1916 Oldsmobile Model 43 Touring Car
A red 1916 Oldsmobile Model 43 Touring Car arriving at and leaving the 2019 Holiday Motor Excursion presented by the Horseless Carriage Club (HCCA) of Southern California.
If you asked anyone to make a list of cool car brands, chances are Oldsmobile wouldn't be on it. The century-old company has a rich history of innovation and made some lustworthy rides in the '50s and '60s, but it eventually settled with mundane cars that left little reason for its existence when GM announced plans to shutter it in 2000. Many young people today may have never even heard of the once-popular manufacturer. And admittedly, in our increasingly forward-thinking and trend-driven world, the company's name really doesn't sound particularly appealing. (Sorry, Mr. Olds!)
But time can work in amazing ways, turning what may have once been ordinary into a treasure. I don't know much about this old Olds (sorry, not sorry...), but there's something really special about seeing a hundred-year-old car on the road, and given how much technological improvement has taken place over the past century, it can be argued that it takes more of an enthusiast to drive this car than it does a modern supercar. This car is certainly beautiful with its red paint and wooden wheels. I also love the design of the rear window on the folding top - definitely not something you see on modern cars! So yes, I've now included an Oldsmobile in a collection of exotic car videos. You're probably more likely to run into a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, and a Rolls-Royce all together than you are to randomly encounter one of these. It's absolutely impractical by today's standards, it takes serious knowledge and skill to maintain and operate, and it may at times even attract more attention than cars normally considered exotic. So why shouldn't it be treated as something truly special?
This car was for sale when I spotted it over three years ago, and I hope it has since found its way to a new owner who will continue giving it proper care and letting it enjoy the open road.
What's your favorite car made by Oldsmobile? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!