design based upon the best features of other large Oldsmobiles of the era. These include an externally braced top with isinglass windscreen and “flying”-style fenders. The Limited reportedly retained all of its original mechanical components, including the engine, transmission, suspension, steering, and brakes, and was fitted with correct magneto and carburetor.

The completed restoration was shown to much acclaim, including at the Kirkland Concours d’Elegance in 2010, where it received the Children’s Hospital Award for its rarity and general level of restoration. A year later it was acquired for the Muckel Collection, where it has continued to be well maintained in beautiful overall condition and treasured for its significance.

There are very few extant examples of the Olds Limited, one of the premier American automobiles of its time—unparalleled in size, power, and craftsmanship. None can match the flamboyance of this car, the sole surviving original 1908 prototype for the model, magnificently restored.

In 1908, Oldsmobile set their sights on creating a world-class luxury car to challenge America’s most prestigious manufacturers of the era: Packard, Peerless, and Pierce-Arrow. Oldsmobile models had been growing steadily in the Brass Era since 1899, when Olds Motor Vehicle and Olds Gasoline Engine Works of Lansing merged to form the marque. Each model grew in stature and power, with each design bolder than the last. The Limited was soon to become the crowning achievement of their efforts as the largest and most opulent model to ever wear the Oldsmobile name. This example is one of only thirteen Limiteds to remain in existence today and is the sole surviving example of the two 1908 prototypes.

No other Brass Era car is as large or impressive as the Limited, and the few examples remaining are among the most significant artifacts of early American motoring.

The Limited’s name was selected because of the amount of time required to produce each model, resulting in very limited quantities and a price tag ranging from $4,600–$5,800. Oldsmobile’s records indicate that, in its short three-year production span, a total of 325 were completed for 1910, 196 in 1911, and only 117 in 1912. Only two prototypes were completed, based on the 1908 Model Z—Oldsmobile’s flagship touring model at the time. Today only thirteen examples remain in existence: a pair of 1910s, ten 1911s, and a single 1912 model, as well as the early prototype offered here.

The Limited’s wheels measure 42 inches, among the largest ever to be fitted to a production automobile. Its tremendous wheels and tires were fitted to the Model Z’s 130-inch-wheelbase chassis with longitudinal leaf springs and live front and rear axles, giving the Limited the imposing stature that it would become famous for, literally towering above the rest.

Beneath the hood is the 453-cubic-inch T-head six-cylinder inline engine capable of producing 60 horsepower, allowing the Limited to easily reach speeds of 70 mph. Power is driven through a three-speed manual gearbox and is brought to a halt by an expanding rear-wheel hand brake and external contracting on the rear wheels.

Amazingly, the Limited retained all its original mechanical components. The engine, transmission, suspension, steering, and brakes, as well as the correct magneto and carburetor that were fitted, are all believed to be original to the vehicle.

The Oldsmobile Limited was built with the open road in mind—large, fast, and well equipped for long journeys. Their unparalleled quality and craftsmanship have allowed the surviving examples to be reliable enough to effortlessly conquer 1,000-mile tours. This example, courtesy of its magnificent restoration, will be a fine candidate for both the show field and for any Brass Era touring event.

Fonte: https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/hf19/hershey/lots/r0152-1908-oldsmobile-limited-prototype/797163